A LOVE FOR CRAFT //

Valentine's is days away and in all the shops are tacky teddy bears, soppy 'I love you cards' and red balloons which my daughter drags round all the isles! Not forgetting the roses which come in both sweet smelling flowers and mouth watering chocolates!

I always, always struggle to buy Wes something for Valentine's Day, it's the one day of the year where it is extremely necessary to declare your love for the main person in your life. 

This year GoCableTies has asked us to create something for there campaign 'A Love For Craft'

So as anyone would do, I trawled Pinterest to find something I could involved Falon with too! 

And we came up with a 3D frozen heart... 

And here's how... 

Unfortunately I was unable to photograph  the instructions as this make is very, very, very, very, sticky! So I will describe the instructions as thorough as I can! :-))

You will need:
2 modelling balloons
A pump (unless you have gorilla lungs)
White PVA glue
Water
Container (I used a Chinese tub because we all have one of those kicking about)
String or wool
Scissors
Pin or something sharp
Newspaper or cloth to cover work surface

1. Blow or pump the modelling balloons, make them as equal as possible leaving an inch or so of the end long. Tie the balloon then knot the end to the tail and repeat to the second balloon.

2. Cut up your string or wool into roughly 30cm (I prepared around 60 pieces). Pout the glue into the container and add a little bit of water making them glue runnier than usual.

3. This is the messy part. One piece at a time dunk your piece of string into the glue coating them completely but remove any excess glue. Start to wrap your gluey string around the balloon, criss-crossing in any way/direction you like. You want to be leaving the ballons with very few gaps but still covering the balloon. Leave over night to dry. I recommend on a plastic or glass surface or you'll end up with guey paper all over your crafty frozen heart.

4. The next day: Pop your balloons with your pin or sharp item and pull out/remove the balloon. Now move around your shapes and try to figure out the best way to create a heart. (I started with the bottom and put the ends together, applied glue and held until it was somewhat holding. For the top bit, I cut half the end off (sideways so makes half a cylinder then place the end of the other shape into the cut) and again apply glue and hold.

5. Now you have you heart shape. Cut some more string and repeat step 2 but over the joints you just made to strengthen the shape, Continue all around the shape too for extra strength! Leave to dry over night.

6. Tada! You have made your own frozen heart! You can hang it by your window and let the sun shine through! 

Also! Look at these candles I make over at Wax & Words! 

Perfect personalised handmade Valentine's gift! On the images below I've made some taper candles for our traditional Valentine's 3 course meal. They'll be sat on the table while he gets on one knee and proposes (hahaha, that's definitely wishful thinking!!) 

WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME //

"When are you having another?"

"Isn't it time you had another?"

"Are you having any more?"

"Aww Falon needs a brother or sister!" 

Those are a few of the frequent questions/sayings too me. And my answer? "I don't know!?" 

Not long after Falons 2nd birthday the questions started to coming in, my immediate reaction was always "not yet.." But of course one day, not knowing when.. I would love to have another addition to our family.  I would actually love 3 children. Coming from a big family myself, I know I would want my own children to feel the love, happiness and security I did growing up. And now my sisters are my best friends! Growing up I had always imagined being the typical house wife in the kitchen cooking and cleaning with children playing outside ( twins: 2 boys and a girl to be precise) and I even had their names planned! 

But when is the right time?

Falon wasn't planned, she was a beautiful blessing and huge surprise!! But I always knew that in the future I wanted children. And now I feel like this is my calling. What did I do before being a mother. 

I worry that Falon will feel she won't have my full attention. And that's probably the main reason I haven't wanted to have another baby just yet. Now she's in nursery, I have time to bring up another baby, which is what I always said I would wait for, but she's full of questions and is inspired by everything and anything and I don't want to miss a second with her. 

When I ask her if she'd like a brother or sister her reply is alway "no mummy, i want a dog" ha ha! 

How did you feel when you was pregnant? Please tell me I'm not the only one worrying when is the right time or if there is a right time!? What is the age gap/s between your children? 

31 WAYS TO BE HAPPY //

I saw this on my Facebook feed a while back and saved it. I'm a huge believer in you, and you only, are the only true creator of your own happiness. 

But is it possible that this list can make you a happier person?

As I went through the list, I only did a handful.. 

6. Over dress for the occasion: apart from last night when I went for tea with the girls.. Always over dress! It's a GREAT confidence boost, when you look good, you feel good!! 

11. Create a little mischief: I am the creator of mischief in this house/family. Im relieved my family are light hearted and share the same sense of humour with me! It's always funny to play pranks, you always end up laughing, and laughing is the best way to make you feel happy! 

12. Tell someone you love them: always, I say it, all day everyday. To my daughter, to my boyfriend (he's actually sick of hearing it ha ha) to my sisters and my friends. I love them, I love them all. 

16. Buy yourself flowers: if he won't, who will? At least I can pick the right bunch that will fit the colour scheme of my house, I'm not to picky really, but buying flowers for yourself makes me happy! 

17. Smile on every commute: strangers probably think I'm some sort of creep. I smile all the time. It's always important to be kind, even when it's not reciprocated, but when it is, you feel a better person. 

18. Do something you loved as a kid: well, this ones easy. Now I have a daughter, it's the best happiness anyway. But my favourite childhood memory is building dens! Now, I can recreate that, and all my other childhood memories again, with my girl. 

23. Pay someone a compliment: definitely! I am forever complimenting people, always prying over their wardrobes, their  make up "oh my goodness I love that jacket on you, it really suits you" .. "Please do my eye make-up like that, because yours looks amazing!" My friends and boyfriend especially, it's always good to let them know how much you appreciate them on your life. 

25. Enjoy a bubble bath: speaks for itself. Mine are gradually getting longer as my girl has gotten older, but ahhhhhh, bliss. Even the thought of one gets me excited! 

28. Hug someone for at least 20 seconds: im a hugger, I'm like rose from titanic "I'll never let go" .. Falon is forever saying "get off me mummy!!" Correct me if I'm wrong, I think it has actually been scientifically proven hugging makes you happy! So try it!!

How many of these do you do? And which are you going to try? 

 

 

INTRODUCTION //

Everyone seems to be blogging, whether it be about the latest trends, what's in their wardrobe, how to raise their children.. Everyone is doing it. So I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon. 

I have previously blogged before, last time I used it more of a diary, and it became personal so I gave it up. However I'm here to start a fresh. I thought I'd keep my original name of Champers & Pampers. I chose this name 3 years ago because I gave up my life of 'trying' to flourish as a woman, buying high end clothes to hang in my wardrobe and wearing far too expensive make up for a never ending waging war against nappies. 

I will be blogging about everything that's relevant in my life. I thoroughly enjoy crafting, I have my own super small business in personalising candles, (you can find me on Instagram @wax_words) I i am extremely house proud so on here you'll also find snippets of my home and my aspirations of what I'd love my dream house to be. 

As I have a daughter, of course as anybody would a beautiful girl, I LOVE styling her up. So also on my blog you'll see where I find her clothes from and who my style icons are for her. 

I'm excited to see how far I can go with this!