11 March 2012

Mother's Day Craft Challenge - Tesco Magazine.

When Tesco Magazine contact you with an invitation, it's hard to say 'No!'  But when they include the word 'craft,' it's a given that that is my likely reply.

However, my boys and I watched the video they sent by a 'Home Expert' explaining it - a 'simple and thrifty' task for Mother's Day and (Bless 'em) they really wanted to go ahead.


We made this for under a fiver!

Well we don't do 'creative' much, or at all, if I'm honest, but friends of mine with girls are always at it.  I asked one of them if we could plunder her cupboard,in a bit of a panic because we don't have odd bits of hairbands / flowery hair clips, sequins, decorative felt and other stuff hanging around like the lady who did the demonstration seemed to have and I was convinced we couldn't really do this as a result.  She said she didn't know where to start as she had so much stuff, but she turned up later, having knocked these up from 'nothing' to show me how easy it can be:


Thank you Bev - a plant pot and trinket holder.

Inspired, we hunted down any old boxes hanging around, plus the challenge included using something non-smelly but airtight, for example an empty drinking chocolate carton, then some wrapping paper, ribbon, gift tags, glue and sellotape.

Before long we had transformed these 





 into these


But Robson wanted to go for 'man' paper and stuff.  He was very proud!



In fact he came up with an idea of adding feathers, but we don't have any of those either!  We bought the paper (49p per sheet) but you could add any bits and bobs.

Really clever, kind people with lovely mums might make some of Michelle's Utterly Scrummy   home-made truffles or Jenny's Cheetahs in my Shoes   Oreo Brownie Cupcakes which isn't just a wonderful gesture but also helps with the 'thrift' angle, if you're so inclined and it is something the children would love to be involved with as well.  These sites make your mouth water just looking at them.  They even make me want to bake - but let's not go too far!

One thing is for sure though, for not too much effort, it isn't difficult - or necessarily expensive - to come up with something a little more magical for Mother's Day if you want to and these boxes could contain anything you like - bulbs, a vase, memento / plaque sort of thing they do for this occasion, beautiful candle or holder or special teddy etc.etc.

I have a Birthday coming up and have already received flowers, from which I am keeping the box, cellophane and ribbon (normally binned), plus I will cut out any bits of Greetings cards that take my fancy for this sort of thing in the future.

The best bit about the Challenge:  We happened to enjoy it and it will change the way we wrap presents for ever!

The worst bit about the Challenge:  We happened to enjoy it and it will change the way we wrap presents for ever!


P.S. If you would like to watch the original video - it's here and you can see some other Bloggers' fab creations here.