'Biscuit' the Kinder Puppy

My eldest daughter is in 4yo kindergarten and had the privilege of taking home the class puppy 'Biscuit' last week. Biscuit is new to the class and comes with a special book filled with pages to detail how he spent his time at your home on an adventure!

The weather in Melbourne this past week has been chilly and wet. The perfect weather for crocheting in front of the TV once the girls are tucked up in bed. I decided to pull the crochet hook out - it's been in hiding for so long I can't even tell you what I last crocheted! Needless to say, Biscuit had a 'ball' with his new toys. The bone in particular was taking my crocheting to a new level with so much increasing and decreasing I had two marker rings going at one point! I'm sure all Penny's classmates will love their new puppy and his toys and go on many adventures together.

Here are the links to the patterns if interested: Water Bowl & Bone Pattern, Toy Crochet Ball

Olive's Teddy Bears Picnic

Teddy Bears at the Beach Birthday Cake

Children's birthday parties.... just the mere thought of throwing a birthday party fills most mums with anxiety and overwhelming exhaustion! I hosted a BIG first birthday for my eldest daughter five years ago inviting pretty much everyone we knew and celebrating in our backyard. Plus she also had a rather large 4th birthday party last year that was probably a little over-the-top looking back. But hey, you're only four once!

So taking these two "events" into account, I thought it was only fair to do the same for my second daughter (to try and prove the second child doesn't get forgotten with less parties, less photos, less one-on-one play time, less fuss etc!) To be honest I didn't really have much enthusiasm to pull it all together but I sure am glad I did. She thoroughly enjoyed herself and beautiful memories were made!

I decided on a 'Teddy Bears Picnic' because the theory was to have something simple down at the local park so all I had to do was buy some sausages and throw all the used napkins into a plastic garbage bag and walk away. Hahahahahha..... yeah that didn't happen. We ended up inviting all her little friends to our home and were blessed with the most beautiful sunny day in a very cold and miserable week! Luckily I have a very clever girlfriend who made the little Tiny Teddy racing cars and tea cups for me, plus my aunt made some special Honey Crackles for the little bears to enjoy! The bigger bears LOVED my gourmet sausage BBQ with home made onion relish. Such an easy way to feed a crowd on a crisp Sunday afternoon!

I also made all my own decorations using my Photoshop that I was given for Christmas (but I'll write something about that experience another time!). So here's to Olive. A beautiful and serious little bub who has bought nothing but joy and happiness to our dear little family. Happy Birthday sweetheart. Mummy loves you

Frozen Necklace Pendants

My little (almost) 5 yo has a slight obsession with Elsa from the latest Disney Princess' movie 'FROZEN'. Scrolling through Etsy one evening I can across these very cute little digital clip art file for some glass tile pendants so I made her a couple. Anyway, they haven't left her neck so I thought I'd list some on my Facebook page to see if they generate any interest. Head on over to the Ernie & Bird Facebook page if you would like to place an order before they go onto my Etsy store!

Etsy April Discount Coupon

Interested in setting up a rewards program for your little one? The Ernie & Bird Digital Download Chores and Reward Charts are a fantastic way to to help guide your child in the right direction while showing them what can be achieved by doing so! Write your child's goals (or chores) in the first column along with their 'reward' at the end of the week if they achieve their goals. The Rewards Chart comes with a page of 'Extras' which includes both days of the week and weather conditions PLUS some little icons to move around the chart and have fun with!

Enter the Coupon Code 'APRILSALE' to receive $2 off your purchase at etsy.com/au/shop/ernieandbird

Lavender Cuddle Bag Sale!

I am trying to sell the end of my Cuddle Bag range and have marked them all down from $15 to only $10ea! These gorgeous Cuddle Bags are made with cotton and corduroy fabrics and filled with Australian grown wheat and lavender. They can be used as heat packs that are heated in the microwave or cold packs that are kept in the freezer.

Cuddle Bags easily mould to the contour of your body and are perfect to cuddle up on the lounge with, use while traveling or take to bed to keep your tootsies warm! As they are filled with lavender they are an excellent sleep companion and may assist in settling young children and relaxing adults!

Directions: Due to the variety or microwaves out there, heating is recommended in 10 second increments to ensure the wheat does not overheat and burn (not a pleasant smell at all!) Cuddle Bags measure approximately 25cm x 20cm.

Postage: Postage fee is for 650g cuddle bag/s to be sent in a 3KG Australia Post satchel. Combined postage for up to FIVE Cuddle Bags at an additional charge of 50 cents per bag to cover listing fees. Pick up is available from Carrum Downs Victoria on request.

Visit my madeit store to see all my items currently listed for sale HERE

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'All About Me' Activity Sheet

I've been looking for a good 'All About Me' activity sheet for my daughter to fill in every now and then to file away for memories. After searching the internet high and low I thought I may as well just create my own! Please feel free to download the 2 pages and use them for your own children! You can download them by clicking the images which will take you to my document library. 

MOPS Craft Lesson - Face Washer Bunnies

Yesterday my local MOPS (Mother's of Pre-Schoolers) group celebrated Easter for our final meeting of Term One. As a member of the creative team, we came up with the idea of teaching the ladies 'How to Make Face Washer Bunnies'. Everyone had fun being creative and decorating their own little bunny rabbits to give as gifts to loved ones next weekend. They are super easy to make and a great craft activity for children (chocolate eggs are an optional extra!)

Tutorial instructions are available HERE

Lavender Cuddle Bags

Thank you to madeit.com.au for featuring Ernie and Bird on their website's homepage today as part of their 'The Hungry Caterpillar' showcase! 

Ernie and Bird Lavender Cuddle Bags are made with cotton and corduroy fabrics and filled with Australian grown wheat and lavender. Ernie & Bird Cuddle Bags can be used as heat packs that are heated in the microwave or cold packs that are kept in the freezer.

Cuddle Bags easily mould to the contour of your body and are perfect to cuddle up on the lounge with, use while traveling or take to bed to keep your tootsies warm! As they are filled with lavender they are an excellent sleep companion and may assist in settling young children and relaxing adults! 

Due to the variety or microwaves out there, heating is recommended in 10 second increments to ensure the wheat does not overheat and burn (not a pleasant smell at all!) Cuddle Bags measure approximately 25cm x 20cm. Lavender Cuddle Bags are $15ea and can be purchased online

MOPS Craft & Creative Team

I have been going to my local Mothers of Pre-Schoolers (MOPS) group for the past 12 months and was asked to join the Craft & Creative team for 2013. We meet once a fortnight and basically my new role is to come up with a craft/creative activity for around 20-25 women to do while enjoying a couple of hours without the kids (they have wonderful carers who watch them - we don't just leave them at home!)

So this year's theme is all about 'taking the Plunge into life' and loving as if our life depended on it! Our first mission was to come up with a 'Plunge' themed tablecloth for the craft table. Considering the table measures 3.5m x 3.5m I thought it would be easier to decorate a smaller tablecloth and use it as a centerpiece rather than make a monstrosity of a tablecloth (and try and throw more hours at it than I have to spare!). 

As I really enjoy sewing, I thought I'd applique the theme onto a basic white 1.8m x 1.8m tablecloth. Obviously I didn't have a template that large to work with so I had to sketch the logo onto A3 sheets of paper to use as my guide. Here's the finished product laid across my bed and I'm pretty please with the end result! The water droplets are a metallic fabric that was testing to aplique but I like the 'bubble' effect.

Chocolate Spider Cupcakes

How fantastic are these Spider Cupcakes! Perfect for an afternoon treat or themed birthday party. I came across these on The Age website and thought they were worth sharing!  These are quick to prepare and so rich and fudgy adults can enjoy them too.

Ingredients

250g butter
250g dark chocolate
6 eggs
310g castor sugar
70g plain flour
90g plain yoghurt
500g icing sugar
30g dark cocoa powder
48 Tic Tacs
200g liquorice strips cut into 4cm long, thin strips

Method

Pre-heat oven to 170C. Melt butter and chocolate in a bowl over simmering water. Whisk eggs and castor sugar on high for 10 minutes. Fold through chocolate and butter and then flour. Spoon mixture into 24 large cup cake pans and bake for 15 minutes. Allow to cool. Mix together yoghurt and 300 grams icing sugar and spread over cup cakes. Mix together remaining icing sugar, cocoa and just enough water to make a smooth icing that is not too runny. Spread onto tops of cup cakes to create spider bodies and heads. Use tic tacs for eyes and liquorice strips for legs. Makes about 24

Read more: http://www.essentialkids.com.au/recipes/party-food/chocolate-spider-cup-cakes-20111019-1m6lz.html#ixzz2AMvDw5Qp

Ernie & Bird Dancing Ribbon Rings

Ernie & Bird Dancing Ribbon Rings are so much fun! Your child will love running around the garden playing with these beautiful ribbon rings and using his/her imagination! They are perfect for creative play, dance school costume accessories, supporting your favourite sports team or even hanging from a hook and watching them move in a soft breeze in your child's bedroom!

Each dancing ribbon ring is sold separately to allow you to collect a variety of different colours and themes. Dancing ribbon rings measure approximately 60-70cm and are secured to a 8cm wooden ring and feature 5 jingle bells.

This makes a GREAT gift for any child over 3 years of age due to small choking hazards. If you would like me to gift wrap and send a special note with the item at no extra charge, or need it shipped directly to the recipient please let me know in the note to seller box at checkout.

To view the entire collection visit my shop at www.madeit.com.au/ernieandbird Don't see a colour theme you like? I can happily make custom orders! Simply contact me with your colour request!

How to make a bird mobile

I went shopping in Caterbury's Maling Road with a girlfriend the end of last year and visited this adorable children's gift shop. A gorgeous little bird mobile caught my eye. After close inspection I decided I would be able to make one just as good if not prettier! Feel free to make your own version...

Pick your favourite colour scheme and select 4 different types of material. Roughly sketch a shape of a bird with a small wing and cut out two birds and two wings of each material. You will need to ensure you reverse the bird template for the second bird and wing so you can flip them (as shown below). Sew the wings onto each bird using a different material. I used a zig zag stitch and then also used tic tac to border two of the bird's wings.

Once you have sewn on the wings fold both sides of the bird facing one another. Sew around the outer edge leaving an inch gap at the bottom to allow for stuffing. Turn inside out and iron flat. Stuff each bird (I also placed a bell in each beak so they jingle) then stitch close the seam. Your little birds should now be complete.

Choose a ribbon that suits your colour scheme and using a large needle, thread the ribbon through the birds in your order of preference. Sew the end of the ribbon around a ring or simply tie a bow to hang from. Tie a bell at the other end and you should have an adorable little bird mobile!