Tuesday, 2 February 2016

Valentine's Day Crafts for Toddlers

Now it is February Valentine's Day is almost here. Myself and my partner don't really make a fuss of the day, usually he is at work anyway. We buy each other cards, sometimes do a nice dinner indoors but that's about it. 

However now Michael is 2 he is getting really into his crafts. They are cheap, easy to do and they can fill in a rainy day afternoon. Here are some cute Valentine's Day crafts he has created. All that was needed was some pink and red paint, paper, paintbrushes, an empty toilet roll, scissors and a black marker. 

Used with Michael's foot, I think this little love bug is adorable! 


This is really cute and Michael gave it to his nana, so it is now on her fridge. Using both hands, you create hand prints to create a heart in the middle. 


With the painted heart, I just let Michael paint a piece of white paper with red and pink paint. Once dry I just cut out a large heart. 


Michael does have stamps, but for his heart stamp creation, I just used a empty toilet roll. All you have to do is create a heart shape using the side of the toilet roll by bending in one side. It creates a little stamp that is easy for little hands. 

There are loads of other Valentine's Day themed crafts online so have a look. These ones were the easiest and simplest I found for a 2 year old. Tomorrow we are also making heart shaped cookies! 

A couple of weeks before Easter, I will also be trying some Easter crafts so look out for the blog post. 

Have a nice Valentine's Day!

H. 



Saturday, 16 January 2016

Toddler sale haul

I love love love sales, you can pick up some great bargains and pay a fraction of the price. This time of year is the best time to pick up things for next winter and Christmas. Yes I have bought things for next Christmas! I just put it all in a box and stick it away but it saves me a fair amount of money on things I would have ended up buying for Michael anyway. 

Mothercare

I was quite late to the Mothercare sale this year, a lot of the things I would have wanted for Michael they ran out of his size in my local store. However I did pick him up a pair of red pumps in a bigger size reduced from £10 to £3. They also had a range of other colours. I love these on Michael, they look great with jeans and shorts in the summer. Hoping they fit him when we go away in May. I also picked him up a pair of cute snowman socks for Christmas 2016. At 50p they were really cheap and he would have got a new pair of Christmas socks anyway.



Next

I really like Next clothes, I think they are a great quality and wear very well. However they can be expensive, therefore I do try to take advantage of their sales. This year I picked him up some really nice long sleeve t-shirts for next winter in the size 3-4 years. At £3 reduced from £7 and a double pack at £5 reduced from £14 they were a great price for good quality. Hopefully they will also do him good for two winters since Next is quite generous with their sizing.

In my post on a Christmas Eve box, you would have noticed I also give Michael new pjs on Christmas Eve. From Next I also picked him up a very cute pair of minion Christmas pjs that were £5 reduced from £16. He really likes the minion films and since he will be 3 in September, I think the size 3-4 years will fit him by the December. 

Asda

My local Asda reduced all their Christmas bits really quickly so all of the stuff I picked up from Asda are Christmas related. A snowman t-shirt reduced from £3 to £2, snowman socks reduced from £1.50 to 50p (I forgot I already picked him up a pair!) a Santa key that was 50p reduced from £2 and a letter writing set that was just 25p. I didn't bother doing many Santa things with Michael in 2015 because at 2 I just didn't think he was quite there with understanding it all but 2016 and at 3 years of age, I think he will understand and really enjoy the key and letter. 


Not for Michael I also bought Lego Darth Vader in Asda reduced to £10 from £25. That is the cheapest I have seen them and will be a really good birthday present for my partner in July. He loves Star Wars and Lego so two birds with one stone. Star Wars mania is everywhere! 

Primark

Last but not least was Primark and these bits I just picked up today. I am not the biggest fan of Primark for children's clothes but I had to go in there for vests and they had a lot reduced so I had a look. I am really pleased with what I bought and pleasantly surprised at the quality. Fleece pyjamas at £3 a pair, needed this week it's freezing! A tracksuit  onsie at £3 reduced from £7, a rain jacket at £5 reduced from £9 and a really cute rugby style long sleeved top at £2 reduced from £5. All bigger sizes, while I don't think they will last Michael two winters like the clothes from Next, they should last until next year.


I don't think I spent too much on the sales but I must admit that I do try and buy Michael's clothes in the sales and at a cheaper price. I have also been looking for a new coat for him next winter at a reduced price but have not yet found one I like. Perhaps when Next have their sale in the spring. All of the stuff I bought should still be available online/in store.

Let me know if you found any great bargains in the sales, or if you know of some nice coats for toddler boys let me know in the comments below.

H.