Game Schooling Mama: July 2014

Thursday, 31 July 2014

Crochet Rose Flowers Pattern

Hey guys

I just wanted to show you one of the patterns I have been using to make some flowers for The Craft Club Little Havens Hospice yarnbomb that I told you about in a previous post this month.

It is super duper easy so why not give it a go and send your creations towards the yarnbomb world record attempt.

This is the first time I have written a pattern so I hope it makes sense!

You will need :

4mm crochet hook
Yarn
Yarn needle
Scissors

Start with a slip knot on your hook.
Chain 63
Dc in 4th Ch from hook and ever chain for the rest of the total (60 Dc)
Turn
In 3rd stitch work 6 Dc in same stitch
Skip a stitch, 1 sc in next stitch.
*Skip a stitch, 6 Dc in next stitch, skip a stitch, 1 sc in next stitch * repeat this until the end of the row. (this should make a scalloped effect)
Chain 1 and pull through end making a knot, cut yarn leaving a long tail for sewing.

Roll up your work to make the rose and sew through the bottom several times to hold it together.

Voila!

Any questions please ask in the comments below.

DIY: Fimo Polymer Clay Crochet Hook Decoration

fimo polymer clay crochet hook hooks decoration handle thumb grip

Hey guys

I have a fun craft evening the other night and of course Instagram was the reason why! I stumbled across some amazing picture on Instagram of people who decorate their crochet hooks using polymer clay. Not only does it make them more comfortable to hold but they look bloomin' awesome too!

Like always once I get a bee in my bonet, I scoured the net for tutorials and found an awesome one on YouTube. After work I went to a shop called The Range and purchased 3 packs of Fimo polymer clay and got to work.

Once I was happy with the designs you put them in the oven and bake them so that the polymer clay goes hard. I really want to do the rest of my hooks in different colours now!

What do you think?? Let me know in the comments below!

L’Oreal Preference Glam Highlights Kit Review

l'oreal preference glam highlights kit hair dye home DIY

Hey guys

Last week I decided my hair was starting to look a bit dull for my liking. I usually get my highlights done by my hairdresser every 3-4 months and she has been on maternity leave since I last had them seen to in March. Enough was enough, I must bite the bullet and figure something out.

I decided all the hairdressers around here were much too expensive. I saw an advert on the tele for the L’Oreal Preference Glam Highlights Kit and thought to myself “it couldn’t be much easier” so purchased 2 boxes of the lightest shade 01 the next day. (I have A LOT of hair – normally it takes 3 boxes. Although I have to say I would have only needed 1 box in this instance which was very surprising. I did still use both boxes and smother it but in hindsight 1 would have been fine).

The kit worked really well I must admit. I sectioned off my hair doing the bottom sections first and slowly working my way up the layers, it really was easy. It did take me a while to do but only because I have abnormally thick hair.

One brilliant thing is that the specially designed comb that comes with the kit can be kept and used time and time again, and you could use it with any hair dye, it doesn’t have to be the L’Oreal ones. In a couple of months once this has settled, I plan to go lighter still and use a more platinum ash blonde for highlights and intend to use the nifty comb again to do it.

All in all I would definitely recommend this product to anyone who would like to use a home highlighting kit and doesn’t want to use the dreaded cap method!

Have you used this kit before? If so, what did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

Tuesday, 29 July 2014

Green Smoothies - my recipe

green smoothie recipe spinach raspberries berries bananas yoghurt

I'll admit it, I have jumped on the green smoothie band wagon and I am loving it!

I have traded in my old breakfast of cereal and have replaced it with a daily green smoothie to start my day.

Here is what I put in my green smoothies:

1 handful of frozen berries of some sort( raspberries, summer berry mix etc).
2 bananas
1 large handful of washed spinach
2 table spoons of Alpro vanilla yoghurt
1 splash of orange juice
1 splash of water

Blend it all together ~ bellisimo!

I am really keen to find out new green smoothie recipes so if you know one, please leave it in the comments below.

DIY: My crochet hook case holder

crochet hook case stitch markers pockets holder craft crocheting crocheter

Hey lovely readers!

Today, I just wanted to quickly show you my latest crochet project, a gorgeous crochet hook case! It has pockets for each of my crochet hooks and I have also attached my stitch markers to be held in it also. So now I have everything I need for my crochet projects all in one place!

I am thinking of filming a YouTube video on how to make this, let me know in the comments below if you would be interested in this.

Thanks for stopping by!

Thursday, 17 July 2014

The Craft Club Havens Hospice World Record Yarnbomb Attempt

the craft club yarnbombers havens hospice little havens world record attempt mystical woodland yarnbomb

CALLING ALL CROCHETERS!!!

Anyone who is reading this that knows how to crochet no matter what your skill level, The Craft Club needs your help!

They are attempting to break the world record for the biggest yarnbomb made up of individual pieces, they need around 4,500 items! At the moment they are on about 1,500 so have a long way to go before 23rd August 2014. If everyone even made one item, even if just a simple flower, it really could help them to smash the world record AND help the poorly terminally ill children that Little Havens look after so caringly, beam from enjoyment and happiness - I for one think that sounds worth an hour of your time.

Be sure to spread the word about what they are doing, they need as much help as possible. If you know anyone else who can crochet, tell them too! Share the Facebook page, tweet them on twitter, find them on Instagram, they are everywhere!

They have received donated crochet items from all over the world, America, Japan, (they havent yet reached Australia but there is still time!). I know if all my fellow crocheters club together we can create something wonderful and thinking of how happy the children are going to be seeing the mystical woodland makes it 100% worth it.

Thanks for reading guys, as you can probably tell I am very passionate about this cause!

Robin Sparkles

Monday, 7 July 2014

Papercut for Filofax

filofax planner papercut glitter paper card teacher

Hey sparkles

A little while ago I was asked by my sister to make her a papercut to go in the front of her work Filofax. She is a teacher and so wanted her name in the front, and had wanted to use glitter paper for this following some inspiration she found on Pinterest.

She ordered the glitter paper and told me the font she wanted to use. Armed with my scalpel and cutting mat I set to work and knocked this up for her in a couple of hours! She has since put black paper behind it to show up the papercut more clearly and I have heard it looks fantastic.

So smiles all round, another happy customer!

Let me know if you would be interested in buying a papercut like this for your Filofax as I might consider starting to make them.

Thursday, 3 July 2014

Dog Passport - How to get one for your pooch

dog travel france europe pet passport vaccination microchip

Today I wanted to talk to you about dog passports and how you get one.

We are taking a driving trip later on this year to France and really wanted to take our pooch with us. We tend to go on one small holiday a year with her, up until now it has always been to a location in the UK, however this time we are going to brave it and take la chien to la France!

What is involved I hear you ask? Well, thankfully the rules changed about a year ago and got a little less complicated and a little easier to follow! All the information can be found on the Government website but I thought I would lay it out here.

For your pet to travel in Europe they must have:-

A pet passport
A microchip
A rabies vaccination
A tapeworm treatment (for dogs only)

My dog already had a microchip, so I needed to tick the other three boxes. I made an appointment with my pooches vets and took her in to get her paperwork. They simply scan her microchip to check it is working, check she has a good bill of health, administer the rabies vaccination which consists of a single injection (poor girl) and fill out the passport paperwork. Most of the time is in the paperwork. This cost be approximately £90 for the passport and rabies vaccination but I am told if you keep the passport up to date it lasts forever and she will just need rabies boosters every 3 years at a greatly reduced price.

The tapeworn treatment is the last thing I need to sort and is the one bit that scares me. This needs to be administered to her by a vet in France no less than 24 hours before we are returning to the UK but no earlier than 5 days before we are returning to the UK. So I must find a vets practice in France that is licenced to do pet passports as they will need to administer the tapeworm treatment and stamp her passport to show she has had it.

I am freaking out about this step a little bit but I think if I am organised and book the appointment at a licenced pet passport vet before we have even gone then nothing should go wrong. The last thing I want in this world is to get my precious girl stuck in France for 3 months for the sake of a week holiday. Wish me luck!

I hope this answered any little questions for someone that might be considering doing this at the moment. That is the way the rules stand. We are travelling via Le Shuttle (Eurotunnel) and there is a pet passport checking office that you need to go to before you check in at the terminal to leave France. I am told it is all very well sign posted and not a problem at all. ARGH, scared now thinking about it...breathe!

Have you taken your pet to France or abroad? How did you find it? Let me know in the comments below.