Tuesday 19 March 2019

Hot Glue Gun Crafts To Try This Weekend

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Now that we are getting into the spring and the weather is warmer, a lot of us are looking at ways to change the house and also some more crafty ways to spend our weekend days. There are so many fun crafts we can enjoy at the weekend with our family and one particular material which we can use for our crafts is a glue gun.


A glue gun is a handy little art and craft tool and you can use it for so many different things around the house. If you purchase some hot melt glue sticks you can create some super fun things, and today we are looking at just a few that you should try out this weekend.


1. Create wax art


Although the traditional way to use a glue gun is to use clear glue sticks, you can actually replace your regular sticks with coloured crayons to make some fun artwork for the house. When you heat up and melt wax crayons you can get some gorgeous colours and designs and it can be a great activity to try on a rainy day. Make sure you have a canvas to pour the crayons onto and see what kind of patterns you can make!


2. Wax seal your letters


When you watch a period drama have you ever noticed how satisfying it looks to seal an envelope with wax? If you want to add some fun and class to your letters you can try this at home with a stamp and a glue gun. You can create your own personalised stamp online and then use your glue stick to create a wax seal from you to your recipient. This one is just a bit of fun and it will be something the kids would love too.


3. Seal bath toys


If you have children your home is most likely filled to the brim with toys of all shapes and sizes. If you want to make sure that your child’s toy stay clean and hygienic you’ll need to clean them once in a while. The issue with bath toys such as rubber ducks is the fact that they have a hole in the bottom which can fill with water. Over time this hole can provide a great breeding ground for mould without you even noticing. You can use a glue gun to plug this hole now and this will stop wet toys from getting mouldy inside.


4. Decorate a vase


A simple craft you can enjoy doing this weekend with either an old vase or a bottle is to paint the case or bottle a bright colour and then decorate it with a glue gun. Imagine the kind of patterns used in henna design, and add these to a vase or bottle and it can make a stunning effect. If you paint the raised design with a metallic coloured paint you’ll end up with a unique effect which will amaze guests and create a talking point when people come to visit.


5. Create a stained glass work of art


Stained glass looks a lot more complex than it really is, and in fact you can create your own piece of stained glass art with a picture frame, some glass paint and a glue gun. Start off by cleaning the glass pane to make sure it isn’t dusty at all. You can then find a picture you love online such as a flower or a landscape and print off an image to fit in the picture frame, as you will be able to use this as a stencil for your glass art design. Using your glue gun, draw out the design and make sure to seal each section of the frame which will contain a certain colour paint. Once this is dry you can mix some glass paint and colour in your glass to make a stunning piece of art. Simply remove the image from the frame afterwards and you’ll have a unique accessory for the home.


6. DIY Makeup brush cleaning board


If you always struggle to clean your makeup brushes and you want to make sure you can get into the bristles, you can create a little makeup brush cleaning board with an old credit card and a glue gun. All you need to do to make this work is draw zig zag patterns onto the card with glue and let it dry. Next time you come to clean your brushes you can rub them against the card to get into all of those nooks and crannies and get rid of any foundation and loose powder which has built up over time. You’ll be left with clean and shiny makeup brushes perfect for your next day out.


7. Non slip hanger


If you have a lot of nice dresses or shirts in your closet which always seem to fall down when you hang them up, we have a super simple glue gun solution you can use on our hangers. To create your own non slip hangers at home all you need to do is glue some dots onto each side of your coat hangers and let them dry. Once you have done this the dots will help keep your clothes in place whenever you come to hang them up and this will make life so much easier for you and stop your clothing from falling and becoming creased.


8. Extra grip slippers


When you are at home you will likely want to walk around in either socks or slippers, but if you have a wooden floor or a tile floor at home it can be a little slippery at times and a little bit dangerous. To ensure that you can make the most of your slippers at home, take a few minutes to draw some dots onto the bottom of the slipper to add a bit of grip to them. This will allow you to walk around much easier and save you hurting yourself at home!


This is a collaborative post

Benefits Hardwood Brings To The Home During The Colder Months


There are many uses of hardwood in your UK home; it can be used for your doors, your joinery, windows and many other things. Some homeowners are a little cautious about using hardwood for their internal and external décor, but there are so many advantages, and thus you really cannot go wrong. This blog post will walk you through the many advantages of using hardwood in your UK home. One of the great things about hardwood is that there are so many different types of wood to choose from, so this should not hold you back in terms of style!

First up, windows that are made of hardwood are lovely when used in any house because they have a great aesthetic appeal, and look extremely traditional. It is a perfect material to use for period featured properties, like farmhouses, old cottages and any type of home that has an element of the past i.e. a place that would look too modernised by adding double glazed plastic windows.

Hardwood actually withstands the winter cold very well; it is also resistant to condensation that can be caused by having your heating on. The frames are built with great strength and durability, and because the wood is easy to work with, it can be cut in a lot of different shapes and sizes, whereby other materials that are available on the market cannot. If you use a company like George Hill Timber, they will be able to cut the wood to size for you so you don’t have anything to worry about.

Some people think that using hardwood on floors, doors and other areas of the property will mean that their home will be prone to insect attacks, especially in the winter when insects are looking for a place to hide and keep warm. This is not true. When you have the hardwood fitted, you can have the contractor put a special protective barrier onto the material, protecting the wood from insects. You will be investing in a very high-quality tolerable material that has the ability to be with you for decades, in contrast to years.

It is a well-known fact that hardwood has a longer life span than the more modern materials that are out now.  When it comes to draught proofing during winter, you needn’t worry either, because this material is fantastic when making sure that the cold stays out. In fact, you can safely say that doors, floors and windows will provide a protective barrier for you against the cold. There is nothing worse than a terrible draught floating through your home when it is already cold in the dead of winter.

Typically, homeowners struggle to find materials that are suited to any décor within their home, yet the fantastic thing about using hardwood is that no matter what type of decoration you have inside your home, no matter how weird or wacky your walls are painted; it will all match. It is an extremely versatile material. You can also paint hardwood and varnish them to add a little shine.

When it comes to thermal heating and wood, you really will begin to save on your heating bills during winter because wood keeps the heat inside your home a lot better than any of the other materials on offer. Doors that are made from hardwood also help to keep not only the draught out, but they also ensure that the noise is kept out too. There is nothing worse than too much noise inside your home, especially during the winter when you just want to chill out and relax. The wooden material helps to create a warm, cosy, rustic feeling.

Old is gold, and that really is the case when it comes to this material. Hardwood really is the way to go. The older it gets, the better it looks. When you take into account all of the benefits that have been mentioned in this blog post, it is really not hard to see why using hardwood in your home comes so highly recommended, especially during the winter. Who knew that something could look so amazing and offer so many other advantages too?

This is a collaborative post.

Monday 18 March 2019

Smart Day Trips For Everyone


Don’t tell the kids you’re going somewhere educational, they don’t need to know, and it’ll take all the fun out of it.  When you are thinking of stuff to do at the weekend or during the holidays, there are plenty of options which are both fun and educational - for all the family, not just the kids.

Children’s Play Village
These are a fantastic idea for developing your kid’s creativity and imagination. They seem to be opening up all over the UK which is great, there’s the KidsZania in London “An indoor city run by kids” and then the Children’s Play Village in Warwick who also have plans to open up more sites around the UK so keep an eye on their website.

The Zoo
A lovely day out for all but also such a good place for children to learn while having fun. Zoos are full of information as well as educational performances and experts in the form of zookeepers on hand to answer any questions. There’s plenty of games you can play at the zoo too, getting your kids to see how many animals they can find and ask them to group them by their animal type. If you get them to write them down with a little description, that’s the spelling and vocabulary taken care of too.

Farms
Farms can be a little more hands-on than a zoo, with many allowing children to feed animals or hold small ones. Many farms are designed now with visitors in mind, and your children can have fun while learning all about looking after animals, how farms work and where we get our fresh food from.

A Castle
There is no better way to teach your children about the history of Britain than a trip to one of the many castles dotted around the country. Many of them are well preserved or have been restored so that you can see history in action. Often castles will offer all sorts of activities that children love. These include tours designed for children, activity workshops, and play areas. Your children will be having so much fun; they won't notice that they are learning at the same time. It's also possible to get season tickets that cover many different heritage sites, so if you plan to make a few trips, this could help you look after the pennies.

Museums
A day trip to any museum is all well and good, but did you know you can now sleep over at many museums? For a proper Night at the Museum experience, the Dino Snores sleepover at London’s Natural History Museum is fantastic, your child can camp out and might even be sleeping next to the lifesize blue whale. They will also take part in activities including a torch-lit trail and dinosaur t-shirt making. You can also have a sleepover a the sea life centre, camping out in the aquarium’s massive viewing tunnel, where tropical fish, sea turtles and sharks will swim around them all night, how cool is that?

If you’re ever after a little inspiration for educational day trips or holidays, there is nowhere better to look than NST who organise school trips! Who better to learn from than the experts?

This is a collaborative post. 

Sunday 17 March 2019

Want The Ultimate Sanctuary Bedroom? The Tips To Help You Create It

When it comes to your home, your bedroom can be a little low on the priority list when it comes to decorating. As a parent, there tends to be rooms that you focus on first. You may want to tackle some of the bigger projects first of all. As a family you may want to decorate a kitchen, or have a new one installed. Extend your home to make the living space more compatible with your family life. Renovate the bathroom and certainly decorate the children's bedrooms. So you can see why your bedroom probably ranks much lower than some of the other jobs and projects in your home.


However, this isn't how it should be. As a busy parent, there is so much that you already sacrifice for your family. Your time, your livelihood, your efforts into making your family life a happy and fulfilling one. But you cannot fill from an empty cup, and sometimes you just need a little time for yourself. having a decent bedroom to escape to at night when everyone is asleep, or just to be able to take five minutes peace and quiet while your other half looks after the kiddos, can make a world of difference to your mood and how you feel with your mental wellbeing. So here are some of the ways that you can turn your bedroom into a sanctuary.


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Give it a fresh coat of paint


Painting a room can make the biggest difference to how it looks. It may not have had much love for a while, so getting rid of old wallpaper, and giving the walls a fresh new identity could be the only thing you need to do to give the room the lift it needs. Think about your colour choices. Maybe go for something that is calming. Perhaps your favourite colour in a pastel version or something that is bedroom appropriate. There are some great colour suggestions online, some to promote calmness, some to promote sleep, so figure out what it is you want and then g for something that matches in with that.


Invest in a new bed and mattress


The next thing you could consider would be to invest in a new bed or mattress. Again we can put these sorts of purchase low on the priority list, but it is important for you to get quality sleep. As a parent it is a running joke that you don’t get much sleep at night, children needing attention, babies needing feeding, and so it can be all consuming and hard to relax if you then don’t feel comfortable in your bed. A supportive mattress can aid you in having a decent sleep. It is said that you should change your mattress every eight years, so when was the last time you changed yours?


Dress your bedroom exactly how you like it


You want your bedroom to feel like a sanctuary, and a great way to replicate that look is to dress your room appropriately. That means things like new bedding, and even looking at the cushions you use to decorate the bed and having a lovely furnishings. A great way to look it, is as you feel when you are in a hotel. They always look pristine so use it as inspiration such as having a bed runner and smart cushions and style. Maybe looking at hotel quality bed runners from Richard Haworth or cushions from your favourite home interiors store is the best place to start. You will find there will be a lot of inspiration just by browsing online.


Declutter and organise more effectively


Clutter and having too many things out or in the bedroom space can do more harm than good. Many people say that a busy house creates a busy mind, so you won’t want to replicate that in your bedroom when you want to relax. Take some time to declutter your things and find some organisation in the chaos. Maybe trying things out like the Konmari method from Marie Kondo could be a great place to gain some inspiration on clutter, mess and tidying.


Wherever possible, opt for natural materials from stores with a good pedigree like Chiltern Oak Furniture  Natural wood is built to last. Not only can it be used to create a range of space-efficient storage solutions, it will endure everything the years throw at it with good grace. Furthermore, the presence of natural materials in the home helps us to feel calmer and happier than their synthetic counterparts which never look and feel quite right to our senses.



A clean space will make you feel better


Finally, a clean space can make a big difference to how you feel and so it may be time to give your bedroom a deep clan. Hoover the floors, wipe the skirting boards, dust the furniture and window sills and ensure the bed linen is clean and crisp. It is the small things that can make the biggest difference to your bedroom and how you feel.


Let’s hope that these tips help you when it comes to creating the ultimate sanctuary in your bedroom.


This is a collaborative post

Thursday 14 March 2019

Can You Make Your Home Look Endlessly Modern?


This is the question that every homeowner wants to answer. Obviously, if you live in a house for an extended period of time then you’re going to need to renovate. However, we’re talking about things breaking down or wearing out. You shouldn’t have to renovate every few years because your home design starts to look outdated. Still, how can you avoid that? Can you make your home look endlessly modern? Here are a few solutions that might help you out.

Create a blend of contemporary and classic design.
The key to making your home look endlessly modern is to avoid creating a trendy or an outdated space. That’s why a blend of new and old interior design can really make a household shine. It’s called transitional design. Essentially, you might have a modern and minimalistic home with white walls, new appliances, sleek flooring, and some contemporary furnishings, but a few vintage elements of design will have their place too. If you’re wondering how to incorporate classic elements of home design into your household then you should think of centrepieces.

In other words, your household will probably be mostly modernised (you’ll have a TV, a fridge, an oven, and other electronic appliances). There’s no escaping modernity in your home. Too many vintage furnishings might look out of place in such a setting, but the right balance of contemporary and classic design can look very stylish. Maybe you’ll have a modern kitchen but a sleek traditional chandelier hanging above, for example. Or maybe you don’t want to empty your bank account on expensive focal points. You could get some nice leather sofas for the living room. That would give the space a set of classic and comfortable centrepieces. For some smaller vintage focal points, you might want to get a traditional clock or an old chest of drawers for particular rooms. Be creative with your style; just don’t let the new and old elements of your home clash.

Use natural design.
We’ve talked about using transitional design to blend classic and contemporary elements of household design because such as amalgamation prevents a household from becoming dated and unfashionable. Still, manufactured design always runs the risk of becoming dated in time because it’s artificial. Trends change, and old styles become attached to a bygone era. If you want to avoid this fate befalling your own house then you should use natural design throughout your humble abode. Nature is timeless. If you want to make your home look endlessly modern then you should use as much organic design as possible. Natural materials such as wood always add something special to a home; that’s why so many vintage furnishings look good in a modern environment, assuming the design style itself isn’t outdated. You should use plenty of earth tones to really make your home feel natural and vibrant. Plants and flowers can really bring something special to your household too. They not only add to the design in an aesthetic sense because they’re bold and colourful; they remove toxins from the air. This will make your home feel fresher too. Natural design is definitely the core answer to achieving an endlessly modern household design.

This is a collaborative post.
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