Paul & Paula

The 10 best ‘stuck at home’ craft ideas with the kids!

Yesterday we announced to the children that tomorrow school will be open for the last time. Until further notice.
We had very mixed reactions over the news.

Leonor started crying and when I told her that we will do school work at home she came up with a waterfall of ideas and did not stop talking for a while. Romy, my little super brain, is concerned on how to keep up with the curriculum. Whilst Antoine started to make ‘reward cards’ for everyone. Now, this shall be fun.

And, yes I did start a schedule that we will try to follow. But realistically will be more a guideline seeing that we have to guide, help, and stay cool with 4 children of different ages next to our own workload.

Next to some math and science I also put things like music and art on our schedule. And that is why I thought it would be good to share some great ideas to inspire and help you as well. And of course, schools closed or not, having some craft ideas handy is never a bad idea.

The 10 best ‘stuck at home’ craft ideas with the kids:

The Shoe Box Mansion
This idea is fantastic and would allow to keep on going over a few days or as long as you want it really. Starting with the structure and adding details. Of course you can add boxes and make it bigger with time. Plus, it is great to do with your siblings. Team building activity :)

Magna Tiles Window

So easy and great when you need to entertain a younger sibling whilst the older children need to finish their school work. I love the idea of placing the magna tiles on the window, but there are even more fun ways and ideas for them!

Salt Dough

To make salt dough you need: 2 cups of plain flour, 1 cup of water, and 1 cup of salt. Mix, mould, and shape into anything you like. And once you are done you bake it in the oven (180C) until hard. fantastic to make ornaments, tiny bowls, or rainbows… rainbows are great these days to lift the mood.
For the rainbow DIY please follow this link.

Egg Carton Art
Super easy to set up and everyone can join! You only need egg cartons and paint. The rest your child’s imagination will come up with…

Painted Branches
Another great one and you could pick up branches during a walk outside. Paint them and even adorn them with anything you have in the house. They will make great decoration as well.

XOXO Painting
At first sight this might be more for teenagers but I think everyone can have a go. Show them the images and the idea of the project and let them go about. I find this a great activity for a soothing moment. Just concentrating on your painting.

Paper Robot
Your kids could come up with their own robot or use the template provided by La Maison de Loulou.

Paper Plate Snake
I ordered a big pack of white paper plates yesterday because they are so versatile when it comes to kids crafts. One idea is this fun paper snake that involves bubble wrap paper too.

Rainbow Mobile
More rainbows and more decoration. Our house will probably look like a museum and we can open for an arts tour when things go back to normal again. But this rainbow mobile is really so easy to make. And lovely as well!
And we definitely need lots of rainbows these days.

Cupcake Liner Flowers
Another simple craft idea that involves things you most likely have in the house already. Simple white cupcake/muffin liners, pens, paper straws, and imagination. That’s it. Some sustainable flowers for your kitchen table coming up!

Altogether some wonderful DIY ideas. But I have a few more if you like: Wooden Bead Necklace / DIY kite / Dotty Tshirt / Button Heart

PS: We will sit over the plan all together this weekend and I am happy to share it once ready and approved. Let me know if that interests you.

A colourful and welcoming home for a large family

Kristian’s and Mariah’s apartment in Copenhagen, Denmark is a colourful and welcoming home for a large family.

Kristian Lillelund works as an interior designer and loves practical and modern solutions. So when the apartment transformed into a home for a four-child family, he came up with some very clever solutions.

No space is unused, lots of storage compartments, space saving ideas, and cool DIY projects. Kristian built the cool kitchen, a sofa that is also a bookcases, and multifunctional plywood furniture. The main colours are pink and grey and the result is a fun and vibrant family home.

Welcome in:

The kids rooms are all about compact living. Loft beds, wall desks that integrate into the interior, and lots of custom-made furniture for optimal function.
Smart and cool!

The kitchen is definitely my favourite space in this apartment and I love the grey walls. Before the renovation, it was much smaller and the small bedroom next to it was compromised for a lovely spacious family kitchen.

Again, everything is smart and flexible in terms of storage. And it really looks like a great place to hang out, draw pictures, have a glass of wine with a friend, and lots of afternoon snacks.

Sofa is shelf. Two-in-one, but very sleek and fun. And again, the grey and pink colour scheme…

More Copenhagen? How about these fun kids room ideas?

Via: hemtrevligt

The sweetest Mary Jane style shoes of the season!

Good Morning! Now, of course we are all busy either finding out how our week will play out or searching Pinterest to entertain the kids who are home from school. An impossible situation that just does not have a solution.

There is no right or wrong.
And therefore I am here with the same mission as always: Sharing interesting, lovely, and new things for when you have a few spare minutes to unwind. Nothing more, nothing less.

And since the temperatures are on the rise and the sun makes appearances too, we are ready to ditch our winter boots for something more light. As well as more sweet!

And what is better than the classic Mary Jane style that comes in all colours of the rainbow these days.

What is a Mary Jane?

Mary Jane’s are originally shoes that feature a strap over the instep with an adjustable buckle fastening so that you can find the perfect fit. They appeared in the early 20th century and were typically made of black leather or patent leather. You will also find a broad and rounded toe-box, and thin out-soles.

Please find my selection of 12 wonderful pairs of Mary Jane’s. For all ages and in a lovely variety of colours:

1. Black patent with a cute white stitching. Very chic.

2. S W E E T! Pink and patent*. I would mix them with a cool pair of jeans – cool girl look.

3. Classic t-bat style in radiant red*. Love it!

4. Leopard style* for little fashionistas. (on mid season sale right now)

5. Forest green. A great colour that you do not see that often.

6. You can never be wrong with a tanned leather shoe*. Never!

Six more gorgeous Mary Jane shoes for your children:

7. Oh, that colour. Since I love mustard*, this is probably my favourite pair of Mary Jane’s.

8. Super soft baby Mary Jane’s with these super sweet Liberty laces*.

9. Great Vintage style shoe* and that adorable blue. Perfect!

10. When you are not sure which colour to choose – go for white*. It works with everything. And with the cute flower details these shoes are to cute for words.

11. Eco-friendly vegetable tanned leather shoes* for babies in beautiful navy. (and more lovely colours available)

12. Rose gold* to give your outfit that perfect little extra touch.

*affiliate links

Natural and sustainable toys for little people!

It is clear that the world of wooden toys really took a big step over the last years. What was once a boring part of childhood is now a must have. Mostly because brands updated their image and speak to today’s parents who are looking for safe, long lasting, and good toys for their children.

And this small creative studio based here in London is definitely part of it. Founded by lovely Iga Sielenko, she designs wooden toys, nursery decor and interior accessories for children and grown ups. All the products are non toxic and manufactured ethically using only natural and sustainable materials completely safe for the little ones.

This wooden toy brand* creates functional, ethical and sustainable wooden toys with enduring quality and minimalist design that leaves space for your child’s imagination to flourish. And it is about connecting children with natural materials, helping them discover their creativity, supporting their physical and mental development.

Let’s have a closer look at these natural and beautiful toys for little people:

Loving the balancing stones in either pastel*, earthy*, or natural*.

Probably my favourite (and we have a birthday coming up here this month!) – the wooden birthday cake*!

Iga’s biggest inspiration was the birth of her son, Orson, back in July 2014, when she discovered a whole new world. A world of toys and children’s room decor. She was also inspired by the simplicity and aesthetics of Scandinavian and Japanese design, nature, Montessori and Waldorf education.

And Iga always loved wooden toys. They remind her of very special and happy memories from her childhood.

“My toys and decor pieces are super cute and stylish. And their minimalistic designs will fit into many different interior styles and compliment any space. I put lots of love and care to each product I make and I want my designs to be enjoyed both by the parents and their little ones. “

You love the natural look? I have the key accessories for a great natural kids room as well as this haven of a children’s room that will let your heart beat faster. Promised!

*affiliate links

All you need for a great Easter Time!

Easter is approaching and my children announced that they would like, pleeeaaaase mum, a real Easter Egg Hunt. In our garden, or even better in the park. It is cute to see that they ask for traditions.

And of course I will hide chocolate eggs and bunnies and enjoy watching them running around with little baskets…

I really like Easter. To me, it is the perfect start of the open air season. When the streets turn green, the garden needs a fresh up, you stay in the park until it is nearly diner time, and our neighbours magnolia tree is smiling at me from my office window.

Therefore, I gathered a few cute and fun things to make your Easter weekend a bit more sweet in just a couple of weeks:

1. Linen jumpsuit in beautiful yellow mustard.

2. This stunning blue gingham bunny girl’s dress is a precious piece you’ll want to keep forever.

3. Dress up time: Flower and Rabbit Ear bandeau.

4. Palm leaf basket to collect Easter eggs and for little toys afterwards.

5. Cutest handbag for Easter essentials, chocolate eggs, and beyond.

6. Perfect accessory to that blue dress – a sweet straw hat.

7. Set of the cutest floral bunny plates.

8. Easter bunny wooden puzzle. A family of rabbits that are both fun and educational.

And more Easter things that will make you happy all Spring and Summer long as well:

9. P E A C E

10. Mama and baby bunny wooden figurines.

11. Bikini bottoms in a gorgeous Liberty fabric and smock detail.

12. Flower crown.

13. A chic and comfortable Easter time for the youngest with this very soft cotton gauze jumpsuit.

14. Organic cotton storage basket.

15. Super cute bunny peg dolls in a choice of colours. These sweet little rabbits have hand painted details, faux leather ears and and a fluffy little pom pom tail.

16. Leather shoulder bag.

The 10 best ‘stuck at home’ craft ideas with the kids!

Yesterday we announced to the children that tomorrow school will be open for the last time. Until further notice.
We had very mixed reactions over the news.