< Playroom

Candy Striped Pencils
Fruity Art
Fizzy Drink Splutter
XXXtra Strong Bubble Mix
Dalek Alert!
Eiffel Eggs
Dye-ing Eggs
Blowing Eggs
Decorating Eggs

Aprons On...

... this is where you make the really mucky indoor stuff.

Candy Striped Pencils
You can’t get a simpler, more useful gift than a decorated pencil. Kids can make these easily. Use unvarnished natural wood pencils – I found these in Paperchase.
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Fruity Art
You can make fantastic animals out of summer fruits and vegetables. Think of an animal, then the fruit or veg that most resembles it (ie fluffy lamb = cauliflower), then start creating.
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Fizzy Drink Splutter
This is marvellously messy so best done outdoors.
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XXXtra Strong Bubble Mix
We've tried and tested many bubble mixes over the years and can categorically say this makes the best and biggest bubbles. Make the mix the night before your want to use it - it only takes ten minutes.
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Dalek Alert!
We had another challenge this week - how to make Monkey into a science-fiction character. My friend Maudie was doing Rose Tyler so I thought I'd do someone else from 'Dr Who' - a Dalek. We made it from an old plastic bottle, the top bit for the head of the Dalek and the bottom bit for the tank, spray painted silver.
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Eiffel Eggs
You can successfully smash eggs indoors, though it takes more brainpower than brawn.
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Dye-ing Eggs
Many craft shops sell specially produced dyes for eggs that give good, rich colours. You can also use food dyes - add 20 drops food colouring to 1 cup hot water and 1 tsp vinegar, and hard-boil the eggs in the liquid.
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Blowing Eggs
These beautiful ornaments look fantastic on the Easter Tree and will keep for years and years – just like your old Christmas tree baubles.
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Decorating Eggs
It's fun to get everyone together for a decorating and dye-ing session (allow two to five hard-boiled eggs per person). You can draw anything – bugs, faces, aliens or just pretty patterns. Acrylic paints work well though any paints will do and felt pens are easiest for young kids. The finished eggs look lovely in a bowl in the middle of the table.
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