Bunchland

Krista Rao blogs about crafty adventures with her kids

Christmas 2011 was the year of the handmade gift around this house. While I loved each and every gift given and received, I particularly loved this treasure created for Anthony by Ava and I.

We made him a custom dragon pillow to go along with the knight accessories that were high on his “pretty please” list. I love this idea of hand embroidering the kidʼs drawings to create unique pieces of art. I used this same process to make wowed-over framed gifts for grandparents and friends. While it is not a really quick or super easy craft, it is one that is thoroughly worth the effort.

We started with Ava drawing this fantastic picture of what she thought was “the dragon of Anthonyʼs dreams”. I photocopied the picture (how dare I touch the original) and used the copy along with some carbon paper to trace the dragon onto some light-coloured denim.  Read more...

What we’re reading today:

1. A quarter of American moms go back to work within two months of giving birth, which is really too bad. Ideal maternity leave: 40 weeks?

2. How to explain to your 12-year-old that Santa isn’t real. (Alternatively, you could get Rebecca’s 3-year-old to break the bad news.)

3. Speaking of different cultural holiday traditions, here’s one interfaith family talking about how Judaism became more important after kids came into the picture.

4. This headline actually made us laugh out loud: Striving for gift parity among siblings. Ahh! I know right? Heaven forbid you spend $25 more on Grace than Nathan… except that you got such a great deal on Nathan’s big item so it’s actually worth $30 more than Grace’s etc etc. Will someone freak out Christmas morning if they suspect you didn’t get them as many gifts? (We would think not)  Read more...

Another batch of Etsy treasures, where one of a kind holiday gift options abound.

If you missed it, check out our Etsy Round Up Part 1 and get inspired about finding some amazing Christmas presents from your couch. The hits just keep coming!

For the under 3 crowd:

Teething Toy Moustache

If you got a kick out of Mini Movember, keep the fun going all year with this wooden wonder by teethME.

Screen Printed Sushi Bib and Hat

They might not be skilled with chopsticks yet, (or even their fingers), but this bib and hat set will keep your little dynamite roll clean. By LEFTright.

For the 3 – 6 crowd:

Felt Campfire Playset

Bring the best part of camping inside, all year round. This set comes with 8-inch flames, logs, rocks, a roasting stick with Velcro on the end with stickable hotdog and s’mores set. By kidnaroundcreations.  Read more...

What we’re reading today:

1. So you celebrate Christmas, but you’re not exactly the midnight mass type, so what? Secular Christmas is pretty magical. (Which isn’t to say that a Jesus-is-the-reason-for-the-season Christmas isn’t also rather magical)

2. Do you have strict rules as to what people (grandparents etc.) can buy for your kids’ presents?

3. Only half of Ontario’s 8-year-olds like to read? Oh dear…

4. They’ve started selling fake pregnancy bellies in China. We don’t understand.

5. And the latest kid superstars seem to be the Vazquez kids. Check out their cover of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep”… it’s unreal.

Photo by mitikusa via Flickr

Break out the craft supplies and personalize your presents this year!

Making gifts can be fun and easy and it looks way more thoughtful than buying a random candle present. Plus, it’s always priceless seeing the kids’ faces beam with pride when they deliver something homemade. Here are 5 totally doable and kid-help friendly DIY gift ideas.

Stenciled napkins and tea towels

You can cut your own stencil designs out of cardstock with an exacto knife, or buy some plastic stencils from a craft store. Pre-wash some blank tea towels and napkins and iron out creases. Now, place your stencil overtop of the towel and secure with masking tape. Dip a stencil brush into it some fabric paint and dab the paint on the towel – don’t smear like you’re using a regular paintbrush. After applying a few coats, peel off the stencil and allow to dry. Fold and tie your tea towels and napkins together with kitchen twine and attach a gift tag to label your one of a kind threads!  Read more...

Make great looking gifts from recycled materials and things you find around the house.

Wrapping Paper

For the paper itself, use old newspapers, tissue paper (from your recent purchases perhaps)  or blue prints. You can acquire old blue prints by calling up a local contractor. Pro tip: Make sure you use the Arts & Life or Style section of the newspaper — a murder-suicide headline really saps the Christmas spirit. All these techniques can also be applied to paper shopping bags.

Potato Prints:

Cut potato in half and cut out holiday shapes in relief. (This part is for the grownups) We suggest pine trees, holly berries and leaves, stars, ornaments, snowflakes, snowmen and standard geometric shapes.

Paint stamps with a brush, or dip into a paint-filled plate. Pro tip: Make a “stamp pad” by soaking a piece of felt in the paint plate  — this gives a crisper potato print.  Read more...