Two Christmas Placemats - Printable!

 Only TEN more days to go...!

The Excitement is just TOO MUCH for me...!

I am sure you are all totally organised and relaxing this weekend, knowing everything is in place. 

Oh well, maybe not - so while you do what must be done, keep the kids happy and occupied with a couple of new Christmas Placemats - ready to print and be coloured-in to help decorate your Christmas table.

Here are your Christmas Placemats

More Christmas Placemats

And Still More...

Nativity - Christmas Craft at Mencap

You don't need a lot of materials to make a Nativity Scene...

At Mencap, we made this charming little group with just bits of fabric, a few toilet roll cores, buttons and trimmings.

So get going and create your own little figures - a seasonal activity that will appeal to all ages...

Use the Christmas button above to find other Christmas craft ideas on this Blog.

Click here to Make a Paper Plate Angel

A General Knowledge Quiz - Printable!

  

 General Knowledge 

Quiz

 Everyone enjoys a quiz!

Here is a General Knowledge Quiz - 15 questions altogether - some really easy and a few a bit more challenging!

Do have a go at it with your groups and enjoy the reminiscing and chat that it will stimulate...

 Here is a taster .............
 "Who was the actress who played "Pretty Woman" in the movie of the same name?


 
If you want more quizzes - have a look at my  
Quiz eBook (41 Easy Quizzes with Answers) which are printable and will keep you groups stimulated and entertained in the coming Winter months...

 

Fishy Fun! We Made a Fish Mural at Mencap!

This Fish Mural was put together over two afternoons...

Firstly we printed out fish shapes (search in Google Images for "Fish Templates" - lots to choose from there!) and after these were painted and decorated, with stripes and dots (from sponge shapes) we left them to dry and started sticking blue tissue paper right across our surface as "water".

Some pebble-printed decorative paper was used for the "rocks" and strips of green tissue stuck on as "seaweed".

When the fish were dry, we cut them out and glued them into position.

As a finishing touch we added a treasure chest, crab, skeleton, diver and submarine!

Our mural is quite large, but you can make it any size or shape you want. If everyone in your group wants to make their own "fish tank" you can size it right down to an A4 - just reduce the size of the fish accordingly...

Fish are such fun to paint - enjoy creating your patterns and choosing your fishy colours!

Decorate a Ceramic Tile!

  
We had a lovely afternoon at Mencap, Braintree (UK) decorating creamic tiles. 

We used white tiles (left over after bathroom tiling!), but any colour is fine, as long as it has a smooth surface. 

As you can see from the pictures, there are many bits and pieces that can be stuck onto a tile - easy, creative and such fun to do.

We used felt flowers and leaves, self- adhesive foil, buttons, flat-bottomed beads, wool, lace, other sewing trimmings, self-adhesive stickers, and bows.

We used tacky glue, glue spots and double-sided sticky pads to stick it all together!

There is this tutorial and more in my eBook - click here to have a look!

Completed tiles can be displayed, by standing on a plate holder or attaching to a tiled wall, with double-sided adhesive pads.

A Fun Quiz - Songs with Colours in the Title - printable!

 I have compiled an easy quiz, for you to have fun with your groups. The songs are mostly from around the 50's and 60's, so should be familiar.

Singing along with the tunes, is all part of the quiz, so enjoy...!

Click here for the Songs with Colours in the Title Quiz

Have listed the answers on a separate page, just in case you get stuck!

If you would like more quizzes aimed at the senior generation have a look at my 

eBook - 41 Easy Quiz Questions and Answers

Nothing like a quiz and a cuppa! 

Bird Collage Tutorial - with Printable Templates!

You can make a collage out of bits of coloured card or paper - even pieces of felt or lace, buttons etc.... Just make a picture or a design and have fun with your group!

For my Bird Collage you will need....

A3 card for background. (any size will do - just adapt it)

Coloured card for the birds, flowers hearts and leaves

Dark paper or card for the fence

One smallish doily for the bird wings - mine was 16cm diameter

Small shiny flat bottomed beads for the eyes and flower centres (or use buttons or contrasting card)

Piece of cotton lace (43cm) or any kind of trim will do

Self adhesive butterfly stickers (optional)

Glue stick

Double sided adhesive pads

Cello tape

How to make... 
 
Using the templates cut out the birds, flowers, leaves and hearts. (I used my Big Shot die-cutter for the flowers and hearts, but have given you templates to use instead) 

Cut your doily in half and fold each piece into three, making a cone, with the join at the back. 

Stick the join with a bit of cello tape. 

Cut a slit in the bird, on the line marked on the side of the bird and slip the point of the folded doily into this slit. 

Fix into position with a small piece of cello tape at the back of the bird.

Bird Template
 
Flower templates

Heart templates

Cut out your fence and posts - mine are 15cms high and each post about 2cms wide. 

The centre piece or "gate" is cut in one piece and shaped along the top. (easy if you fold it concertina style and cut the curved tops all at once)

Using your glue stick, stick on the fence, birds, flowers, hearts and leaves. Stick on your beads or buttons.

Using double-sided sticky pads, attach the length of lace trim along the bottom edge.

Finish off your collage with some butterfly stickers...

Have fun! 

Use a Doily to Frame Your Picture and some ACEO's!

  

Today, I thought I would give you some simple but pretty little pictures to paint or colour-in and then frame with a doily.

I have given you two pictures to download and print, but you can use anything you might already have. Here are my two pictures

Old greeting cards are also a good source of pictures, that you can cut out and stick onto your doily.

I printed my pictures on a "black and white" printer and then got out the watercolours and painted parts of the pictures. 

If you would like to see more of my watercolours (i paint ACEO's which are 3.5 x 2.5 inches in size) here is my link - ACEO

For those who have never heard of ACEO's!! ... They are highly collectible miniature pieces of art! Browse on eBay to see thousands of ACEO's on offer!

Here are three of mine!

 

We made a Wall Mural - Olympics 2012 - at Mencap Braintree

Olympic Games Mural - London 2012

With Shaun at the helm, we made a wall mural to celebrate the fast approaching Olympic Games 2012.

Shaun sketched the layout and then the Mencap Art group glued on layers of tissue paper, representing the sky, the Thames, the athletic track and the swimming pool.

Cut-outs of athletes and swimmers were then stuck on and some flowers placed, representing Summer!

Shaun then painted in the London skyline (with a little artistic licence in play, as regards the order of same!) in black acrylic paint.

Tissue clouds completed the picture - it does rain in London, in Summer!

The Olympic Rings were then placed at the top - made by Thomas (see here)

10 days to go to the Opening...!

Make your own Olympic Rings!



Thomas (6yo Grandson) with his Olympic Rings

It is really easy to make your own Olympic Rings...

You will need...

5 Paper plates

Paint or other colouring medium in Blue, Black, Red, Yellow and Green.

Double-sided sticky pads

How to make...

Cut the centre out of each plate

Paint or colour the rings and leave to dry

Cut through the Yellow and Green rings (as above)

Link the Olympic Rings (as above) and join the cuts made in the Yellow and Green Rings with the double-sided sticky pads.

Using more pads, stick the rings together, so they stay in the formation (as above)

Hang them up and let's all celebrate

 the world coming together

in London

for the Olympic Games 2012...

First Sweet Peas...!

Billy's Sweet Peas

This morning here in Essex (UK) we had soft early morning rain. When it lifted, the sun came out and we picked our first Sweet Peas...

Can you smell their sweet fragrance??

Will be back with more craft soon...!

Diamond Jubilee Placemats - Printable templates - 3 in colour + 3 for you to colour-in...!

Placemat

Placemat

The days are flying by - only two weeks to the Diamond Jubilee week-end (2,3,4,5 June)...

So time now to print out your Jubilee placemats for your local street-party, picnic or lunch with friends and family...

I have put six together for you - three are in full colour, ready to print and use. The other three are to print and colour-in with your groups.

All are printable on A4 computer paper.

Here they are - Six Diamond Jubilee Placemats

(When you click on the Print icon, a screen will appear which will allow you to choose what to print and how many copies you want to print)

Use the SEARCH THIS BLOG box (top right) to find more Diamond Jubilee printables...

Enjoy the celebrations wherever you are...God Save the Queen!



Diamond Jubilee - Bunting! Three printable templates!

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee is only a month away...



To mark 60 years of The Queen's reign, the Diamond Jubilee celebrations will centre around an extended weekend on 2, 3, 4 and 5 June, 2012

(Use the SEARCH THIS BLOG box (top right) to find more Diamond Jubilee printables...)

So time to prepare your Bunting, hung it up where you will - and celebrate!!!

Here are three different options for you to choose from...


1. Ready to print in colour on white paper



2. Ready to print on white paper and colour-in yourselves 

3. Using coloured (red white and blue) paper or thin card, cut from the Bunting Pattern

Here are the templates - just click on the one you want to download and print...

1. Ready to print in colour on white paper


2. Ready to print on white paper and colour-in yourselves 


3. Using coloured (red white and blue) paper or thin card, cut from the Bunting Pattern

Once you have your bunting ready, take a length of string or thin cord and stretch it across a table (weigh the ends down with a couple of books to keep it taut) 

Then lay the triangles face-down tucking the wide end under the string about 1cm from the top edge. Leave about 1cm between each piece of bunting.

Tear off strips of sticky-tape and attach the cord to the bunting.

Make it as long as you want and hang it up...let the party begin!

New eBook available - 41 x 10 Easy Quizzes with Answers

You asked for more quizzes and so here they are....!

I have put together 41 x 10 Easy Quizzes for you in an eBook -

Great fun for Seniors and in fact for anyone - most are General Knowledge but also have compiled others with specific themes - Flowers, Girls Names, Colours, Movies, Books and more.
Easy to use - after saving the eBook on your computer (in a PDF file) you will be able to print off individual quizzes (in any quantity you choose) as you require them.

So have a look and order your copy - only £2.75 - ready to 

DOWNLOAD immediately...

Three New Printable Bookmarks!

 

Mine!!


So many of you have asked for more bookmarks, so here are three new ones...

Best printed directly onto card, but can be printed onto paper and then stuck onto card.

Colour them in, punch a hole centre top, thread a ribbon and you have a bookmark...makes a lovely personal handmade gift!

For long-lasting bookmarks - laminate them (big stationery stores will do this for you) Laminating is "sealing an item in a plastic sleeve" If you can laminate, then you won't need card - paper will be fine.

Click here for 3 Bookmarks

In spite of all the new technology, I think books will be with us for many more years to come...so get your bookmarks made!

Felt Easter Bunny and Flowers Bunting - Printable Templates!

Felt Easter Bunny and Flowers Bunting

Still a few weeks to Easter, so have popped in another Easter craft which is fun and easy to do...

You will need... (for one Bunny)

Felt (185 x 105mm for Bunny and 85 x 85mm for Flower)

Either same colour felt for all your Bunnies, with contrasting Flowers, or make them all different - your choice!

One Button

Googly eyes (or small round pieces of contrasting felt)

 

A length of ribbon or tape (length depends on number of Bunnies!)

How to make it...

Print out the patterns

Easter Bunny

Felt Flower

Cut out the Bunny and the Flower (use the smaller size)

Stitch the Flower onto the Bunny, with a button in the centre. (The yellow flower in the picture is one I die-cut with my Big Shot, but you can just use the template I've given you, for all your flowers)

Attach the Googly Eyes. (you can just use small circles of a contrasting colour of felt if you want)

Attach the Bunnies to the ribbon or tape, using double-sided sticky pads.

Enjoy making your Easter Bunny Bunting and have a Happy Easter holiday!

British Royal Family - Quiz!

2012 is a very exciting and busy year here in Great Britain...

We have the Queen's Diamond Jubilee (60 years on the throne) which will be celebrated with various events, pageantry and parades in June and then we host the Olympics in July and Paralympics in August.

So to start the ball rolling (on this Blog!), I have put together a small quiz about the British Royal Family - maybe you will learn something new about our Queen and her family!

Enjoy this with your groups - I have put the answers on a separate page...

Click here for the British Royal Family Quiz

NOTE: (Ref Question 3) In 2012 Prince Andrew was fourth in line of succession to the throne

in 2022 it is now Princess Charlotte - Prince Williams daughter

An Easy Animal Quiz to start 2012 - Printable!

Animal Quiz

I have put together an easy Animal Quiz for you to get your groups going with in the New Year - ready for you to print out.

(Just in case, I have given you the answers on a separate page...!)

Pairs or teams work well in quizzes - not everyone has the confidence to go it alone or maybe have difficulty with reading.

Enjoy the fun and as you go through the questions, encourage reminiscing and additional airing of knowledge...

All mentally stimulating for our seniors!

Click here for the Animal Quiz

If you want more easy quizzes ready to download and print have a look at my 

41 x 10 Easy Quizzes especially designed with senior citizens in mind...