When was the last time you climbed a tree?

February 3, 2016 By {Alice} in Uncategorized Tags: artist cards, Australia, be involve in your community, cards, challenge, challenge a friend, connect with other, drawing, enfants, engage, etsy, friend, gift, grandchildren, idea, illustrations, invitation, original work, partage, play, share, to do, What to do Leave a comment

Bonsoir, bonjour, good morning, good evening, hi!

I’m happy to present you my last side project that was on my to do list for a long time, I’ve finally finished the first 6 illustrations that will make you engage even more with each other.

Here are the Challenge a Friend Cards!

Those cards are an invitation to share an activity with someone that involves your community, your creativity and even your fitness!

A little challenge in our busy lives.

Do you want to invite your aunt, your grandchild, your brother or your best friend to play together?

Well those cards are here to make it fun and real. So let your imagination go wild and let me know about the other challenges you would like to see for the next set of cards. I will upload more photos on Instagram and Facebook, please share and comment to have your idea(s) illustrated!

Head up to the shop to see all the illustrations and to start challenging someone and have a wonderful time with them!

Cheers!

Harry Potter -Mini Playing Kit-

August 8, 2015 By {Alice} in Decoration, Gravure/Engraving, Things and Tips for Children Tags: carving gumtree, decoration, DIY, enfants, Harry Potter, jouer, kit, Magic, party, play, potions, wand 7 Comments

We do have a few Harry Potter fans here, and spells are flying from every corner of the house. (Shame it doesn’t work though, I will do with a few Quietus! Repairo! or a good Accio! spell to find a lost sock 😉

After reading all the books, we made a little potions kit and my son carved a wand in a Gumtree branch:

Now the children have hours of pretend play ahead!

Circus Party -Part2-

March 17, 2015 By {Alice} in Decoration Tags: anniversaire, children, circus, cirque, decor, DIY, enfants, fete, party 1 Comment

Let’s play with a bit of decorations for the party:

Ballons de couleurs

Sign Circus Warning Clown cut out

Circus party

Animal Cirus deco

And next week, the lawn games will make the show!

Circus Party -Part1-

March 10, 2015 By {Alice} in Decoration Tags: animal, bocaux, bricolage, circus, cirque, couvercle, DIY, enfants, lollybags, mason jars, party 4 Comments

You remember that Pirate Party where the children had to catch a real hen to find the tresor?

Well now it is my daughter’s birthday and the theme is going to be fun:

Let’s the greatest show on earth begin!

After spending a bit of time on Pinterest we found cute animal jars to make. After painting the lids and the little plastic animals with acrylic , we just super-glued them together to have those beautiful Mason Jars!

Animal Mason Jars White

Mason Jar

We will use them as Lollybags for the guests.

Ohlala! toutes ces petites choses….

January 30, 2015 By {Alice} in Things and Tips for Children Tags: activité, appareil photo, camera, disassemble, DIY, enfants, remonter 2 Comments

Aujourd’hui c’est vendredi et on démonte un appareil photo qui ne fonctionne plus du tout. Alors les mini vis et mini éléments en tout genre, il y en plein! Un beau moment plein de curiosité, mais alors quelle galère pour répondre aux questions: “qu’est ce que c’est cette piece, maman?” heu… bin heu pfff voyons voir sur Internet…

Aller faire un tour sur le site de TODD MCLELLAN, c’est beau!

La prochaine fois ce sera au tour du grille pain, ce sera beaucoup plus facile!

demonter un appareil photo

Today is Friday and we are disassembling on old photo camera that doesn’t work anymore. So there was so many-tiny screws and other tiny things! A nice moment of discovery, but such a hard work to answer the question: “What is this maman?” hmm…well…let’s check the Internet.

Go and check the work of TODD MCLELLAN, it is so neat!

Next time it will be the toaster’s turn, much easier!

Old Time Game: The Thaumatrope

January 16, 2015 By {Alice} in Things and Tips for Children Tags: a imprimer, activity, bricolage, children, DIY, enfants, illusion, jeux anciens, kangaroo, kangourou, old game, que faire, thaumatrope, to print 1 Comment

Thaumatrope Kangaroo

After reading a book about optical illusions, we made a Thaumatrope with a kangaroo wearing boots and a top hat. And who wants a bit of wikipedia to start the day? 😉

“A Thaumatrope is a toy that was popular in the 19th century. A disk with a picture on each side is attached to two pieces of string. When the strings are twirled quickly between the fingers the two pictures appear to blend into one.”

If you want to make the same one, here is the PDF to print: (you will then need to attach a loop of string (40cm )to each side and twist them before pulling them appart.) Thaumatrope Paris-Bourke <- Click to see PDF I couldn’t make the video go faster to be able to see the illusion on screen, but you will get the idea:

– La cabane amovible – The renter’s cubby house –

January 2, 2015 By {Alice} in Chantournage/ScrollSawing Tags: activities, bois, bricolage, cabane, children, cubby house, DIY, drill, enfants, planche, rent with children 9 Comments

We had a few plank of timber in the shed sitting there waiting to be used. So we used the drill, the saw and sanded them to make material for a very special cubby house. You can built it in different shapes and pack it away for easy storage. If you want to make one, don’t use any timber (as us…) the better the material, the better looking and the more solid it will be. But don’t forget it has to be light for the children to build it themselves.

Avec des planches de pin qui traînaient dans le garage, nous avons scié, percé et poncé pour fabriquer une cabane amovible. Bon si vous souhaitez en faire une, utilisez un bois de qualité (pas comme nous…) mais n’oubliez pas d’en prendre un léger pour que les enfants construisent leur cabane eux-mêmes.
Hand Drilling

Work in progress:

cabane amovible

Building time:

cabane amovible

cabane amovible run Play time! Have a good day and a Very Good New Year!

Bonne Année 2015!

Le Jeu de l’Australie, The Map Game -Australia-

November 15, 2014 By {Alice} in Australia Tags: Australia, board game of australia, cadeau, children, cute, drawing, enfants, french, game made in Australia, gift, Jeu, jeu de l'oie australie, jouet, le jeu d'australie, le jeu de l'australie, map game, story of the map game, the map game, the map game australia, the original map game, video the map game, voice 8 Comments

That’s it, the game is in the shop! We made a little video with the children to show you what we have been working on:

A force d’y travailler le voici enfin dans la boutique!Nous avons fait une petite video, avec les enfants, pour vous le présenter:

The Map Game Australia.

So, do you think the children still have a french accent?

Alors, les enfants ont-ils toujours un petit accent français?

On your marks, set paper ball, fire!

August 8, 2014 By {Alice} in Things and Tips for Children Tags: activité, cannon, children, DIY, enfants, que faire, rubber band, shouter 2 Comments

La découverte du site internet -Royal Institution- nous inspire tellement sur les activités du moment, qu’il faut absolument qu’on partage ce lien: http://rigb.org/experimental/rubber-band-cannons

Nous avons fabriqué des cannons à élastiques très simple et parfait pour jouer au chamboule-tout.

We just discovered a great website from the Royal Institution of Great Britain. We’ve made their Rubber band cannons and had so much fun. Here is the link: http://rigb.org/experimental/rubber-band-cannons

-The best rainy afternoon ever! –

April 24, 2014 By {Alice} in Things and Tips for Children Tags: enfants, Jeu, kids, machine a écrire, play, pluie, rain, typing, wrtting 2 Comments

What a find! On the side of the road, in the middle of old bikes, was an old typing machine, with a Grec alphabet! After a good wash we gave it to the children in the beginning of a rainy afternoon.They spend the full afternoon playing with it, being police officer taking complaints or giving fine to the other one and even creating a ”Wanted” poster!

Quelle trouvaille, sur le bord de la route, au milieu de vieux vélos, il y avait une vielle machine à écrire, avec l’alphabet Grecque! Après l’avoir nettoyé, nous l’avons donné aux enfants au début d’un apres-midi pluvieux. Ils ont joué aux policiers l’après-midi entier tapant des plaintes ou donnant des amendes, ils ont même accroché une affiche d’avis de recherche!

C’est rigolo comment un objet puisse inspirer un jeu de rôle si précis dans leur esprit.

It is funny how one object can be the start of a fabulous role play in their mind.

-Round and Little-

April 1, 2014 By {Alice} in Australia, Things and Tips for Children Tags: Australia, Australie, designs, discs, drawing, enfants, Melbourne, rhino, wood 1 Comment

This weekend, I let the children use some wooden discs from the Australian Map Game. I just asked them what was Australia for them and they started drawing kangourous, camper vans,the sun, a hotdog, the beach, the sea, the opera house, a tent, some red earth and my favourite: a rhino on a skateboard! We even let the friends join in!

Only the people from Melbourne will understand.;-) (The Rhino on the skateboard campaign was created to encourage pedestrians to stay alert around trams.)

Ce weekend, j’ai laissé mes enfants jouer avec les disque de bois du jeu d’Australie. Je leur ai demandé ce que l’Australie était pour eux et ils ont commencé à dessiner des kangouroux, des camping cars, le soleil, la plage, la mer, l’opéra de Sydney, une tente, la terre rouge et mon préféré: un rhinocéros sur un Skateboard!

Seulement les Melbourniens comprendront. Il s’agit d’une affiche créée pour encourager les piétons à rester prudent autour des trams.

Bonne journée!

-The Little Toys Garden-

November 14, 2011 By {Alice} in Decoration, Things and Tips for Children Tags: children, enfants, garden, jardin 9 Comments

After 2 months where the life was too busy to post something on the blog, I am back with a new home, new town, new garden and new projects!

And because the children love to play with big and tiny rocks, we just made a little toys garden:

Après 2 mois d’absence, me revoilà, dans une nouvelle maison, un nouveau village, un nouveau jardin et des nouveaux projets!

Et parce que les enfants adorent jouer avec des petits et grand cailloux, nous avons fait un petit jardin de jouets:

Pirate Party Part 1 -Hats-

August 10, 2011 By {Alice} in Couture/Sewing, Things and Tips for Children Tags: chapeau, children, deguisement, DIY, enfants, feutrine, hat, party, pirate, plume 12 Comments

En plein dans les préparatifs d’une pirate party, voici le premier accessoire indispensable à la fête: le chapeau pirate!

To start a pirate party, let’s make the pirate’s hat!

Il suffit d’avoir de la feutrine, de la vielle dentelle et une plume d’autruche!

You will just need some felt, some old laces and an ostrich feather!

Let’s Play

July 23, 2011 By {Alice} in Things and Tips for Children Tags: activités, activity, children, enfants, game, play 13 Comments

Vous ne savez pas quoi faire de vos petits mimis un jour de pluie, hophop une balle, un bâton, de la ficelle et c’est parti pour une bonne rigolade.

It’s raining outside, you don’t know what to do with the children, let’s have some fun with a tennis ball, a string and a stick.

-Their Time in Their Hands-

June 3, 2011 By {Alice} in Things and Tips for Children Tags: activités, children, DIY, enfants, hourglass, sablier 29 Comments

Le projet du jour: voir le temps qui s’écoule, qui passe, vite ou lentement.Voir les enfants jouer, paisiblement ou passionnément, et surtout ne pas les déranger, même si le temps passe.

The project of the day: see the time passes by, fast or slowly. See the children playing, peacefully or fervently, and especially do not disturb them, even if the time goes by.

To do an hourglass, you will need: 2 jars, 1 lid, sand, sticky tape, coton cord, and a hammer with a pointy tool. Let’s follow the pictures.

Pour faire un sablier vous avez besoin de 2 bocaux, d’un couvercle, du sable, du scotch, de la corde, et d’un marteau avec un outil pointu. Il n’y a plus qu’à suivre les photos.