A Typical English Home

Free Printable Christmas Planner (2014)

2014-11-11T06:00:00.000+00:00

Now that the weather is finally starting to turn a bit cooler, I am finally getting my head around the fact that it is Christmas is in a few weeks. And what better way to prepare for the upcoming festivities than with a shiny new printable Christmas planner?

You can still get the 2013 Christmas planner here, but I am loving my new version. I am big on printables which are pretty but don't eat up half your printer ink! Here is what is included...

#1 Coversheet

Because every planner needs a fancy cover.

#2 Gift Planner

One of the parts of Christmas which needs the most planning is the gift giving. This page helps you to plan what you are purchasing your family and friends.

#3 Budget Planner

Christmas doesn't have to cost a lot to be special but, let's face it, many of us like to blow the budget on making the occasion memorable. You can use this to keep track of your spending (whether it is gifts, food or entertainment), so you don't end up spending more than you intended.

#4 December Calendar (Perpetual)

I think most households are busy in December, with all of the parties and school nativity plays. Having a calendar to keep track of it all is essential! You could print off a separate one for each family member.

#5 Christmas Meal Planner

In many families, Christmas dinner is a a traditional roast. Somehow all of the extra trimmings and the extra large turkey means that it needs to be planned with military precision! This page helps to plan what you are serving and your timings.

#6 Christmas Card List

Writing holiday cards tends to be something which you either love or loathe! This sheet will help to keep you organized so that the process is quicker and easier, whichever camp you fall into.

#7 Festive Baking

For me, one of the most magical parts of Christmas is the build up rather than the big day. I really love creating a festive themed bucket list for the kids (and for myself!). I have created a blank bucket list for baking...

#8 Holiday Crafts

...festive crafts...

#9 Christmas Activities

...and holiday activities.

#10 Family Traditions

It can be fun to introduce new traditions which make the holiday season special for your family - but it can also be quite difficult to remember every tradition once you've created a few. This page should help jog your memory!

#11 Christmas Ornament Inventory

It can be very tempting to buy sparkly new decorations in the run up to December, but often you find you had too much already once you get the box of ornaments down from the attic. This ornament inventory will help remind you what you've got and where you stored it.

#12 Notes

And for the rest of your holiday needs there is this page! Print out lots and put them in the back of your Christmas planner.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE 2014 HOLIDAY PLANNER

I hope that this planner helps you to have a stress free, organized holiday season.

Best Christmas Fonts 2014

2014-11-06T06:00:00.000+00:00

It's time for my annual Christmas fonts post! My 2012 festive fonts post and 2013 Christmas fonts collection pretty much cover all of the "proper" Christmassy typefaces, so this year I have done something a little different.

Rather than going for fonts which were actually created especially for the festive season, I have selected regular fonts which evoke a feel of the holiday season (in my opinion at least). Many of these fonts were released recently, so hopefully even the most die hard font fanatics will find something new to download!

All of the fonts are free if you are using them for non-commercial purposes. Here are the links:

Santa - Berty Script

Rudolph - Dutch and Harley

Dasher - CF Jacques Cartier

Dancer - Betty

Prancer - Mougatine

Vixen - Mandala Home

Cupid - Midnight Hymn

Blitzen - DJB Dear St. Nick

Donner - La Truite A Papa

Comet - Mademoiselle Camille

Now I just need to come up with some projects to use them for. :-)

150+ Stocking Filler Ideas For Kids And Teens

2014-11-04T06:00:00.000+00:00

October passed by in a busy blur (as evidenced by my lack of posting, oops), and now there are just 50 days until Christmas! Unfortunately the Halloween bits and pieces I put together last month never actually made it onto the blog because I didn't have enough time to post them, but I'm determined that for the next few weeks I will be a bit more reliable about ticking things off my blogging to do list.

I'm kicking off the first of many festive posts with my updated stocking filler idea list. On it are over 150 ideas for kids from toddler age up until the teenage years. I've categorized the ideas so that you can tailor it more specifically to your child's interests and I've also made sure that all budgets are catered for. If you have any fantastic suggestions which I haven't included, please leave me a comment and I will add it onto the list. :-)

FOOD

Food is quite an easy one when it comes to bulking out stockings so I don't think that I need to put too many suggestions in this category. A quick stroll down the Christmas aisle in any shop should give you plenty of ideas!

Candy/sweets
Chocolate
Chocolate coins (traditional in many families)
Satsuma (also traditional, at least in the UK)
Candy canes
Gingerbread man

Astronaut food
Hot chocolate mix
Juice box (because opening presents is very thirsty work)

TOYS AND FUN

Personalized letter from Santa
Books
Musical instruments (maracas, harmonicas, recorders and bells are all stocking friendly)
Bath toys
Small teddy
A doll
Action figures
Teddy
Jigsaw
Mini puzzles
Lego board game (small ones such as Minitaurus fit nicely in a stocking)
Traditional wooden toys
Building blocks
Lego minifigures
Small Lego models
Toy cars
Finger puppets

Hexbug
Marbles
Jacks or pick up sticks game
Yo yo
Jump rope
Cat's cradle
Slinky
Bouncy ball
Mini bubbles
Costume or play jewelry
Nail polish or make up
Balloons
Glow sticks
Noise maker
Face painting kit
Temporary tattoos
Silly slime
Instant snow
Grow toys
Water pistol
Slingshot
Cookie cutters
Child size apron (and chef's hat)
Keyring
Miniature torch
Magnifying glass
Whoopee cushion
Fossil excavation kit
Wooden dinosaur kit

Grow your own crystal kit
Pack of seeds (things such as sunflowers are easy for kids to grow)
Top Trumps
Personalized card from Topps Direct
Comic or magazine (roll it up to fit it into the stocking)
Video game
DVD
CD
Gift certificate
Animal adoption pack (most zoos offer this)
Annual pass for a local attraction

CRAFTS

If your kids have far too many toys and love art, creating a themed stocking full of craft supplies can be a great idea.

Pencils
Smencils (like pencils, but scented)
Crayons
Coloring pens
Chalk
Paints
Paint brushes
Play dough or plasticine
Blu tack (essential in our house, as my kids like to put their masterpieces up on the playroom wall)
Glitter
Glue sticks
Scissors
Mini stapler (this was my youngest's favorite stocking filler one year)!
Window markers
Sticky tape (my kids like the sparkly kind)

Washi tape
Sequins
Glitter
Pom poms
Feathers
Stickers
Googly eyes
Pipe cleaners
Clothespins
Buttons
Beads
Pavement chalk
Bath crayons
Fabric pens (you could also slip a plain white T shirt into the stocking for your child to decorate)
Novelty rubbers
Rubber stamps
Novelty craft punch
Origami paper
Novelty post it notes
Fingerprint art set
Mini coloring books

Small craft books (Klutz do a great range of stocking-friendly craft books)
Notepad
Mini Etch-a-Sketch
Pencil case

ELECTRONICS & TECH

If Santa is feeling particularly generous this year, or your kids are teenagers, then your children might be receiving something electronic in their stocking...

MP3 Player
Fitbit(or similar wearable tech)
Mobile phone (cell phone, if you are American)
Digital photo frame (small ones are available, including keyring designs)
E-reader
Tablet
Camera (VTech do a great one for younger children)
Video camera
Game system controller (if your child is receiving a games console you can hide the console and place the controller in their stocking as a surprise)

PRACTICAL

Socks
Underwear
Slippers or slipper socks
Gloves
Scarf
Hat
Watch
Alarm clock
Small jewelry box
Purse or wallet
Sunglasses
Novelty bath foam
Bath or shower gel
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Comb or hairbrush
Small mirror
Lip balm
Egg cup
Character spoon and fork set
Character mug, cup of drinks flask
Novelty drinks straw
Small photo album
Mini photo frame
Ear buds
Pocket diary
Personalized passport cover
Bookmark
Wooden letters, spelling out their name
Pocket sized hand warmers
A new ornament to hang on the Christmas tree
Thank you cards
Batteries

Bonus suggestion :

A lump of coal. In many cultures Santa traditionally leaves gifts for the good children and a lump of coal for the ones who are on the naughty list. If your children are much older and are familiar with the various Santa stories then placing a lump of coal in the top of their stocking can be very amusing for them. Alternatively, Tatertots and Jello have a great post on making a lump of coal gift box.

Doctor Who Party Circles Printable

2014-09-25T06:00:00.000+01:00

A couple of months ago I shared a printable Doctor Who TARDIS, and I promised that there would be more printables to come. Better late than never, right?

It was originally my intention to complete these Doctor Who party circles in time for the new series, but sometimes life gets in the way and things take ~~two months~~ a bit longer than you think that they will. I hope fellow fans feel it has been worth the wait!

Download/Print Doctor Who Party Circles

The printable features all twelve incarnations of the Doctor (as long as you don't get too pedantic and add John Hurt's War Doctor into the mix). You can use the circles for:

* Cake toppers

* Gift tags

* Embellishing partyware

* Garlands (string them together)

* Stickers (if you use sticky back paper)

The circles are each 2 inches wide. I recommend cutting them out with a circle punch, but you can of course use scissors if you are careful.

In case you missed it, here is the link to the printable TARDIS again. Hopefully I will be sharing some more printables soon, but it is probably best if I don't commit to a timescale. ;-)

How To Make Glitter Text In Photoshop

2014-09-23T06:00:00.000+01:00

My font posts have been getting a little love recently, and I've had a couple of emails about the text in this post. Not because the fonts are so pretty, but because people really want to know how I made the lettering look metallic. So I promised that I would put together a quick tutorial.

I've used glitter as an example in this post because it looks sparkly and eye catching, but actually you can use any sort of background image at all to make your fancy lettering. I recommend checking out this post on free background generators if you want to experiment with creating your own patterns.

Making Glitter Text Using Photoshop

Step one. The first thing you need is a pattern or texture to use for your lettering. If you don't fancy making your own glitter background, you can download mine at the bottom of this post.

Step two. Once your chosen image is open in Photoshop, you need to define the image as a pattern. To do this, go to "Edit" on the menu and scroll down to "Define Pattern...". Name your pattern and click "OK".

Step three. After turning the glitter image into a pattern, you will be able to use it for your text. Here I have just created a quick image with some text on it. You can use whatever font you want of course, but the thicker the font the better your glitter text will stand out.

Step four. Go to "Layer" on the menu, followed by "Layer Style" and then "Pattern Overlay...".

Step five. A box will pop up with all of the patterns you can use. Once you have selected the one you want to use, click the "OK" button.

Step six. That it is pretty much it! If you find that the text doesn't quite "pop" us much as you would like it to, try adding additional effects such as a drop shadow ("Layer"/ "Layer Style"/ "Drop Shadow").

I think that covers everything, but if you have any questions then please leave me a comment.

Free Glitter Textures

Download Free Glitter Textures

As promised, here are my glitter textures. You can use them for whatever you want (but personal use only please).

My Favorite Natural Cleaning Recipes

2014-09-16T09:47:00.000+01:00

I have shared a lot of natural cleaning recipes since I started my blog, so I thought it was time I brought some of my favorites together in one post. I've listed some of the best cleaning recipes further down the post, but have also created a handy infographic so you can pin the information. Pinterest is a great way of remembering important stuff you've learned!

And here is the regular written version of the recipes...

All Purpose Cleaner

2 Cups Water
1/2 Cup White Vinegar
1 Tsp Dish Soap
1 Tsp Baking Soda

Mix together in a spray bottle. Spray surface and wipe clean with a microfiber cloth.

Shower Spray

1 Cup Water
1 Cup White Vinegar
1 Cup Dish Soap

Mix together in a spray bottle. Spray surface and wipe.

Glass Cleaner

1 Cup White Vinegar
1 Cup Water

Mix together in a spray bottle. Spray surface and wipe clean with a microfiber cloth.

Fabric Softener

1 Cup White Vinegar
1 Cup Baking Soda

Use 1 cup during the rinse cycle.

Disinfectant

1 Cup Water
1 Part Rubbing Alcohol

Put ingredients in a bottle and shake. Spray surface after cleaning.

Wood Cleaner

1 Cup Linseed Oil
1/2 Cup Lemon Juice

Mix in a spray bottle, apply to the surface and buff to a shine with microfiber cloth.

Scouring Powder

1 Cup Baking Soda
1/2 Cup Salt
1/2 Cup Borax Powder

Combine ingredients in a jar. Wet surface with water and sprinkle on your scouring powder. Leave for five minutes then scrub clean with a brush or damp cloth.

Do you have a favorite DIY cleaner you want to share?

Nine Best Arrow Fonts

2014-09-11T11:21:00.003+01:00

Have you ever looked enviously at another blogger's graphics or printables and wondered where they got such great arrow icons (no, just me)? Whether you use a program like Photoshop or a freebie tool like PicMonkey, you will probably find that your arrow options are rather limited. But you will probably find that those pretty arrows you have been admiring on other people's websites are in fact fonts, rather than shapes.

Most of the fonts listed below are 100 percent free to download and use, but you should of course check the individual terms and conditions if you want the arrows for commercial purposes rather than personal use. I have only randomly selected one arrow from each collection to represent the font but you can view all of the available arrows on the links I have provided. FYI, KG Arrows and Austie Bost Arrow Mania are my favorites so check them out first. ;-)

KG Arrows
PW New Arrows
Peax Webdesign
Follow The Arrow
Austie Bost Arrow Mania
PW Free Arrows
Go Around The Books
Pfeile
PW Small Icons

If you know of any other arrow based fonts which are usual for graphic design, please leave a comment so that other people can check it out too!

Doctor Who Printable TARDIS And Editable Party Favor

2014-08-01T06:00:00.000+01:00

Last month I hurriedly assembled some Doctor Who printable TARDIS boxes to hold party favors for the kids at my son's birthday, (in a ditzy moment I'd forgotten that 9 year old boys still expect to go home with some sort of token gift). I never intended for the finished printable to make it onto the blog, but since the new series of Doctor Who is only about three weeks away I thought that other people might appreciate the printable too.

FYI, if you like Doctor Who or are arranging a birthday party for a young fan, I should be sharing some more printables over the next few weeks.

The first free printable is a straightforward do-it-yourself TARDIS. Simply print the template onto card, cut out the pieces carefully, apply glue to the tabs and fold into shape. Folding is much easier if you gently score the fold lines first.

Download/Print TARDIS printable

The second printable is intended for parties. You can either give the paper model itself as a party favor or use it as a party favor box (just leave the tabs at the top unglued and pop some sweets or candy inside). But what makes this printable a bit special is that it is editable.

Download/Print editable TARDIS party favor box

You can add in your party guests' names...

... and you can also add a personal message to the back of the TARDIS.

Ten points if you can identify where the quote is from. Twenty points if you realized that the correct quote is "always take a banana to a party". (I noticed my mistake the second I hit print, but wasn't going to correct it since my printer was running low on cyan ink).

If you like these printables, please spread the word. Pinning is appreciated, so that other Doctor Who fans can enjoy these freebies too. :-)

Printable Placemats For Kids To Color

2014-07-17T06:00:00.000+01:00

I really love the coloring and puzzle pages which many family friendly restaurants provide. They are a great way to keep children occupied while they are waiting for their food, especially if they are preschooler age. I've always thought they would be great to have at home on special occasions or when we have extra children round.

If you want to rack up the dinner time entertainment factor at home you can buy tablecloths which kids can draw on, which I have considered purchasing for when we have younger visitors. But then I decided that I would take the cheap and easy option and simply create my own printable placemats!

You can provide pencils or crayons so the children at the table can color them in. It will keep them happy and quiet, and you will have a no fuss placemat which can simply be recycled once dinner is over.

Alternatively, if they are particularly proud of their efforts, you can laminate the finished picture. This means that the placemat can be used over and over again.

Download/Print Placemat For Kids

Click on the link above to download the printable PDF. It can be opened with any free program such as Adobe Reader (or you can print it directly from the link above).

Meal times have never been so much fun. Enjoy. :-)

How To Make Loom Bands Without A Loom

2014-07-15T06:00:00.000+01:00

I pondered over whether to share a tutorial on how to make loom bands with a hook, as it isn't my usual sort of post. But then I figured there are a lot of other parents out there who are look for cheap and easys way to keep their kids amused over the summer.

Unless you are a hermit, you will almost certainly be aware that loom bands are a big craze (both with boys and girls). It involves weaving tiny rubber bands into a friendship bracelet using a plastic loom. Frankly, I didn't want to spend £15 on a kit when a basic pack of bands and 's' hooks can be purchased for less than £2. But if you follow this tutorial you wont need to. :-)

How To Make Loom Bands With A Hook

There is more than one way to create loom bands without a loom, and a lot of kids like to make loom bands with their fingers. I prefer this method though as it is less ouchy, and a lot less fiddly. Most packs of bands come with a plastic hook included, but a small crochet hook works brilliantly.

FYI, this tutorial is for a double banded loom bracelet, which is more durable and looks better than using single bands. But if you are just starting out, I recommend using single bands to practice. Just substitute two bands for one at the relevant parts of the tutorial.

Step one. Although there is no reason why you can't start off with two bands when you are creating your bracelet, I just use one. Squeeze the sides of the band together...

... then push it into one side of the 's' clips. If your bands didn't come with the clips, you can create your own clasp using something like thread or narrow ribbon (but the plastic clips are super cheap anyway so in my opinion it is far easier to use the real deal).

Step two. Thread both sides of the band over your hook, as shown in the picture, so that the clip is hanging down in the middle.

Step three. Thread two bands onto the end of your hook.

Step four. Push the loops of the first band over the two new bands...

... so that it is now hanging over the bands instead of the hook. This is easier to do if you insert a thumb or a finger into the two new bands to keep them taut.

Step five. Lift the end of the two new bands up so that both sides are hanging over the hook, with your first band dangling in the middle.

Step six. Insert two more bands onto the hook...

...and repeat the process...

...like so.

Step seven. Repeat the steps until you have 20+ links in your loom bracelet.

Step eight. To finish off, I add a single band onto the hook and weave it onto the bracelet (as per steps four and five)...

...Then, as in step one, I push both ends of the band through the 's' clip to secure it.

The loom band is ready to wear! You can vary the pattern and design by using different combinations of colours or number of bands for each link.

I hope you find this tutorial useful. Since you can pick up hundreds of bands very cheaply, it is such a good way to keep the kids happy for a few hours!

Best Ampersand Fonts

2014-07-10T10:29:00.000+01:00

The other day I was throwing together a PDF (for personal use), and found that the pretty font I picked out didn't have an ampersand. Actually, it turns out that quite a few fonts in my collection don't! So I went on a bit of a mission to find the best ampersand fonts...

Chopin Script | Birds of Paradise | Adam Gorry | Pharmount
Caviar Dreams | Jellyka Saint-Andrew's Queen | Channel | Chalk Line
Karine Aime Les Chocolats | Maratre | Anjelika Rose | Housegrind
Signarita Zhai | Orange Juice | Fontdinerdotcom Sparkly | Magic Fleurons
Little Bird | Billion Stars | Max Initiale | Mojito In June

They are all free for personal use (and some can be used for commercial purposes too). Hope you like them as much as I do. :-)

Summer Fonts

2014-05-16T06:00:00.000+01:00

It's been ages since I've done a "fonts on a Friday" post. But with the weather finally turning sunny and hot, I thought it was time to share some new fonts and dingbats with a summery twist! They are all free for personal use - here are the links...

Seaside
{Starfish/Flower dingbat}
Summer
Sandy beach
{Sun/Flip flops dingbat}
Bucket & Spade
Fun in the sun
Lemonade Stand
{Lemonade dingbat}
Ice cream
{Ice cream dingbat}

Don't forget to check the small print or contact the creator if you want them for commercial use. :-)

Kitchen Conversion Chart Printable

2014-05-13T06:00:00.000+01:00

These days I get a lot of new recipes from the Internet (as evidenced by my Pinterest boards). But since the amazing people who share these recipes come from all over the world, the measurements they use are rarely consistent. Consequently, there have been many occasions where I have had to stop halfway through cooking to go online and find a conversion calculator, so I can translate the quantities into something I understand.

This can be a bit of a pain so creating a handy printable reference guide has been on my list of things to make for a while. And here it is:

Download/Print Kitchen Conversion Poster (American English)

This is the American English version...

Download/Print Kitchen Conversion Printable (UK English)

...and this is the plain old English version (for everyone else). The only difference is the spelling of "litre".

I should probably give credit where credit is due and point out that I used the awesome reference guide provided on Delia Online as the basis for my conversion measurements.

Hope you find it useful. Don't forget to check out some of my other printables. :-)

Chalkboard Social Media Icons

2014-05-01T06:00:00.000+01:00

I'm a little bit obsessed with chalkboards, and creating a set of chalkboard social media icons has been something I've wanted to do for a while. Now they're done, I love them so much that I'm wondering if I need to re-do my blog design! Hope you like the icons too. :-)

Chalkboard Social Media Buttons

There are 12 icons included in the download:

Instagram, Facebook, Flickr, Google+, Linked In, email,

Bloglovin', Pinterest, RSS, Tumblr, Twitter, Etsy

You also get one blank button which you can customize to suit your own needs. All of the icons are in .png format with a transparent background, so they can blend in seamlessly with your blog design.

Click here to download Chalkboard social media icons

More Free Social Media Icons

Not into chalkboards? Here are some of my previous social media icon sets...

Rainbow Social Media Buttons

Pastel Social Media Icons

Glitter Social Media Icons

Minimalist Social Media Icons

How To Declutter When You Don't Have Much Time

2014-04-28T06:00:00.000+01:00

I've written a few posts on decluttering, but a reader recently asked if I could share some pointers for people who don't have a lot of time. I think this is a problem which is really common among people who want to become more tidy and organized, and one of the most frequent reasons for never getting started on the decluttering process. So here are my tips for decluttering a home when you have very little free time.

Know It Can Be Done

Before I share my tips, I just want to emphasize that it is possible because I've done it. I managed to turn my relatively cluttered tiny house into an organized haven despite having a toddler and a newborn and a long list of commitments, (and have kept up those habits even after moving to our current, much larger home). You just have to accept that it is not an overnight transformation.

Decluttering When You Feel Overwhelmed

The key to creating a clutter free home is to do little and often. Most people can find 5 to 10 minutes a day to organize part of their home, and if you do this regularly you will make gradual but noticeable progress. Here are some good places to start.

Tackle The Paper Clutter - Paper can account for a lot of clutter, especially if you have school age children. Often, this paper accumulates in random piles around the home such as on the kitchen counter, so the best place to start is by designating one dedicated spot for paperwork. Make sure everyone knows that paper goes in that inbox and nowhere else. Later on, you can worry about sorting, filing and setting up fancy home binders. But for now, just get into the habit of using one place for incoming paper.

Set Up Keep/Donate/Maybe Boxes - If you want to get the most out of your brief bursts of decluttering, set up three boxes (or bags) for sorting through your possessions. One should be for items which are sentimental, useful or beautiful and which you will be keeping - you can take items out of the box and find a "home" for them at a later date. The second box should be for items you don't want or need, and you can take the box to your local charity shop once it is full. Lastly, keep a box for items you aren't sure about. Once you have filled it, stash it in a garage or loft for six months - if you don't need to open the box in those six months, donate that too.

Find A Home For Five Things - Whenever you have a few minutes, force yourself to find a home for five items of clutter (this could be during TV ad breaks, or when you are boiling a kettle). These could be from around the home or from the "Keep" box mentioned above. Think about where would be a logical place to keep each item, and once you have put it somewhere make sure it is always returned to the same spot after use.

Create A List - I love lists, but you can skip this tip if you don't get a kick out of crossing off "done" items. Take ten minutes to go from room to room in your home and write down every area which you want to declutter. The less time you have for decluttering, the more specific you should be. For example, don't just write "declutter sideboard" - write "declutter sideboard: top drawer". Once you have created your master list, refer to it every time you have a free five minutes and make it your goal to cross at least one item off.

Make The Most Of Every Five Minutes - You can do more than you think in five minutes; declutter a countertop, sort out the paperwork which has been dumped on a bookshelf. When you have a free moment pick a very small part of your home and tackle it. Just remove everything which shouldn't be there and leave it looking tidy and organized! It is amazing how combating a tiny area will make you feel more in control of the whole decluttering process. This is where your master list will come in handy, if you have created one.

Create A "To Buy" List - Decluttering little and often only works if you are getting rid of items faster than you are accumulating them, so you need to stop mindless accumulation. Obviously, you still need to buy necessities but anything else you have an urge to buy should be added to a list to review at a later date. Once a month look at this list and assess whether you still want or need the purchase. Often, you will decide that you don't want to make the purchase after all.

Get The Kids On Board - To make real progress, items which have been organized need to be returned to their new home. Otherwise they will just become clutter again! Your kids (and significant other) need to know where things are now kept, and will need to follow the new rules.

Develop Good Organization Habits - Once you are making progress, you can start to refine your organization skills, which will help you to keep clutter at bay. For example, you could set up simple binders for your paperwork. It doesn't have to be too fancy (unless you want it to be). A binder for bills, one for school work and one for personal documents will suffice to start with.

The hardest part of decluttering is getting started! If you take just five minutes to start sorting through your clutter today, you may be living in a much tidier and more organized home in a few short weeks.

And just because I love this quote, here is a printable which I shared in a previous post:

Download/Print Your Motivational Poster!

40 Uses For White Vinegar

2014-04-22T12:21:00.005+01:00

Anyone who has read my cleaning posts will know that I love white vinegar. Someone recently asked if I had a comprehensive list of everything I use it for, so I set about compiling one. It turns out, there are lots of cleaning jobs around the home which you can use distilled vinegar for!

Here is my finished list.but I guarantee that there are plenty more cleaning jobs which I have forgotten to include. Feel free to share your own uses for white vinegar in the comments. :-)

40 Cleaning Uses For White Vinegar

To remove limescale deposits from a tap and make them shine, soak cotton wool balls in undiluted white vinegar and use cling film (saran wrap) to secure it to the affected area. Leave for 2 hours, then remove.

To clean a shower head, mix 1 part warm water with 1 part distilled vinegar and pour it into a sandwich bag. Tie the bag around the shower head and leave for 2 to 3 hours, before removing.

To create an all purpose bathroom and shower cleaner, mix 1 cup of water, 1 cup of white vinegar and 1 cup of dish soap in a spray bottle. Apply to tubs, sinks, and shower glass then wipe with a damp cloth.

Remove stubborn stains from a bath tub by mixing baking soda with a little vinegar, and then scouring the affected area.

To clean bathroom tiles and refresh your grout, mix a gallon of water with 1 cup of distilled vinegar, 1 cup of ammonia and 1/2 cup of baking soda. Apply to the tiles with a clean cloth.

To remove stubborn gunk from the tracks in a shower door, apply a liberal amount of white vinegar. Leave to soak for an hour, then scrub the area with an old toothbrush to remove the build up.

If your sponge or loofah is looking a little unhygienic, place it in a sink and cover it with warm water. Mix in a cup of white vinegar, and leave the loofah to soak overnight. Rinse the loofah or sponge thoroughly and allow to air dry.

If your towels are more scratchy than fluffy, wash them with a cup of white vinegar rather than commercial washing powder.

To keep the toilet bowl smelling fresh, pour in a couple of cups of white vinegar. Leave for half an hour, then flush.

To clean your toilet with minimum effort, splash in a little white vinegar around the bowl before you go to bed each night. Give the toilet a quick scrub with a brush in the morning.

If your kettle has a build up of limescale, pour in 1 cup of water and 1 cup of white vinegar. Leave for a couple of hours, then rinse out the kettle thoroughly. If limescale remains, repeat the process but leave the vinegar overnight.

If your iron is looking a little dirty, mix a tablespoon of baking soda with a little vinegar. Apply the mixture to a clean cloth then scrub the sole plate of the iron thoroughly.

To clean and deodorize a microwave, mix 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup of white vinegar in a bowl and place it inside the microwave. Carefully bring the water to a boil. Remove the bowl, and scrub the inside of the microwave - the encrusted food should fall away.

To remove build up from a dishwasher, fill a small tub with undiluted white vinegar. Place inside the empty dishwasher and run a normal cycle. Repeat once a month.

To deodorize and disinfect the inside of a refrigerator, mix 1 cup of water with 1 cup of white vinegar. Use a spray bottle or apply with a clean cloth.

To effectively clean a stainless steel sink, mix baking soda and white vinegar together to form a paste. Use this to scrub the sink, and allow to sit for 1 to 2 hours. Rinse clean, then add a little shine using a clean cloth and a dab of olive oil.

If your grill has build up, screw up aluminium foil into a ball. Apply undiluted white vinegar to the foil ball and scrub the grill thoroughly until the grime falls away.

To clean kitchen and disinfect kitchen counter tops, spritz with a solution of 1 part white vinegar to 1 part water and wipe dry with a clean cloth.

To unblock and deodorize a drain, pour in 1 cup of baking soda followed by 1 cup of white vinegar. Allow the mixture to fizz for 10 minutes then pour boiling water down the drain.

If your tupperware has developed an unpleasant odor, dampen a cloth with white vinegar and wipe the container.

To restore cloudy glassware to its former beauty, soak a paper towel in undiluted vinegar and wrap it around the glass (both inside and out). Leave for 1 hour, then thoroughly rinse your glassware with water.

If your carpet has a tricky stain, mix 1/2 cup of baking soda with a table spoon of salt and a little white vinegar. Apply the paste to the stain and allow to fully dry (test on a discreet area first). Vacuum the area, and repeat the process if necessary.

To revive a tired looking carpet or rug, mix a gallon of water with a cup of white vinegar. Brush the carpet pile with the solution and allow to dry (test on a hidden area of the carpet first).

To clean vinyl or linoleum floors, mix 1 cup of distilled white vinegar with a bucket of warm water and use to mop.

If you use a steam cleaner to clean your floors, add in 1/4 cup white vinegar. The vinegar will disinfect, deodorize and remove grime.

If your pet has had an accident, remove the mess then spray the affected area with a liberal amount of white vinegar. Follow this with a sprinkling of baking soda, and allow to dry. Vacuum up the residue.

Remove smells from pet bedding by spraying with white vinegar, or adding 1 cup white vinegar to the rinse cycle on a washing machine.

To remove dust, dirt and mildew, apply undiluted white vinegar to a cloth and wipe down the affected area.

To make your windows and mirrors shine, spritz with a solution of 1 part vinegar to 1 part water and wipe with a screwed up sheet of newspaper.

To disinfect toys, add a cup of white vinegar to soapy water.

Sanitize door knobs naturally by spraying with undiluted white vinegar. Wipe dry with a clean cloth.

Mix 1 part white vinegar to 1 part water in a spray bottle and spritz the air, to act as a natural air freshener.

To deodorize and sanitize a mattress which has been stained with urine, mix 1 part water to 1 part white vinegar and apply liberally. Sprinkle the area generously with baking soda, and leave overnight to dry. In the morning, vacuum the mattress.

If your scissors are sticky from tape residue, scrub the blades with a clean cloth which has been dipped in undiluted white vinegar.

To remove decals or sticker residue from doors and walls, rub the area vigorously with white vinegar. Allow the vinegar to soak in for a few minutes then attempt to peel the decal or sticker. Repeat if necessary.

If you have paint spatters on your windows, boil a little white vinegar in a kettle. Apply to the paint spots and leave for a few minutes to allow the paint to soften, before gently scraping it off the pane with a suitable tool.

Clean hardened paint brushes by soaking them in white vinegar. Boil the vinegar in a kettle first, then soak the brushes for 2 to 3 hours. Rinse the brushes thoroughly before use.

To clean make up brushes easily, mix 1 part white vinegar to 1 part water and add in a few drops of baby shampoo. Swirl the brushes in the vinegar solution, then rinse clean with warm water. Reshape the bristles and allow the brushes to air dry.

To clean a hair brush, soak the brush in a solution of 1 part water to 1 part white vinegar for 15 minutes. Rinse the brush to remove any remaining residue, and allow to dry.

Kill garden weeds, spray them liberally with undiluted white vinegar. Be careful not to spray cultivated plants.

Best DIY Garden Ideas

2014-04-15T06:00:00.000+01:00

It is nearly Easter weekend, and many people will be enjoying 4 days off. I'm not sure if it is the same in other countries, but here in the UK long weekends tend to coincide with a big rush to the DIY store. And, since it is spring, garden projects seem to be huge at the moment.

If your outside space needs a little love, here are ten of my favorite garden ideas.

First up is this gorgeous DIY bench which doubles as a planter, by My Daily Randomness. Since UK homes are not quite as spacious as those belonging to our American cousins, I am a huge fan of things which are multi-functional!

We really need an occasional table in our garden, so I was inspired by this pallet gardening table by SAS Interiors. As well as planting seedlings, it would also be great next to a barbecue to help with food preparation. Now I just need a pallet or two...

Ok, I confess I cheated and bought some raised vegetable planters. But this cute planter by At Home At Home looks super simple to make, and you can create a raised bed which fits your space perfectly.

About 3 years ago I bought a DIY garden stone kit and used it to create a keepsake, using my children's hand prints. The kit was quite pricey, and I remember thinking I could have just done a DIY version for a fraction of the cost. Which is just what Intimate Weddings has done - check out their great tutorial.

For years, my husband and I really, really wanted a firepit. In the end we finally got a beautiful cast iron table which has a firepit insert, but if we didn't have that I would definitely be using this tutorial by The Inspired Room to create our own.

Every time I visit our local garden centre, I have to practically drag my son away from the wooden swing seats - he is so desperate for one! If I can figure out a suitable place to put one, ~~I am~~ my husband is totally making this.

I'm not sure why, but I love this pallet garden path by Funky Junk Interiors.

Pretty lighting can create a really welcoming atmosphere, and these cute tin can lanterns look super easy to make. Head over to Craft Foxes, to find out how to make them.

Not up for a big project this weekend? These rock garden markers are just pebbles which have been painted with chalkboard paint, then labelled with acrylic. So simple.

And, just in case you haven't yet realized how versatile pallets are, here is some clever DIY garden storage by Our Little Acre.

What will you be doing over the Easter weekend?

Glitter Digital Tape

2014-04-10T08:53:00.000+01:00

Glitter digital tape has been on my to do list since I created a set of glitter blog icons, but I hadn't got around to creating them. However, one of my readers put in a request for it this week and I was happy to oblige. :-)

There are nine different colours in the pack (including colours which are an exact match to my glitter social media buttons). The files are in .png format so that the background is transparent, but unlike my digital washi tape the tapes are fully opaque.

Each strip of digital glitter tape is 400 pixels by 100 pixels, but you can resize them as needed using PicMonkey or Photoshop.

Download Digital Glitter Tape

When To Plant Vegetables Guide

2014-04-07T08:59:00.004+01:00

Since we moved to a home with a decent sized garden I've slowly been learning about ~~how not to kill plants~~ how to grow things. But every spring, when I start planning which fruit and vegetables I am going to plant, I can never remember when seeds need to be planted, when they should be planted out in the garden or when I can harvest them. So this year I am trying to be more organized and have created this handy printable (which I am also sharing with you!).

Download/Print When To Sow Guide PDF

I think this handy "when to plant vegetables" printable will make planning a vegetable garden much quicker and easier!

Easter Egg Decorating Ideas

2014-04-01T06:00:00.000+01:00

I love that Easter falls quite late this year, because it means that the school holidays fall in the two weeks leading up to it. That means two whole weeks of crafts and themed activities with the kids!

I have been busy browsing Pinterest and some of my favorite blogs for inspiration, and thought that I would share some of the best Easter egg decorating ideas I've come across. Some of these are amazing. :-)

Aren't these cool? Subway art eggs by Lil Luna.

You can't go wrong with a bit of glitter. Love these eggs by Girl. Inspired.

Jute eggs are on my to do list for Easter decorating, so I was thrilled to find this cute tutorial by one of my favorite bloggers; Taryn from Design, Dining & Diapers.

So sweet! Polka dot eggs in pastel shades by Craftberry Bush.

Confession time. Washi tape is huge, but I don't even own any. Perhaps these adorable eggs will be the push I need to buy some. By Lovely Indeed.

Stamped eggs, used as Easter place cards. By Love Grows Wild.

I also think that these calligraphy inspired eggs by Oh Happy Day would make great place settings.

I couldn't do a round up without including chalkboard Easter eggs - chalkboards rock! My favorite chalkboard eggs are by The Red Thread.

These look so simple to make and the end result is gorgeous (they look just like dragon's eggs) Created by Create. Craft Love, shared at The 36th Avenue.

Gold leaf Easter eggs by Dream A Little Bigger.

Ombre eggs - so pretty! By Ashbee Designs.

These leaf print eggs would be great fun to try with the kids. By Spoonful.com.

Watercolor Easter eggs by Spoon Fork Bacon.

These polka dot Easter eggs were one of the first things I pinned after joining Pinterest! I still love them. They are from Better Homes and Gardens.

If you don't like messy crafts, then these fabric covered eggs, from Sewing Daisies, are ideal.

Sharpie eggs by Obviously Sweet. Love the simplicity of the black and white design.

Can you believe that these marbleized eggs were done with nail polish? By Camille Styles.

A clever (and pretty) way to use up broken egg shells. Mosaic eggs by Say Not Sweet Anne.

In our house, we collect temporary tattoos faster than we can use them, so I was delighted to find that you can tattoo boiled eggs! (Via Ladies' Home Journal).

I have a soft spot for anything Victorian, so love these silhouette eggs by Rook No. 17.

Sweet and infinitely doable. By The Paper Cut Magazine (which can be read online).

I pretty much had this post all scheduled and ready to go when I came across Monsieur Egg by MomDot. Couldn't resist adding this little fella into the compilation!

The last Easter eggs in my compilation aren't eggs at all; they are made from balloons. But these Easter egg pinatas by Oh Happy Day are so perfect I couldn't not include them.

What To Put In Plastic Easter Eggs (Besides Candy)

2014-03-24T06:00:00.000+00:00

One of my favorite Easter traditions is doing an Easter egg hunt with the kids. I don't like to use chocolate eggs (which would be inadvisable anyway now we have a dog). But I do think that there are some really fun non-candy alternatives which can be put in plastic eggs.

What To Put In Plastic Easter Eggs

I've roughly broken my suggestions into three categories so you can tailor it to the interests of your child. (In case you are wondering what I'm putting in our eggs this year, the answer is mostly Lego!).

Toys

Lego Figures

Lego blocks

Temporary tattoos

Magnetic letters

Jigsaw puzzle (can split over several eggs)

Finger puppets

Wind up toys

Toy cars

Mini Water Gun

Water balloons

Novelty balloons

Magic grow toys

Stretch toys

Play dough

Silly putty

Army men

Mini dinosaurs

Barbie or Polly Pocket accessories

Bouncy balls

Marbles

Star Wars beanz

Finger lights

Glow bracelets

Whistle

Mini tubes of bubbles

Whoopee cushion

Hexbug

Pirate eye patch

Fun snaps (a.k.a Whipper Snappers or Snaps)

Crafts

Fuzzy chicks

Stickers

Beads

Sequins

Glitter/ glitter glue

Tiny notepad

Crayons

Chalk

Novelty erasers

Feathers

Pom poms

Googly eyes

Rubber stamps

Ink pad

Pencil toppers

Practical

Lego watch

Packs of seeds

Small magnifying glass

Badges

Keyring

Hair ties

Mood ring

Bracelets

Necklaces

Funky shoe laces

Lip gloss

Small nail polish

Ear buds

Socks

Novelty band aids

Money

Bonus suggestion: Easter jokes. This printable will be available on Thursday. :-)

Any more suggestions? Leave me comment!

*** Please note, some links in this post are affiliate links. But the items are genuinely awesome. ;-) ***

Free Social Media Icons: Pastel Collection

2014-03-20T06:00:00.000+00:00

I have shared a few sets of free social media icons, but my favourites are still the first still the first set I created. However, the 12 colours I used were all very bold and that doesn't suit everyone's blog design. So today I am sharing 8 more sets of circular social media icons but in more subtle pastel shades. I hope you like them!

Social Media Buttons

Each of the sets include 12 social media icons and one blank button. These include:

Bloglovin', Email, Etsy, Facebook, Flickr, Google Plus,

Instagram, Pinterest, RSS, Tumblr, Twitter, Linked In

The buttons have a transparent background so that they can be used against any colour of blog background (make sure that you keep the files in .png format to retain their transparency). Each file measures 70 pixels by 70 pixels, but can be re-sized if necessary. If you want to learn how to re-size images using HTML code check out this tutorial.

Download Your Free Social Media Icons

To download your chosen social media icon set(s) click on the text links below.

ORANGE

YELLOW

GREEN

BLUE

LILAC

PINK

GREY

MINK

How To Add A Signature To Blog Posts

2014-03-18T06:00:00.000+00:00

Practically forever ago I wrote a tutorial on how to add a signature to your blog posts. I think that post is well overdue an update, so here is my new and improved guide to adding a personalized signature to your blog.

How To Create A Signature

I am going to share three cool ways to create your signature.

Option One: Use Your Own Handwriting

I thought I would put this option first since so many of my readers loved the idea of turning handwriting into a font. You can read my in depth post on turning handwriting into a font here, but I've also summarised the steps below.

Step One. Go to MyScriptFont.com and download the template.

Step Two. Scan the finished template to your computer and upload the image to the website.

Step Three. Download the generated font to your computer and create your signature in a paint/graphics programme such as Photoshop.

Step Four. Upload the finished image to your image host.

Option Two: Use PicMonkey

If you haven't tried PicMonkey before, it is an online graphics software which allows you to create images for free. I like this option for making signatures because you can also add fun elements like shapes.

Step One. Go to PicMonkey and hover your mouse over "Design" on the top menu. Choose a custom sized canvas and write the dimensions you want in the box. I recommend a size of approximately 200 pixels by 100 pixels.

Step Two. Select the Text tab from the left hand menu. Pick a font you like and click the "Add Text" button. After you have created your text you can change the colour, size and rotation.

Step Three. If you want, embellish your signature with an Overlay (click on the butterfly tab on the menu). In the image above, you can see that I added a heart shape over the dot of the 'i'.

Step Four. Save the finished image to your computer then upload to your image host.

Option Three: Use A Signature Generator

This is probably my least favourite option (the generator website is rammed with so many ads it is difficult to find the genuine links), but it is probably the easiest method if you aren't very tech savvy. It also has the best range of fonts. You can read a more detailed version of the method in my original post on adding a signature to blog posts.

Step one. Go to MyLiveSignature.com and follow the instructions. Enter your name, select your font, choose the size and then finally pick the background/font colour. You can also edit the signature so that it slopes upwards.

Step two. Download your finished signature to your computer by clicking on the link or using the 'right click' and 'save' method.

Step three. Upload the signature image to your image hosting website.

Adding Your Signature To Blog Posts

Since I don't use Wordpress, the following method can only be applied to Blogger.

Step one. Go to your Blogger dashboard and navigate to Settings/Posts and Comments.

Step two. Copy and paste the image URL into the box. It should look something like <img src="MyImageHost.com/MySignature.jpg">. If you use Blogger's standard image host (Picasa) you need to check the "image only" box and copy the web address from under "Embed Image".

Step three. Your new signature will show up on every post you create from now on (but won't automatically be added to posts you have already published).

Teaching Kids To Clean Up And Help Around The House

2014-03-17T08:20:00.000+00:00

Keeping a home clean and tidy is extra challenging if you have children. But if you can get your kids involved then it will lighten your workload and instill some good habits so you aren't still picking their socks off the floor when they're eighteen. (That's the plan anyway, I'll let you know how that's worked out ten years from now).

At the moment my boys - who are eight and six - are very good at things like cleaning up their bedrooms and playroom, so although I am not a total authority on the subject I do have some tips to share.

Keep It Super Simple

I come across posts about teaching your kids to clean occasionally which advocate setting up special cleaning kits, creating games or even making a playlist for kids to tidy up to. If this sort of thing floats your boat, they are all great suggestions. If, however, you are busy I don't think there is any harm in keeping it super simple. Kids are pretty eager to please when they are young, and generally don't mind helping because it makes them feel grown up. I've personally never found the need to jazz up "tidy up time" which makes life a lot easier.

Set Expectations

I don't want to nag my children to do their chores, so I make sure that they are very clear on what their responsibilities are around the home. This means that they do things automatically or a gentle reminder is enough.

When the kids were really young I found that chore charts were helpful for enforcing expectations. To be honest, on busy weeks we would forget to stick on the stars. But just having a list of jobs hung up on the wall still motivated the kids to do their jobs because the visual reminder helped to reinforce what they should be doing.

If you want to give chore charts a go, I have included two printable chore chart below for you to download.

Download/Print Editable Chore Chart (Pink)

Download/Print Editable Chore Chart (Blue)

Both of the chore charts are editable in Adobe Reader - click on the blue boxes to add your text (the blue boxes do not show on the print outs). You can add in your child's name and their chores. Alternatively, you can just print the file straight out and fill it in by hand.

To make the chore chart re-usable, laminate it and use it with dry erase pens.

Give Them Age Appropriate Jobs To Do

Children are all different, so what is appropriate for one child may not suit another. But if you want to introduce a few chores which will help to teach responsibility, here are some suggestions for age appropriate jobs.

Age 1 - 2 years

* Help put their toys away.

Age 2 - 3 years

* Help with simple laundry tasks, like sorting socks.

* Help put their dirty clothes in the laundry basket.

Age 3 - 4 years

* Learn to make a bed.

* Help to water plants.

* Help clean up accidental messes (for example, if they spill their drink).

Age 4 - 5 years

* Set the table.

* Put dirty plates in sink/dishwasher.

* Help to dust.

* Feed pets.

Age 5 -6 years

* Be able to do all of the above without supervision and minimal prompting.

* Help to put away own laundry.

* Assist younger siblings.

Age 6 - 7 years

* Help with jobs in yard (such as pulling weeds).

* Learn to make simple snacks.

Age 7 - 8 years

* Start learning basic meal preparation skills.

* Learn to wash dishes or use dishwasher.

* Be able to put on a load of laundry.

Age 8 - 10 years

* Start helping parents with more grown up jobs (DIY, car maintenance, etc).

Lead By Example

This tip is very important for little kids. Things like sweeping the floor might seem super simple until you watch a small child pushing the dirt around in circles, without actually achieving anything. Don't be overly pedantic about their technique, but do show them the correct way to do something when they are starting out with a new chore. Which leads us onto...

Lower Your Standards

My last tip is to lower your standards, which can be tough if you are perfectionist. I don't think parents necessarily need to trick their kids into thinking chores are super fun, but you don't want them to think of chores as a negative thing either. So it is probably best not to criticize their efforts or re-do the job they have just done. The important thing is that they are learning, and they will get better in the end!

How do you encourage your kids to help around the home?

Easter Fonts Collection 2014

2014-03-13T08:04:00.001+00:00

Now that spring is definitely on its way, my thoughts are turning to celebrations like Easter. I have been using every spare minute I have to create pretty printables and crafts for celebrating the occasion (some of which may make their way onto the blog), so I have acquired a few new fonts.

Font creators don't seem to go for Easter themed fonts in the same way which they do for Christmas and Valentine's themed ones. Consequently, the fonts I have listed below are just ones which caught my eye by being pretty and fun. I think they are ideal for this happy time of year. :-)

Chocolate
Egg Hunts
Happy Easter
Hippity Hop
[Clipart]
Spring Flowers
Easter Bunny
New Life
[Clipart]
Jelly Beans

All of the listed fonts are either completely free or free for personal use. If you want to use them for commercial crafts then some require permission or a small donation to the fonts creator, (it will be in the small print).