I’m off galivanting around the world for a few weeks so I have lined up some some talented ladies to hold the fort while I’m gone. Hope you enjoy!

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Over my way, kids are more likely to be having a game of backyard cricket after Christmas lunch than building a snowman. So while I can’t speak from experience, I can say that this budget-friendly gift idea by Grace at Sense and Simplicity looks like a whole lot of fun. In fact, it’s rather getting me excited about seeing snow in Europe next week!

Anyone else struggle with thinking of what to give preteens and teenagers for Christmas? I have a slew of nieces and nephews ranging in age from 9 to 15 years and I wanted to give them each a Christmas gift. I needed to think of something that would interest a variety of ages, was gender neutral… and didn’t cost a fortune.

I decided to make them each a snowman lab in a box. I thought it might appeal to their sweet tooth/teeth and their funny bones.

Let’s see all the snowman parts:

I boxed all the snowman parts up, tied the box with some wool (my favourite thing to tie around packages), and added a tag.

Doesn’t that seem like something teens and pre-teens would like? What are you giving to children that age on your Christmas list?

- Grace

P.S. Thanks Alicia for posting my snowman parts on your very stylish and creative blog (and allowing me to say ‘poop’).  It was a complete honour to be included in your guest post line-up.

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About the guest poster:

I’m off travelling for the summer so I have some lovely guests holding the fort while I’m away. Today’s post comes to you from Nicole Herrick of Kids Style Hub. Take it away, Nicole!

It’s time to start collecting goodies for Christmas! If you’re a subscriber of this blog, you’re probably not the type of person to go shopping at Big W for your gifts. Instead, you trawl the markets and quirky stores for beautiful, unique pieces. This season, shop locally and buy gifts that are designed by your talented Aussie and NZ neighbours.

I love hearing stories from friends of the funny things their children have said. Sure, it might be nice to share with the friends and aunties on Facebook, but after a while they will be lost.

Capture those little pearls of wisdom with this darling free printable book from Delightful Distractions.

You can find it here at her blog.

I recently created this fun ‘Pin the braid on Rapunzel’ game graphic for Janice’s daughter’s Tangled-themed birthday party.

Here it is for you to use free for your own little princess. Just download the backdrop and braid and print them out out nice and big at your local copy shop. If you don’t have a big corkboard or similar, just use Blu-Tack instead of pins.

BHG

Organise anything that can be handy while out and about into clear zippered pouches. Store them near the door so you can grab the relevant bags as you rush out the door and you’ll always be ready for the day’s activities.

There seem to be so many toys and characters from my childhood popping back up these days. One of them is Eric Carle’s classic The Very Hungy Caterpillar. The book’s resurgence has spawned a fantastic array of merchandise and crafts ideas.

Themed party food on Spearmint Baby | Cake by Coco Cakes | Portmerion biscuit jar from Peters of Kensington | Knit mobile via Craft Zine by flickr user spinthrift115 | Baby costume by Sweet Love Creates

Whose birthday did I make these for? Not a son, or a nephew… Nope, they’re for my husband. Who says 27 is too old for Lego?

The cake turned out much smaller and messier than I hoped (it looks like Van Gogh did the icing) but I hope you’ll agree it’s not too bad for my first attempt at doing a novelty cake.

My method, if you want to try it yourself, was to bake a plain sponge cake and trim the edges to make it square. I then used round biscuit cutters to cut the cylinders out of the cake off-cuts. I iced the plain cake, then stuck the circles on and iced them.

For the biscuits, I used my favourite only biscuit recipe, rolled out the dough and cut around a cardboard template I’d made. I am hopeless at piping, so a tube of ready-made black piping gel is my new BFF.

I think I’m still high on all the sugar and food colouring.

Never mind baking, cupcake liners are a cheap and versatile craft supply. Check out some of these creative ideas:

Garland

Handmade Weddings

LacyJ

One Charming Party

String light covers

Real Simple | Rachael Ray

Flowers

Intimate Weddings | Oh Hello Friend

Pom poms

Martha Stewart | Kara’s Party Ideas via Emmaline Bride

Tree

Twig & Thistle

Wreath

Friday’s Child

Artwork

Do It Yourself

Fortune cookies

Family Fun

Jar covers

The Kitchn | Better Homes & Gardens

Gift toppers

Martha Stewart | Sweet Paul

Check out examples of my work or drop me a line to enquire or place your order.

I don’t have children but I imagine it would be pretty difficult to part with those itty bitty adorable baby clothes after they’ve been outgrown. Most of them can be donated to a friends or charity, but for those extra special items don’t just shove them in a box never to be seen again: treasure them every day with these ideas.

Photograph them and make into a journal (That’s Happy)

Frame them and hang in the child’s room (Liberty Biberty)

Create sun prints or make into a quilt (Martha Stewart)

 Have you got any ideas for cherishing your child’s baby clothes?

I’ve had this incredible room (originally found on Design*Sponge) in my inspiration files for the longest time but I could never seem to fit it into my posting schedule. The Before & After project I had planned to post is taking a little longer than expected (don’t they always?) so I thought I’d bring this makeover into the daylight at long last. Roll up and enjoy!

Holy awesome, right? It was created by stylist Kate Dixon and photographed by Jackson Visuals for a concept home so sadly there was no lucky little ringleader able to live here, but it’s still fantastic inspiration.