May 15th 2015 - Making a banana

May 15th 2015 - making a banana

In my story sack for family learning I have a monkey.  In the book the monkey is eating a banana, so my son said that his monkey needs 1, so I found an idea to make a banana.  The 1 I found is made from felt, of which I don't have have the right colours, so I decided to make 1 from fabric.

I pinned yellow and white material together and cut out a sort of banana shape, I am stitching the 2 pieces of material together to make both the inside and outside of banana skin.  I have also made a white dome from 3 pieces of material to be the actual banana.  I am going to stuff it and stitch it all together.

May 14th 2015 - Pirate Treasure Chest

May 14th 2015 - Pirate Treasure Chest

Yesterday at family learning at the school I was given a wooden treasure chest to use as part of my story sack.  It was plain wood and not decorated.  I did the edges in a grey felt tip and coloured the box in brown.  When I got home I went over the grey with a silver sharpie pen and added "plank lines" with a darker brown sharpie.

I covered it all in clear nail varnish.  (maybe I should do a post 1 day of my many uses of nail varnish!!!)

I painted the inside of the box with a pale gold nail varnish and then added a gold glitter nail varnish over the top.

 I then added glitter/sparkle nail varnish to some gems left over from last years pirate party, and added them, a ring and various pirate coins to the treasure chest.

May 2nd 2015 - Royal Baby and pirate hand hand puppet

May 2nd 2015 - Royal baby and pirate hand puppet

CONGRATULATIONS

I send my congratulations to Kate & William (and all their family) on the arrival of their baby daughter today, the new Princess.  I hope that all is well with Mum and baby.


Pirate Hand Puppet

As part of my story sack with the family learning we were told we had to make a puppet to go in the sack.  We were all given a plain white hand puppet like this:

which we could decorate how we liked as long as linked to our book.  Well as my book is about pirates in underpants I decided I would make the puppet as a pirate in underpants.  This was all well and good saying so but not as easy in practise.  I could have drawn the design in fabric pens but me being me this wasn't going to look good enough!  So I got material out of the cupboard and started cutting and stitching.

Here is the start of the pirate with his top on:

From here I made a bandana for his head and gave him some hair (flash hit the face part making him look yellow):

I then added denim from an old pair of jeans to make his trousers - this are at the side of where the pants are visible in 1st pic.  I didn't get a pic of this stage.  From here I made a pair of pants from grey skull material and stitched them over the top of his "jeans" so they look like pants are over top of them. 

I think he's pretty good and i'm really pleased with him so far.  Obviously he's not quite finished as still need to add his face and his eye patch.  Only thing i'm not happy with is his hands - they were a very pale peach pen but they have come out quite orange but nothing I can do about it sadly.

April 22nd 2015 - Family Learning Story sacks

April 22nd 2015 - Family Learning Story sacks

Family Learning at the school has started a new course today - Story sacks.  This envolves us parents making a story sack based on a book.

We sat and discussed ideas that we could put in 1 based on a story about night pirates and included things like a pirate hat and eye patch, treasure chest and treasure, story book, fact book, map, material for the sea, moon and stars, a boat or ship, pirate puppets/finger puppets, pirate toys etc.

By next wednesday we need to have a story book and some ideas of what we are going to include in it.  Having 2 children at the school that did the last course with me I have got to decide if i'm making 1 between them (but as different ages this could be hard), or if i'm going to make 2 which means that they may not be as good as just 1.

I think this course could turn out to be really good.

Pirate party the event

Well after a mad couple of months of preperation for the pirate party the day of it arrived, and no it didnt go to plan!  This was NOT my doing but the weathers - 2days before the wind got up really strong and our heavy weight gazebo buckled and took flight.  1day before it rained all day and all night so was too wet on the grass to do most of the games so panic set in as to HOW I could do it all indoors.  The answer to this was move table from lounge-diner into small kitchen and move small sofa into dining area, which gave more room in lounge.

I started hanging the bunting around my room, really pleased with how it looked -

1 of the mums even said she wouldn't have had the patience to sit and make them.  We hung a 3ftx4ft skull flag between 2 of the upstairs windows -

 

 and added a cross to the door and a wooden sign on the garden bench -

I also had a mini treasure chest (picked up from sealife centre) filled with gems and coins and necklaces (bought and won in 2p machines on holiday) and we sat a halloween skull beside it -

Luckily the rain held off (even though ground was wet) and we were able to dig for treasue in the sandpit and walk the plank outside -

 

As it was bit windy we couldn't leave the sail/mast in the ship but took them out for a photo - I cant addon here as it contains all the children who were at party not just my own.  We played pass the parcel that had pirate themed forfits in and "canon ball bop" - where they had to keep their canon (black balloon) afloat and if it hit the floor they were out, and pin the patch on the pirate, they really enjoyed the "canon ball busrt" - black balloons which had confetti and sweets in and they had bounce on them to busrt them (so glad I have laminate flooring and it was easy to sweep up) -

All of the food we had was given a "piratey name".  We had:

• captain's cakes (birthday boy was captain)
• dead mans fingers - cocktail sausages
• pirate gems on a stick - fruit chunks of plastic swords
• rat poo clusters - chocolate rice crispie cakes
• golden nuggets - chicken nuggets
• golden rocks - cheese & pineapple
• desert islands - cheese pizzas
• hawaiian islands - ham & pineapple pizzas
• vegetable island - mixed salad bits in a plate with a "carrot n lettuce palm tree"
• canon balls - malteasers
• golden rings - hula hoop crisps
• sea scrolls - wafer tubes with liquorice laces tied round them
• pirates teeth - popcon

The cake stand WAS a circus themed one and had animals all over it - that was until i attacked it with black paint and glued cut out skulls on it.  I think it looked really good.

Everyone seemed to have fun and enjoy themselves, which is the main thing.  My lil man said he loved his birthday party.



OH AND AS A LAST THING - I have already stated the planning and decoration making for my eldest birthday in November which is neon/UV/glow in dark - watch this space!!!

Pirate party part 2

So preparation for the party is still in full swing!!!  but things are getting there slowly.

the point for the front of the ship and the anchor and chain are now complete and fully painted, and i have made the ships wheel from cardboard and wool and a wrapping paper tube.

I have also made a mast and sail (no photo yet), from my old expandable washing line prop (upright) and an expandable pole (paintbrush extender to go across), they are tied and then gaffa taped together in a cross and i have used a red/black/white curtain to make the sail, it is stitched onto the cross pole loosely.

I have now bought the rings, necklaces, plastic gems and plastic coins for the dig for treasure, and I have collected loads of small rough rocks which I painted gold to resemble good nuggets and I also collected beach/sea glass and sanded any sharp edges, these were also varnished to make them look shinier.  I bought small gold net bags to add the kids treasure to once they have found it.


The new gazebo is bought as well, so now have 3 BUT if asda still have theirs reduced this week will grab another one!  (yes my garden is big enough to house 4 gazebos and them still look lost!)

The food labels are printed, they need laminating though and need buy food week of party.  I have also made and printed a set of "pirate rules", and "honorary pirate certificates" for each child (will add names on day when children arrive), these are going to be tied with ribbon and put in party bags.

The "rag banners" are coming on well (no photo as yet), I have made 3 and have enough rags to make a further 2 that all match and then have loads of oddments that dont make the full repeated pattern but I can still use them to tie on fence, gazebo legs etc.  I also managed to pick up a 5ft pirate skull flag for £2.10 off amazon!

I managed to pick up pirate plates, bowls and servettes from poundland and they were packs were 15 not 8 like ebay were selling.  I also got a set of pirate cake cases and mini flags to go in them from poundland.

I managed to get a small (3ft round) blue paddling pool which is going to have blue ballons (with rice in so dont float away) as water, and the crocodile I made from the boys old "dragon onesie", to walk the plank, just need buy a scaffolding plank from B&Q.

 Whilst we were on holiday alot of the 2p machines had big "crystals/diamonds" in them in a variety of colours (similar to picture below) and we managed to win quite alot of them.  We also managed to pick up a treasure chest when we went to sea life centre.





I got a set of skittles from £1 shop and printed pictures of pirates and taped them on, much safer for knock the pirate over than the option of old bean tins painted as no sharp edges.


I *think* everything is sorted, I have a list of things I still need to do and need to buy (but most on it is food).  I have found loads of pirate songs that we will have playing during the party as well, i've pre-warned the neighbours. lol!

Pirate party revisited

2years ago my eldest son had a pirate and princess party, it went well considering it was at very short notice.  I got some banners printed on plastic of both pirate images and princess,

 

as well as a "pin the patch on the pirate game" and a "pin the crown on the princess game".  I made a pirate ship in about 2hours from cardboard boxes, brown paper, tape, glue and lego.

A friend printed out edible cake toppers for the main cake and small fairy cakes.

And as we already had disco lights we had a disco, and did normal party games.


WELL......My 4year old came home from school last week and told me that he had invited his teacher and TA and some of his friends round to our house for his pirate birthday party!  Luckily I still have all the plastic banners I had printed, I still have the template for the invite and the cake toppers, sadly the ship got broken when we moved house, but I can make a new one. 

However, as I have until August for lil mans birthday I plan to do things better this time round.  I wont be hiring a hall but having it at home, I have gazebos and plan to get another 1 (or 2) before his birthday.  I started hunting the net for pirate things and ideas and made a board on pinterest so that I could keep them all in one place.  I found a lovely banner but it was £15 for a 3ft length which will work out very expensive, so I decided to buy some long dresses and skirts off ebay in red/white/black stripes/spots/stars/patterns/skulls and plan to make my own once they all arrive by cutting strips of material and tying or stitching to rope.

some of the materials I have bought

My son then asked IF I could turn his wooden army fort into a pirate ship!!!  I know i'm good at crafts etc BUT this could prove hard.  But after a few hours thought I came up with a plan.  1.We pull the army netting back over the roof.  2.We use the spare wooden bits from where it was raised to make a triangle and place it against the side of the fort to look like the front of the ship.  3.We make an anchor and chain (see below) and lean against the front of the point.  4.We add a wheel to the inside (somehow) and 5.Maybe add a sheet as a flag, (again somehow).

The anchor and chain, now i'm really pleased with this as I wasnt sure HOW to do it, or even if it could be done as I don't want anything heavy that could hurt children or pets.  So I drew an anchor shape on cardboard, I cut it out and then scrunched up paper and masking taped it to the anchor on one side only so that it had a 3D image.  From here I added paper marche to it over 3 layers, letting each layer dry for 24hrs before doing the next one.  I then painted it with a mix of silver, orange and black acrylic paint (it still needs another coat of paint in pic).

 

 For the chain I used small paper plates.  I cut the ribbed outer edge off the plate, leaving a solid circle, I then cut the middle from this which is what I made the larger links from, and again cut a smaller ring from the solid center small circle, this made the small links.  They were linked together by cutting a slit in 1 ring and then masking tape it closed once the other rings were linked.  I then did the same on the chains as I did for the anchor by screwing up balls of paper and masking tape them onto one side and then paper marching it.  I will be painting the chains and adding to the anchor (will add photo at a later date.


I have also sat and trawled the net for food and games.

GAMES/IDEAS TO DO -

Buried treasure - each child can dig in the sand pit for: 2x necklaces, 1x ring, 2x gems, 10x coins,, 5 gold rocks (plastic jewellery & gems bought, rocks from beach painted gold and varnished)

Walk the plank - raised piece of wood over either a small paddling pool with water in or blue sheet on grass, toy crocodiles in it.

Pin the patch on the pirate game - picture of pirate and some sort of patch to stick on it, closet to where his eye is wins.

Hoop toss over a sword or hook - who can throw the most hoops onto a sword or hook wins.  Alternatively you could have a few fixed onto a board and points for each one and whoever gets the highest points wins

Decorate your own sword - pre cut out cardboard swords and have glue, gems, pens etc for the children to decorate their own swords (do this at the beginning of the party and they will be dry to take home.)  Make sure you write childrens names on back.

Pirate tattoos (and face paint) - do these at the beginning as all pirates have tattoos, check that children are ok with face paint before parents leave.

Pirate photo booth - Draw a picture of a pirate on cardboard and paint it, cut out the face, cut a slit in the middle at the bottom.  Take a small piece of cardboard and place a slit in the middle of top edge, this will be fixed into the slit on the pirate so it can stand up.  Child stands behind it and puts their face through the hole to have a photo taken as pirate.

Knock the pirates over - skittles with pirate pictures stuck on and bean bags/balls to knock them over, peson who gets most wins.

Pass the parcel with pirate forfits - Wrap the parcel and add a forfit to each layer, do 1 per person plus a couple of extra layers.  Forfits - *stand up and shout "ahoy me mateys", *squark like a parrot, *talk like a parrot and say "polly wants a cracker", *hop round the circle like peg leg jake, *dance a pirate jig, *name a pirate film, *sing a song like a drunken sailor, *go walk the plank, *stand up and say "yo ho ho and away we go", *Talk like a parrot and say "pieces of eight, pieces of eight", *stand up and say "shiver me timbers", *Stand up and say "this is me ship mateys", *stand up and say "where be me treasure", *pretend to swab the deck (sweep), *tell the joke - "what do you call a pirate who went to school?"......"smaaaaart",* tell the joke - "where do pirates go shopping?"......"at the maaaaaarket", *tell the joke - "what does a pirate put on his toast?"......."maaaaarmalade"

Pirate pinata - Make or buy a pinat and add sweets, home made badges, catcha-bubbles, confetti, etc

Pirate colouring pages and pens - leave some of these on a table incase they want to colour

Cannon ball bop - give each child a black balloon and on go they have to keep it in the air, any that hit the floor are out, winner is one who lasts longest.

Cannon ball fire - loads of black balloons, put sweets in some, confetti in others,  and leave some empty on go the kids have to "fire" (burst) all the cannon balls by bouncing on them with their bums.

Flap the fish - 2 fish shapes cut from tissue paper, 2 paper plates, split into 2 teams, place the fish on the floor infront of first person, using only the plate they need flap the fish down the room to set place and then back again, hand to next person who does the same, 1st team to have all players do it wins.

Musical pirates - like musical statues EXCEPT when the music stops they need dance like a pirate, last one to do it is out.

Feed the shark - draw a sharks head and open mouth onto cardboard, cut out the mouth.  using ping pong balls (12 pack for £1 in £1shop) they can each throw the balls through the mouth - most through wins (make older children stand further back than younger children.)

Treasure hunt - clues to find the hidden treasure or coins hidden around the place,

Musical islands - paper islands - each child has an island to start with placed on floor, when music stops they must stand on 1.  remove 1 island and go again, child without island is out.  last 1 wins.

Wheres the treasure hidden - piece of paper with treasure island/map in squares on it, get each child to put their name in 1 square when they arrive.  (pre-choose the treasure square and make a note of it) at the end of the party award a prize to whoever guessed correct or was the nearest.  (try and make the map the exact amount of squares for guests).

 FOOD -

canon balls - malteasers or blueberries or black olives

planks- twix bars or pretzel sticks or bread sticks

pollys crackers - mini cheddars

pirate ships - hot dogs with cocktail stick flag

pirate gems - chunks of fruit on kebab sticks

golden nuggets - chicken nuggets

swords - bread sticks and half grape near end

golden rings - hula hoop crisps

ocotopus legs - gummy worms

fresh fish bread - tuna sandwiches

pirate punch - water, blue food colouring and raspberry flavour 

sharks blood - red drink

pirate teeth - popcorn

pirates peg leg - sausage rolls

sea scrolls - "coffee" wafer biscuits (tubes) tied with a liquorice lace

veggie island - platter of sliced vegetables

golden rocks - cheese & pineapple

dead mans fingers - cocktail sausages

hawain islands - ham & pineapple pizzas

pirate islands - biscuits iced with treasure map lines and a x

I WILL ADD MORE ONCE I GET SORTED AND DEFINATELY ADD MORE AFTER THE PARTY.