Last Minute Christmas Crafts for Kids

Christmas might be just over a week away, but with many kids already on school holidays and those that aren't yet, will soon be, there's no better time, or reason to set your kids up with some of these fun Christmas crafts to get them in the festive mood and keep them occupied while you are making your own preparations for the big day!

The six crafts we have selected to share with you are simple and inexpensive, but are sure to delight your little ones!

1. Snow Globe Ornaments from iCraft Daily

2. Candy Cane Reindeer from DIY Center

3. Christmas Tree Window Decoration from Family Education

4. Pipe Cleaner Candy Canes from Fountain Avenue Kitchen

5. Popsicle Stick Christmas Trees from Revamp Homegoods

6. Nativity Finger Puppets from Craftaholics Anonymous 

Happy festive crafty fun!

6 Fun Craft & DIY Ideas with Washi Tape

Washi tape, or Japanese masking tape, has become very popular over the last few years for stationery lovers, crafters and DIYers alike, and for good reason! Washi tape is colourful, inexpensive and the translucent and non-permanent stick aspect makes it great for all kind of projects.

In this post we have gathered six fun craft and DIY ideas to fill your home with washi tape fabulousness. 

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1. Create your own wall design with coloured and patterned tape. This is great in kid's rooms where you might want to change things up every now and then, or if you live in a rental house where you don't want to make any permanent changes to the walls, but want to add some personality.

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2. You could use washi tape to display photos and mementos on your fridge, but why not take it a step further... create washi tape magnets! This fun tutorial shows you how to make the magnets look as though the tape has been torn. Such a fun way to be able to reuse your favourite tape over and over.

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3. For a more permanent wall display, why not create a pattern or geometric design on paper and frame it!? It is such a simple and cost effective way to add some interest and personality to your home.

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4. Create a play mat for your kids with washi tape. The colours and patterns of the tape are perfect for kids. Your little one will love their own city scape or countryside to explore and feed their imagination!

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5. Pretty push pins can cost a pretty penny, but it is super easy to make your own! All you need is, you guessed it, washi tape and metal push pins. You could even decorate the plastic kind. Simple, but effective!

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6. It couldn't get more basic than this! Upcycle your tin cans by removing their labels and prettying them up with some washi tape. Perfect for your craft table or the kid's crayons!

So there are six, simple, pretty and fun ideas for crafting and DIYing with washi tape. There are a plethora of them out there on the internet, so you can washi tape to your heart's content! Enjoy!

Unexpected Kid's Bed Linen

The sheets, blankets, pillows and cushions you choose for your child's bedroom doesn't have to be garish, branded and predictable! We love the idea of using pattern and unexpected design elements on kids' beds to help give their room sophistication, a sense of design and a sense of fun!

There are so many great options out there! Why not consider looking away from the children's section in your local department store. Many "adult" designs are available in single and king single sizes, or take a look online for amazing Australian designers who have a unique aesthetic. Here is a handful of great kid's linen that is anything but expected.

1a. Castle // Blue Velvet Quilt Cover

1b. Castle // Watermelon Penny Round Cushion

2. Incy Interiors // Croc Pastel Quilt and Pillowcase set

3. The Print Society // Sunny Days Pom Pom Cushion

4. Kate Lauren // Zachary Hunter Sheet Set

5. Ikea // Odestrad Quilt Cover and Pillowcase set

6. West Elm // Shibori Cushion Cover

Favourite Kid-Related Pins

If you have been around My Sweet Prints for any length of time you will know that we LOVE Pinterest! There are so many amazing things to be found! Inspiration for just about anything!

Today we wanted to share with you some of our favourite recent kid-related pins! We hope you love them! If you do, why not join us on Pinterest?

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Modern Retro Nursery Inspiration

We were inspired by our new Rock On print design to put together a moodboard for a modern nursery that has a retro twist, just like the print. We have used bold blocks of colour, angular, geometric furniture, and a touch of whimsey. The details are below.

1. Rock On print from My Sweet Prints
2. Sophia Cot from Incy Interiors
3. Henrick Sideboard from Matt Blatt
4. Chevy Cushion from Freedom
5. Maddox Cushion in Teal from Freedom
6. Maddox Cushion in Raspberry from Freedom
7. Themis Mobile from Poketo
8. Replica Eames Rar Rocker from Matt Blatt
9. Twitter Bird Lamp from Beacon Lighting
10. Kornum Cow Hide rug from Ikea

10 Spring Activities for Kids

Despite the warmest Winter on record in Sydney this year, it is nice to feel Spring in the air. Spring is a wonderful time of year for getting outside and exploring the natural world as everything around us seems to be waking from the slumber of Winter. It is an amazing opportunity to guide your little ones through exploration of the beauty of nature.

We have scoured the internet in search of some fun, crafty and educational activities to do with your kids this Spring. Get on out and celebrate this wonderful season!

1. Create a nature collage

2. Start a rock collection [image from here]

3. Grow some grass hair

4. Create a worm farm

5. Have a butterfly snack

6. Create a play garden

7. Make a flower sun catcher

8. Paint with dirt

9. Create a tin can wind chime

10. Go on a sound hunt

[all images from linked sources]

Australian Handmade Kids Fashion

Here at My Sweet Prints we are big advocates for buying handmade. We are fortunate in Australia that there are many amazing Aussie creators making gorgeous, quality handmade fashion for children. Our little ones deserve to look fantastic, and if you can do that while supporting a small Australian business, then that's all the better!

Here are some pieces we found on one of our favourite online marketplaces, Made It, to help your little fashionista/o strut their stuff!

[Indigogirl]

[Pigtails & Pirates]

[Little Boutique Kids]

[Ruby & Olive]

[Kids Agenda]

[The Bear & The Whale]

[Amelia's Attic]

[One String]

[Cheekee Monkeez]

[Bubby Makes Three]

Mummy Calling Cards

Life is busy, especially when you're a Mum. Have you ever been in the situation when you're in a rush, the kids are grumpy, you're juggling a million things and you need to give your details to someone? Maybe they want to arrange a play date, or maybe it's your child's soccer coach or dance teacher. The answer is easy! Rather than trying to remember your mobile number, searching through your bag for pen and paper, or spelling out your email address, simply hand them your Mummy Calling Card!

Mummy Calling Cards are basically business cards for Mums! They have all your details, plus the names of your kids and they make it super easy to give your details to anyone on a moment's notice!

There are a plethora of designers and websites out there offering fun designs for Mummy Calling Cards and above we have chosen some that caught out eye. Why not help your future busy self out and order some cards to have for the next time you need them!

1. The Pinwheel Press | 2. Olliegraphic | 3. Made By Bree | 4. Minted | 5. Loralee Lewis | 6. Tiny Prints

Kid's Photography Inspiration

Never before has it been so easy to snap a photo of your little ones! With nearly all of us toting smartphones around with us, there is a camera at hand at any given moment. Social Media networks like Instagram have encouraged us all to snap away at our daily lives and create beautiful images to share with the world.

There are a range of great apps out there that allow you to edit your photos easily, but why not consider  how you take your photos in the first place? An ordinary snapshot can be turned into something extraordinary simply by the way you frame the subject in the picture. One very effective technique is to come in close to your child and frame just one section of them, be it half their face, their hair, their tummy etc. Interesting framing is something that is easy to do and will help create special photos of your children.

We have found some examples to inspire you. Yes, these have been taken by professionals, but they will help give you ideas of how to set up and frame a photo of your kids.

Aren't these just lovely!?

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Kid's Playroom Inspiration

Kids need space to play and exercise not only their bodies, but their mind and imagination too. No other generation before has been catered to in the home as children are today, with many homes having a dedicated play room. How to you turn a room into a feast for the senses for your little ones? Well, we have gathered some inspiration to help spark your imagination when it comes to Kid's playrooms.

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Kid's Craft Ideas for the Long Weekend and School Holidays

With this weekend being a long weekend and the school holidays only just a few weeks away, we thought we'd help all the Mums out there and put together a collection of fun and simple craft activities to do with your kids. Keeping the little ones entertained while at home can be tricky, but the best part of these crafts is you are bound to have most of the supplies at home already, so no dragging the kids around the shops or spending lost of money! We hope you enjoy them!

1. Pinwheel Necklace | 2. Shaving Cream Bath Paint | 3. Rocket Pack | 4. Rapunzel Flower Clip-In Braids | 5. Neck Tie Snake | 6. Tin Can Windsock

Classic Kids' Bedrooms

There has been a trend to create super modern, eclectic bedrooms for our kids over the last few years, which we love, but there is something so endearing about a room that is designed with a classic look that is timeless. It will also grow with your child. We have found some gorgeous example of classic bedrooms for the little people, that you might just want to steal some ideas from!

Aren't they adorable? 

You can add that classic look to your child's bedroom with one of our fabulous prints.

S is for Sophie Print | Reading Corner Print | Vintage Initial Print | Canvas World Map

[image sources from top: Classic Navy Boy's Room | Pink and Purple Princess Room | Twin Teddies Bedroom | Monochrome Classic Bedroom | Rustically Classic Bedroom | Red, White and Blue Classic Bedroom]