Most parents will understand how difficult it can be to keep the kids entertained during the festive holiday.

The blustery British weather can be really cold so with the children cooped up indoors, they can get bored and start getting under your feet.

But to amuse the little ones it doesn’t necessarily mean to put them in front of the television for hours on end, or to keep them quiet by giving them some computer games to play with. Kids can be mentally and physically stimulated as they would be outdoors by taking part in some exciting arts and crafts.

Doing homemade projects like making Christmas cards or tree decorations is a fantastic way to get the whole family together to have fun, as well as keeping the monsters busy on a low budget.

HAND MADE CARDS

Our kids aprons are fantastic to wear this season because they are jolly- themed and practical to protect the clothing. A personalised card can really put a smile on someone’s face because it shows effort and care, so why not encourage the children to write their own Christmas cards to their grandparents?

They can use coloured pieces of paper, felt tip pens and glitter to make them as merry as possible. Stick cotton wool to the card to make snow and show them pictures of robins, Christmas trees and Santa Claus so they can replicate them. Or to make it easier, trace an outline of a drawing and let them colour it in with paint!

DECORATED CANDLES

For another craft, why not decorate all the candles around the home with pretty ribbons, buttons and sequins? Make sure to supervise the kids throughout the whole process for health and safety and do not light the candles until finished and until the candles are aware from child’s harm. The project will only take around an hour to complete but let the kids imaginations flow and urge them to be creative with their designs.

Follow some of these brilliant arts and crafts ideas to keep the kids busy this Christmas when they are off school and for further top tips on homeware and giftware, go to Ulster Weavers.com.

Painting Child's PVC Apron

Home Sweet Home Child's Cotton Shaped Apron

Jack Child's PVC Apron

This week all the kids in the UK go back to school!

All children will be wearing brand new shirts, trousers and ties to kick off the new academic year. Start afresh with clean blazers and skirts and carry the new books in a cute new bag to walk the halls with.

Ulster Weavers has a vast array of gorgeous canvas bags that are perfect for youngsters starting primary school in reception class, or teens going back to high school. They come in a wide variety of sizes, colours and designs so there is bound to be vinyl or pvc bags to suit your style.

And because they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, whatever you need it for whether it is to carry several books and stationery, just a few pens or all of the gym kit, we can help.

For primary school pupils our character bags are an ideal choice as they include sheep, ladybird and elephant animals etc., whereas for teenagers our messenger bags are great to fit everything in as well as be super fashionable.

And if the kids need their own childrens aprons to use in cookery class, or messy play, our apron ranges come in just about any style you can think of.  From the very plain to the shapeliest retro designs to funky animal themes, we have it covered.

So if the little one needs a quality apron to protect their clothing when playing in the sandbox, or if the adolescent needs one for woodwork, get one with us!

So enjoy the children going back to school after the summer holidays and give them the best start to learning with Ulster Weavers textiles.

Sheep Shaped Packable Bag

New York Canvas Messenger Bag

Painting Child's PVC Apron

With it coming up to Christmas time, why not get the kids into the festive spirit and pass the time with arts and crafts make your own masks.

Extremely enjoyable on a low budget, you can help make animal masks that the children will love to put on afterwards and play games in.

Homemade projects bring such delight to children as it gives a sense of satisfaction and achievement, and let’s face it you will have just as much fun, if not more, than they will!

What better way to make it seasonal than to portray winter animals such as a penguin, polar bear, or reindeer.

Make a simple paper mask coloured with crayons or paints; or why not create an elaborate paper mache animal face complete with added textures and glued accessories such as fur, glitter and feathers. Use a permanent marker for facial details and pay close attention to your animal’s facial patterns. Once your mask is complete, punch holes by each ear and a tie a string to the mask so you can wear it properly.

Arts and crafts are great family fun but they can be dangerous. Please note that some glues are not healthy to be inhaled and may be highly inflammable; and when using scissors children should be supervised. Plastic safety scissors are perfectly acceptable for younger children.

So get your aprons on and have fun with these Ulster Weaver animal mask ideas.

Penguin

Making a paper mask is much simpler to make if you want a stress and mess free mask making experience.  They also require fewer materials and take less time to complete. Print this image out or trace the outline on to paper and cut along your outline to get your mask’s basic shape. Just put a cross through any areas you plan to cut on the mask such as eye and mouth holes and colour in!

Picture Link

Polar Bear

Similar to the penguin mask, print out this image or find one of your own in a magazine or book and trace it on to some paper; and start colouring away! Don’t forget to make holes for your eyes and nose. Why not create the white/grey affect by using talc powder or white paint?

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Reindeer

Print and make your very own reindeer mask this Christmas! Why not use felts to colour the antlers brown and the nose red and shiny? Or draw your own reindeer out to make your antlers bigger/smaller however you want.  Or why move away from the traditional image and create a glittery fun one?

Picture link

Picture Link