Bleach printing (learn from my mistakes)

For Aidan’s birthday we went for a Mickey Mouse theme or tried to,  you remember the CHAOS?
 I really wanted to make him something unique and when I could not find any Mickey tops in his size (which he didn’t have already) I took it as my cue to craft 🙂 – who am I kidding, waking up is a cue to craft…
These T-shirts were on the sale rack at MrPrice which is obviously a sign to try bleach printing… (also I only have pink glitter fabric paint and wasn’t too sure of that)

They are not perfect but I like them 🙂  These were my first tries ever so I’m pretty sure the next ones will be even better… Aidan wears the black one with orange shorts as pj’s now
I used:
 bleach (will go for thick one next time and not work on a once beautiful table cloth)
Scissors
A decal
contact paper
t-shirt
cotton buds
Make a stencil with contact paper and cut out – you might want to print this and not wing it, I’m a winger…
Stick newspaper inside the T-shirt so bleach does not go right through
Dip cotton buds in bleach and make dots around where you stuck down stencil
_ I wanted to have a Heavy rock Mickey feel (because I like to be different) so I added a few random drops for that disheveled look (also my cotton bud control is not as awesome as I thought, but lets go with disheveled look story)
would probably go for a more precise finish in the future, but it worked




My little rock star on his birthday 🙂

To recap, this is a great craft with endless possibilities but BE CAREFUL, bleach is unforgiving and FAST acting so have your plan ahead of time…

Quick little Easter treat boxes

So maybe, just maybe, Easter kinda sprung up on me this year…It was Aidan’s birthday, big changes career wise, a few unfortunate happenings and just not enough hours in the day…
So when it dawned on me that I had not yet created anything Eastery for Aidan and his friends I needed something quick yet cute…This is what I came up with 🙂

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Nine Easter themed crafts

I have some time before church so thought I could do a craft… these are the ones I found, please link me to any fun crafts you might have 🙂  yeah for off days, glue and paint

Remembering the reason for the season
with applesandabcs
Easter Egg Potato Stamping Craft for Kids #easter craft for kids | CraftyMorning.com
This craftymorning stamp project is great

Forget the donkey! We're playing pin the tail on the bunny! A simple, mess free, and educational Easter game that preschoolers will love!
Maybe a variation of this to help with matching colours
from fromabctoacts
Paper Bag Bird Nest - easy add on for toddler bird crafts - Happy Hooligans
If I was having a easter party these would so be on the table
the idea is from happyhooligans

Easter Craft!!-this would be great to do with the younger kids that I babysit!!
did something similar to this last year…
Make a Chick Craft using a fork and paint! Such a cute craft for kids! #Easter idea
This craft from craftymorning should be a hit with my little artist
Easy Pom Pom Chicks Craft for kids #Homemade Easter card idea | http://www.sassydealz.com/2014/04/easy-pom-pom-chicks-craft-kids.html
These are adorable, thanks to sassydealz
I think my granddaughter would love making these Sprout buddies and watching the hair grow #poundlandeaster
This hometalk craft is awesome for when Aidan is a little older
Thumb Bunny Easter Craft for Kids.  Easter Crafts for Kids || The Chirping Moms
Thechirpingmoms crraft is soooo punny

hot cross buns, mostly sugar free…

I’m not nearly as good as I should be with the whole your body does not appreciate sugar thing and holiday’s are the most difficult… I looooove me some hot cross buns, simply LOVE so it’s awesome that Canderel has issued this (mostly) sugar free recipe….
wish me luck with baking 🙂


Serves: Makes 15


Ingredients: For the buns:

  • 4 cups self-raising flour
  • 6 sachets Canderel Yellow
  • 1tbsp mixed spice
  • large pinch salt
  • 1 sachet yeast
  • 60g cold butter, cubed
  • 1 cup (125g) sundried fruit cake mix
  • 2tbsp (25g) candied citrus peel
  • zest of one orange
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 cup warm milk

For the crosses:

  • 1/2 cup self raising flour
  • about 1/4 cup milk

For the glaze:

  • 2tbsp fine apricot jam
  • splash boiling water


Method:For the buns:
  1. Sift together the flour, Canderel, mixed spice and yeast. Add the butter cubes and work through the flour using your hands, rubbing the butter to combine with the flour, until it forms a grainy consistency.
  2. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the fruit cake mix, citrus peel, orange zest and egg. Add the milk and stir until combined.
  3. Tip the mixture onto a floured surface and knead for 10 to 15 minutes until the dough reaches an elastic and silky consistency.
  4. Place the dough in an oiled bowl and rub with a little oil to prevent a crust from forming. Cover with cling wrap and leave in a warm spot for 1 to 2 hours until the dough is doubled in size.
  5. Once risen, remove the cling wrap and punch it down. Divide the dough into 15 buns (about 75g each or 1/4 cup size) and roll them into smooth balls on a floured surface.
  6. Grease a baking tray and place the buns on the tray, about 2cm apart. Cover with cling wrap or a damp clean cloth and leave to stand for another hour. Heat the oven to 200°C.
For the crosses:
  1. Mix the milk and flour slowly to form a thick paste. Use a piping bag or bottle with a small nozzle to pipe a cross over each bun.
  2. Once they have their crosses, bake for 15 to 20 minutes on the middle shelf until the buns are golden brown.
For the glaze: 
  1. Add a splash of boiling water to the jam and stir until soft, but not too liquid.
  2. Once the buns are out of the oven, turn off the heat, brush the glaze over the top of each bun and return to the warm oven for 5 minutes.
  3. Remove and cool on a drying rack. Serve with butter.
*products for review

Kiddie crafts – a tree of sorts

Aidan loves Art Attack (A kids craft show on Disney) he LOVES it, seriously Art Atax  this and Art Atax that, he doesn’t seem to mind that it is badly dubbed and features a talking palm tree… Due to his love of watching people craft he has been wanting to “glue and pain like art atax” 

We have the painting down now, but I thought why not let the kid glue, he was so excited about the prospect…. so this is what we came up with

Aidan made this tree with glue and leaves he collected – As he is only just turning two, it’s not all that organised, but the craft would be awesome for older kids 
Just added this picture because it is just so cute, so as you were…
First find some leaves or/and clover to use in your craft
Get mom to draw a tree – in my defense, he is obsessed with people tracing his hand,
seriously you take out paper and he puts his hand down and nags till you draw it
so my tree is pretty crude as it’s just three hands – alternatively print a tree, or just don’t let your tot bully you into drawing a sucky tree
Decant some glue – cause if you give tiny tots the whole container you will be soooo sorry
then using a paintbrush (fork) put glue on the paper and stick down your leaves – Aidan insisted on glueing some pom-poms from his craft set down as well…I just let him do whatever when it comes to crafting (within reason)
Then fix mommy’s drawing … hmmmmm this kid

TA DAH! 

Peanut butter banana yogurt treats

I know I’ve been awol, but it’s with good reason, things are a changing up in these parts (cowboy impression) in fact, plan: becoming a WAHM is in full swing  – but more about that when all my ducks are in a more stable row.

Meanwhile my peanut butter loving bestie came up with another fun recipe idea for us…

Yummy yummy grab them straight out of the freezer!

Frozen yogurt topped anything is a win in my book
You need bananas, peanut butter and yogurt – For those of us with sugar related issues just substitute with insulin friendly brands
Cut the banana – Cut mine like this and freeze to add to smoothies 2 (just saying)
put peanut butter on half – any nut butter would work (Nutella counts right?) or skip this step
Make mini banana nut sarmies
Spoon yogurt over and freeze . . .  YUM!!!