This post is sponsored by Digital Parents

One of the most magical things about Christmas time, for me, are all the marvellous decorations.

We all complain as the shops put them up earlier year by year, but there's something about hanging decorations that brings the festive season together and can instantly turn average spaces into magical Christmas Wonderlands.

Here is a fabulously simple craft that you can make with the kids.

Christmas Lanterns

Materials: Paper Lanterns (buy inexpensively from variety shops or dirt cheap off ebay), sponges, paint, scissors, fishing/jewellery line, 3M Command Clear Decorating Clips

Cut shapes from your sponges. We chose a star design but you could try bell/tree/angel shapes etc

Note:Cut a different sponge shape for each colour you are using. We used 2 colours so I cut 2 large stars and 2 small stars. This is because it will take forever to get all the colour out of the sponge if you wanted to switch colours. Much easier just to use new sponges for each colour.

Press your sponge shape into your paint

Hint: Do not leave your sponge sitting in your paint, it will absorb it. If you're finding your sponge getting too damp you will need to wring it out as it absorbs the water out of the paint.

Then press it carefully onto your expanded paper lantern. 

Press down on all areas of the sponge shape to transfer the paint.

Carefully peel off your shape. If there are patches you have missed you can sponge them in or leave them for that extra character.

If you're using different sized sponge stamps, start with the larger shape and then use the smaller shapes to fill in the gaps.

Your lanterns should sit on the table but if they have wet paint where it may roll, you can stand them on a glass to dry.

We went with the traditional red and white and used a mix of large, medium and small lanterns. 

You can easily adjust the colours to suit your theme

When dry, attach fishing/jewellery line at your desired lengths. (A good way is to cut double the length you need and attach both ends to the wire in the lanterns. You can then just loop them over the hooks)

Using the Command Clear Decorating clips, position your clear hooks on the ceiling where you want your lanterns to hang. (We went with over the dining table)

After following the instructions on the hooks, your lanterns are ready to hang.

As you can see in the pic, the Command Clear range of hooks are hard to spot.

The hook is great for hanging just about everywhere, even upside down like this as they hook around so nothing can fall off.

My camera had a terrible time trying to focus on this hook on the ceiling. It focused better on the fishing line!

Ta-daa! The combination of the 3M Command Clear Hooks and the fishing line mean that even when you are quite close up, the lanterns appear to be floating over the table.

We were really happy with the result (and, after Christmas, we can always use them again in different ways as the design isn't over the top Christmas).

................................................................

Since discovering the 3M Command Clear Hooks range, I must admit that I've been really enjoying using them in so many different ways. I've been happy to use them just about everywhere because they are easy to use and they come off cleanly and without damaging my walls (or ceilings).

They work especially well on the dark wood of the front door to hang the Christmas wreath and it's great to finally have something that also isn't going to damage the door in any way (shame about the thumb tac hole from last year!)

Not that you can see in the pics above, but we actually left the unused hooks from our earlier decorating on the ceiling still as you can barely notice them and we figure we may one day use them again :)


Click here to see a FAB-U-LOUS way to use the clear hooks. We're doing a similar design at home on the window (post coming).

I could finally hang this Christmas Advent Calendar that I've struggled to hang properly each year! A Command Small Clear Hook was the perfect size.

My 3 year old is loving that it's hung at her height and she's always in there counting the numbers now.

We also used the 3M Command Clear Hooks, teamed with Paper lanterns in the following 2 posts.

(yes, we love them! haha You can click on the links to see more details)

Easy Spotty Paper Lanterns

Very Hungry Caterpillar lanterns

Your Chance to Win

***COMPETITION NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to our Winners

Lbd. bawden

Nic

Jodie Daley

Emily_lelean

Lynda Black

Please contact me with your name and postage details

I've been so happy using the Clear Hooks range for all my decorating and now

3M want to help you with your decorating too!

Thanks to 3M

5 lucky Learn with Play at home readers will win

A Command Clear Hooks product prize pack

Individually priced from $6.99 (RRP). Available from all leading supermarkets and retail outlets across Australia. 

Total of 5 Prize Packs valued at over $180

How To Win

***COMPETITION NOW CLOSED***

Leave a comment on this post telling us what you'll be hanging this Christmas. 

The 5 most creative responses will each win a Product Prize pack valued at $36.35 each

Terms and Conditions

- Apologies but this giveaway is open for Australian Residents Only

- The competition ends Tuesday 27th November at 9pm (EST)

- The winners are chosen based on originality and creativity

- Entrants will need to provide a valid email address

- Winners will be contacted via email and announced on this post and via FB and Twitter on Wednesday 28th Nov. Winners will need to get in contact and provide their postal address within 48 hours or the prize will be redrawn.

Good Luck & Happy Decorating,

Debs :)

{Disclosure: this is a paid post for 3M sponsored via Digital Parents Collective. We received some Command Clear Hooks to review for this post. Opinions expressed in this post, as always are purely my own}

New Here? Subscribe to get all activities sent directly to you

Enter your email address:


Delivered by FeedBurner

Are you on Facebook? We are and we'd love to see you there. You can also find us on Pinterest, Twitter  and G+ too. :) 

Continue reading...

Today we just did a super simple little craft. 

It kept us amused, practiced fine-motor skills, worked on colour recognition, made us aware of spacing and in the end, we had some cool and unique Kids Room Decor lanterns to hang in my daughters room

Ages: 2-6+

(M was 3y/o. See the Handy Tips at the bottom for ideas to Simplify or Extend for your child)

Materials: Paper lanterns (You can source these  inexpensively from your local discount variety shops or ebay! These cost me less than $2 each) & 

Multi coloured and sized dot stickers (if you can't find multi coloured ones, buy white dot stickers and have your child paint them different colours)

Then it's as simple as peel and stick

Talk about the different colours you're using and how they're spacing them out. 

Use different sized dots for varying effects.

When they are done, tie on some fishing line and hang at varying heights from the ceiling

(We used Command Clear Hooks to attach to the ceiling. No drilling, yay!)

Look what else we've done with Paper Lanterns :)

(click the picture to go to the post)

     

Handy Tips:

- Simplify this activity by assisting your child to peel the stickers off the backing. If it's too hard for your child, peel the stickers off first and half stick them on the edge of the table for them to peel and use easier

- Extend this activity by challenging your child to make different shapes and patterns out of the dot stickers. Include some literacy by having them form their name or first letter or some numeracy by challenging them to figure out how many dots they've covered their lantern with

- Mix it up by using different types or stickers or have a go at painting one! Use colours your child likes or that will complement spaces.

- Making something that looks visually pleasing as the end result helps your child to feel proud about what they have created. Giving it a special purpose (like for their room or as a gift) can also help instil some pride in their work.

- Talk with your child as they do this activity. Take the time to discuss what's going on in their life. Some of the best discussions with your child can come when you are simply working side by side. It's a beautiful thing :)

Have you used Paper Lanterns? How?

Happy creating,
Debs :)

New Here? Subscribe to get all activities sent directly to you

Enter your email address:


Delivered by FeedBurner

Are you on Facebook? We are and we'd love to see you there. You can also find us on Pinterest, Twitter  and G+ too. :) 

Continue reading...