making stuff, making memories.

Now my kids are older, I look back with fond memories to all the things I have had to help them make for school and other various projects. The wigwam for L last year, mobiles, paintings, face masks, costumes, you name it we've done it. We had a masked ball party for L one year where mask invitations were sent out and all the kids came to my house sporting home made masks. A butterfly ball the next year complete with butterfly cake and children with butterfly wings. I am pretty sure I did themed parties for J too, but cannot for the life of me remember offhand what they were.
I also remember my parents made a lot of things for my brother and me too when we were young. I know we had a R2D2 made out of a yogurt pot, silver paper and a blue ball. And a K-9 made out of a cardboard box but which was the spitting image of the real thing. I also remember being delighted when I awoke and came downstairs one morning and both my parents had made paper boats out of the Rupert the bear annual my brother had got one Christmas. I don't actually think they made them for us, they were just messing around late at night but I still thought they were the best parents in the world.
So with joy the other night I once again I enjoyed the delights of my child telling me at eight o clock at night that she needed tea-stained burnt paper for her work at school the next day. So I duly got out the teabags, stained the paper, left it to dry overnight and then tried to set fire to the kitchen whilst cooking paper and breakfast the next day. But she was pleased with the results. Similarly I was asked a day before needed, for a gravestone (although I do have vague recollections of someone mentioning this repeatedly but I thought it was a voice in my head or an annoying fly buzzing at me I guess). So today, I trotted to see my friend who works in a picture framing shop and managed to sneak some marble card offcuts out of there without paying vast amounts of money... well none... This afternoon whilst trying to sort out my money situation (single parent advisor's are supposed to help single parents right? not make their lives more difficult!) I managed to cobble together a gravestone of sorts and then I stole some ivy from peoples gardens when I had to rush to pick up my daughter. This is the end result. The writing leaves a lot to be desired but it will do for a drama lesson.
Also today, (not making anything this time). I spied this little mouse cheese board in a charity shop as I passed and could not resist buying him. He will look very fine on my red and white Christmas table this year.

Elsewhere I am planning to make a Halloween party tea so any suggestions for Halloween type food or decoration would be greatly received.
I had though about getting this fella for the window, but think I may give the old people in a the street a heart attack! You can find lots of strange items at this site!
p.s Kitty, your bunny is boxed up and ready to go, I just need to email you for your address and I promise you she will reach you before Halloween!