We all know there are huge differences in quality when it comes to clothing, and of course kidswear is no different. But even the highest-quality items can’t always withstand the amount of rolling, falling and crawling they have to go through on a daily basis. Kids are going to be kids, but what can you as a parent do to extend the lifetime of their clothes? Continue reading “How to: extend the life of kids’ clothes”
A change in season is the perfect time to restructure your kids’ wardrobes and tackle the mess that, let’s admit it, has undoubtedly built up in your wardrobes over time 🙂 Here are 7 easy tips to get, and stay, organised. Continue reading “7 quick tips to organise your kid’s wardrobe”
Let’s admit it: we all want to be better for the earth, but sustainable living can be a pain. Especially if you’re busy managing a family, and your finances don’t stretch far enough to only shop organic products or build solar panels on the roof.
Living a greener life doesn’t have to be stressful and expensive, however. Start with these easy steps, and you’ll reduce your family’s footprint without breaking the bank. Continue reading “How to: live sustainably on a budget”
It’s one of those terms you hear more and more these days: the circular economy. But what exactly is it? How does it relate to daily life, and why is it important for kids to know about it, too? Here’s all you as a parent should know about this new movement. Continue reading “Why every parent should know about the circular economy”
Splashing the cash on an outfit for just one night of the year is expensive – and
unsustainable.
Shop-bought fancy dress costumes may be a quick and easy go-to, but from oil-
based synthetic materials to the plastic fibres shed by polyester, it’s probably
time we considered their impact on the environment.
Did you know:
* On average Halloween costumes only get worn twice, and 2 in 5 are worn only
once
* An estimated 7 million Halloween costumes end up in the bin each year-
adding to the 300,000 tonnes of clothes that end up in landfill annually in the UK
* More than 70% of us buy costumes from supermarkets, fancy dress shops
and online? [wiseuptowaste.org]
“But I don’t have spare hours to spend weaving witchy frocks and kitting
vampire fangs!” we hear you cry. Fear not – we’ve rounded up some of the best
DIY Halloween costume ideas to knock up in a hurry…
Make a skeleton costume in 10 minutes
The always fabulous thisisladyland.com has a genius idea for pulling off a
skeleton suit in mere minutes – perfect for those ‘oh my god it’s 3pm on October
31 and I haven’t got anything for the kids to wear’ moments. All you need is a
dark long-sleeved top, a white T-shirt and a pair of scissors. For the how-to
guide, see thisisladyland.com
Spider tights and umbrella bats
The Mumsnet manual to last-minute Halloween has a wealth of panic-stricken
ideas, from an 11 th hour spider (you need tights) to bat wings fashioned from an
old umbrella. www.mumsnet.com
Ghosts, zombies and mummies
Instant zombie or terrifying mummy, this goodtoknow.co.uk guide has 8
costumes you can pull off in a jiffy.
See www.goodtoknow.co.uk/familycostumes
No Sew Wizard Outfit
With a bit of material, some coloured card, scissors and glue, family blogger
daisiesandpie.co.uk can help you whip up a wizard hat without a stitch in sight.
See www.daisiesandpie.co.uk
Paper bag Frankenstein’s monster
The brilliant craft site Red Ted Art has the perfect solution to Halloween woes.
All you need is a brown paper bag and some paint. Your kids can even pull this
one off themselves. Result!
See www.redtedart.com
Sew a spooky bat top
OK, you’ll need a little more time for this, and access to a sewing machine, but
this tutorial from Etsy blogger Anda makes knocking up a bat-wing costume a
breeze.
See blog.etsy.com/en/diy-bat-costume-for-kids/
Make a ghost costume from an old sheet
This ace tutorial from loveyourcloths.org.uk shows you exactly how to spin some
ghoulish glory. You just need a sheet, dark upcycled fabric (for example an old T-
shirt), fusible webbing, string, a pen and a needle and thread…
See www.loveyourclothes.org.uk
Use what you’ve already got
From pipe cleaner bat ears to a woolly cat’s tail, themadhouse.com has five smart
ways to whizz up a Halloween outfit from things you already have at home.
See www.muminthemadhouse.com
blogtreasurehouse.wordpress.com 