threelilprincesses.com

Author: Kellie O’Brien

  • {TUTORIAL}: Homemade Lego man costume for under $15

    {TUTORIAL}: Homemade Lego man costume for under $15

    By Sheralee White

    As part of Book Week in August, we put together a homemade Lego man costume for my six-year-old son. It took a few days to make but certainly wasn’t difficult at all.

    With Halloween next week, I thought it was the perfect time to share how we made it for anyone looking for kids costume ideas.

    Things you’ll need:

    •  Cardboard box large enough to fit your child
    •  4 small round takeaway containers (or small cat/dog food tin)
    •  A hot glue gun with 3-4 glue sticks (these can be purchased from discount shops for about $7)
    •  Pencil
    •  Flour
    •  Water
    •  Salt
    •  Newspaper
    •  Plain white paper
    •  1 can of spray paint

    Timeframe:

    2-3 days to make

    STEP 1

    Remove the flaps on the open box. On the opposite end, cut out a hole, large enough to fit your child’s head through. Cut smaller holes on each side to fit your child’s arms through.

    pic

    STEP 2

    One at a time, place the containers on the front of the box and use them to trace a circle using a pencil. Remove the container and follow the pencil outline with the glue gun. Stick the container, edge down, onto the glue. Repeat for each container.

    pic2.3

    STEP 3

    Now you need to make the paper mache, Mix one part flour with one part water (about 1 cup flour and 1 cup water is enough) until you get a thick glue-like consistency. Add a bit more water if it’s too thick.

    Mix well with a spoon to get rid of all the bumps. Add a few tablespoons of salt to help prevent mould.

    • You need to use strips of newspaper only.
    • Let the newspaper strips soak in the paper mache glue a little before using.
    • Cover your artwork with only 2-3 layers, then let dry completely. This is an important step.
    • Once a layer is dry you can add 2-3 more layers, remembering to let each layer dry before adding the next one.
    • The final layer can be plain paper – so it’s easier to paint – but use the thinnest paper possible and make sure it’s soaked well in the paper mache glue.

    pic4

    STEP 4

    Using the pencil, write the words Lego on each raised container, then with the hot glue gun follow over the words so that the word is raised in glue.

    pic5

     

    STEP 5

    You’re ready to paint your block in your favourite Lego block colour.

    pic6

    STEP 6

    Grab your child and start having some fun.

    What have you made recently with boxes?

  • Aussie Giveaway Linkup #122: Justin Beiber edition

    Aussie Giveaway Linkup #122: Justin Beiber edition

    Brisbane Southbank

    The girls have been particularly “challenging” this week. I could write that sentence in a completely different way, but we’ll leave it at that.

    Despite that, there were a few funny moments though. Including this one:

    Sitting in the bathroom getting her PJs on after a bath, Ella begins to do Julian’s hair, sweeping it all to one side with a brush.

    Ella: “Look, Dad. You look like Justin Bieber.’’

    Julian: Looks suspiciously at Ella.

    Ella: “You do, Dad. You look just like Justin Beiber.’’

    Julian: “Does the rest of me look like Justin Beiber?’’

    Ella: “Yeah, you do, Dad. Except Justin’s got blue eyes and you have a funny green colour.’’

    Julian: “Hmmm…’’

    Ella: “Mum, why are you laughing so much?’’

    Now, onto this week’s Aussie Giveaway Linkup…

    Aussie Giveaway Linkup instructions:

    If you’re a blogger or business wanting to take part in the Aussie Giveaway Linkup:

    1. Only link directly to the giveaway post/s and include the prize and end date in the linky tool below. Link each giveaway separately. If you need to delete it, hover over your link, wait until the red “x’’ appears and click.
    2. Giveaways must be open to Australian residents and be run by Australian-based bloggers or businesses.
    3. Grab the button below to add to your post.
    4. A new list is added each Sunday so bloggers need to add their links weekly.
    5. Start entering the giveaways! Entry is at your own risk. We do not take responsibility for unfulfilled prizes or a blogger/business not abiding by their own terms and conditions.

     


    Aussie Giveaway Linky
    Hosted by Three Lil Princesses



  • Aussie Giveaway Linkup #121: Bloomin’ Tulips

    Aussie Giveaway Linkup #121: Bloomin’ Tulips

    Someone asked me this week whether it was cold in Tasmania right now. I have the heater on every day, so I guess the answer is `yes’! Which probably seems strange to every other area of Australia, which have heatwave warnings.

    Today we went to Bloomin’ Tulips, an annual tulip festival at Wynyard in Tasmania’s North West. During the few hours we were there, we:

    • wore thick coats because it was cold and windy,
    • changed into wet weather coats because it rained (lightly), and
    • stripped off into shorts and t-shirt (well, Julian did) because we were too hot.

    The only thing we were missing was snow. I’m sure there were snow cones somewhere.

    Of course, those who know us know we can’t go to a festival without this happening as well:

    Bloomin Tulips WynyardBloomin Tulips 2

    Too cute.

    Do your kids love getting their face painted?

    Now, onto this week’s Aussie Giveaway Linkup…

    Aussie Giveaway Linkup instructions:

    If you’re a blogger or business wanting to take part in the Aussie Giveaway Linkup:

    1. Only link directly to the giveaway post/s and include the prize and end date in the linky tool below. Link each giveaway separately. If you need to delete it, hover over your link, wait until the red “x’’ appears and click.
    2. Giveaways must be open to Australian residents and be run by Australian-based bloggers or businesses.
    3. Grab the button below to add to your post.
    4. A new list is added each Sunday so bloggers need to add their links weekly.
    5. Start entering the giveaways! Entry is at your own risk. We do not take responsibility for unfulfilled prizes or a blogger/business not abiding by their own terms and conditions.

     


    Aussie Giveaway Linky
    Hosted by Three Lil Princesses



  • Aussie Giveaway Linkup #120: My simple birthday cake solution

    Aussie Giveaway Linkup #120: My simple birthday cake solution

    Thursday was Holly’s third birthday, which meant much of this week was spent scrolling through Pinterest to come up with a cake idea.

    She REALLY wanted Peppa Pig, but I REALLY wanted to keep things simple this year. Not like last year’s Cinderella Dolly Varden birthday cake.

    So, this is what I came up with:

    Peppa Pig birthday cake

    Not much to it!

    I have to admit, I didn’t really know what cake I was going to create until the cake itself was cooked. Living on the edge, I know!

    I’ll do a tutorial for the blog during the week, just with some little tricks I picked up along the way. Plus there’s a few things I’d probably include if I’d had the time (like lollypops or cake pops for birthday balloons).

    What do you think?

    Now, onto this week’s Aussie Giveaway Linkup…

    Aussie Giveaway Linkup instructions:

    If you’re a blogger or business wanting to take part in the Aussie Giveaway Linkup:
    1. Only link directly to the giveaway post/s and include the prize and end date in the linky tool below. Link each giveaway separately. If you need to delete it, hover over your link, wait until the red “x’’ appears and click.
    2. Giveaways must be open to Australian residents and be run by Australian-based bloggers or businesses.
    3. Grab the button below to add to your post.
    4. A new list is added each Sunday so bloggers need to add their links weekly.
    5. Start entering the giveaways! Entry is at your own risk. We do not take responsibility for unfulfilled prizes or a blogger/business not abiding by their own terms and conditions.

     


    Aussie Giveaway Linky
    Hosted by Three Lil Princesses



  • Aussie Giveaway Linkup #119: The birthday season is approaching

    Aussie Giveaway Linkup #119: The birthday season is approaching

    Princess Castle Birthday Cake

    October sees the beginning of Birthday Season in our house. It’s Holly in October, Ella in November and mine in December. So I’m full on into Pinterest birthday cake mode. (What on earth did we do before Pinterest? Oh, that’s right, we looked at our Women’s Weekly Birthday Cake books.)

    Holly has decided she wants Peppa Pig.

    Ella has decided she wants Strawberry Shortcake. (Wasn’t that something Nan used to cook?)

    I’m not sure why I feel the need to have to cook a cake each year, but I do. If I’m honest with myself, I quite enjoy the challenge. Maybe in a past life I was a birthday cake maker. Maybe.

    These are the cakes we’ve made over the last couple of years:

    I refuse to put up Ella’s Wizard of Oz cake from last year. It was the biggest failure. And, as is always the case, the first cake anyone outside our family had witnessed. This year it’s family only!

    Do you go through a birthday season each year? What cakes have you made before?

    Now, onto this week’s Aussie Giveaway Linkup…

    Aussie Giveaway Linkup instructions:

    If you’re a blogger or business wanting to take part in the Aussie Giveaway Linkup:

    1. Only link directly to the giveaway post/s and include the prize and end date in the linky tool below. Link each giveaway separately. If you need to delete it, hover over your link, wait until the red “x’’ appears and click.
    2. Giveaways must be open to Australian residents and be run by Australian-based bloggers or businesses.
    3. Grab the button below to add to your post.
    4. A new list is added each Sunday so bloggers need to add their links weekly.
    5. Start entering the giveaways! Entry is at your own risk. We do not take responsibility for unfulfilled prizes or a blogger/business not abiding by their own terms and conditions.

     


    Aussie Giveaway Linky
    Hosted by Three Lil Princesses



  • Aussie Giveaway Linkup #118: What Queensland taught us about our daughters

    Aussie Giveaway Linkup #118: What Queensland taught us about our daughters

    We were already aware of the differences between Ella and Holly, but holidaying in Queensland and visiting the numerous theme parks revealed just how different they really are.

    Ella, nearly 6, was petrified of many of the rides. How on earth we managed to get her on the Wild Rapid Ride at Dreamworld I will not know. On the other hand, she loved the shows – the seals, dolphins, Dora – and getting to meet all the characters.

    Queensland theme parks 2

    Holly, nearly 3, loved the rides. She was happy to ride a plane and let it take her as high as it could or jump on the rather mean-looking Superman Escape rollercoaster (although, thankfully she’s still a tad too little to actually experience that one). On the other hand, she hated the loud noise of the shows. She screamed the entire time from fear. And characters? Well, this was her reaction to SpongeBob SquarePants:

    Queensland theme parks

    Are your children VASTLY different?

    Now, onto this week’s Aussie Giveaway Linkup…

    Aussie Giveaway Linkup instructions:

    If you’re a blogger or business wanting to take part in the Aussie Giveaway Linkup:
    1. Only link directly to the giveaway post/s and include the prize and end date in the linky tool below. Link each giveaway separately. If you need to delete it, hover over your link, wait until the red “x’’ appears and click.
    2. Giveaways must be open to Australian residents and be run by Australian-based bloggers or businesses.
    3. Grab the button below to add to your post.
    4. A new list is added each Sunday so bloggers need to add their links weekly.
    5. Start entering the giveaways! Entry is at your own risk. We do not take responsibility for unfulfilled prizes or a blogger/business not abiding by their own terms and conditions.

     


    Aussie Giveaway Linky
    Hosted by Three Lil Princesses