{Tutorial} A Handy Tote for my Old Ma

My old ma had been unwell for a while, we had been visiting hospital frequently with her and I noticed she needs a bigger bag to carry her personal belongings. So, I spent the Sunday afternoon to make her this handy tote bag while the kids busy entertaining themselves - playing blocks, singing songs from Frozen and  had fun video-graphing themselves over and over again. I was the only fortunate audience that afternoon. 

The tote bag comes with 3 front pockets for storing her water bottle, mobile phone and umbrella. The 2 side loops are for hanging keys or just for decorative purpose. I used the same magnetic buckle which I used for the modern nappy bag I made for myself last year.

Have I mentioned that few custom nappy bags were made for some proud owners too? The happiness was when I received their thank you notes, at least my design had been pretty useful to some ladies out there. *smile*

This tote comes with a large internal compartment in matching fabric for her medicine and cardigan that she always bring along.

Complete with my label on the handle.. *always a moment of pride*

I kept to a simple design as my old ma doesn't like anything elaborate (so do I, like mother like daughter!).

Hope my old ma likes it and may God bless her abundantly and grant her speedy recovery. 


In case you would like to make one too.... 

Tutorial

I did not prepared a pictorial tutorial as I was making this in a rush, I wanted mom to be able to use it for the next appointment. However, here's a simple step-by-step sketching that explains the design. I assume you have some basic in sewing before you try to understand this drawing...:) 

You shall need:

• 1/2 yard of thick cotton for the tote bodice
• 1/4 yard of medium weight batting for the insert
• 1/4 yard of matching or contrasting fabric for the front pocket and handle. 
• 1 magnetic buckle or replaced with a loop and large button
• Threads in matching color
• A sewing machine

This tote bag is of the right size to fit an A4 document.

That's it, feel free to drop me a message below if you have any questions about making this tote!

Copyrights © Pui Hua and Fun With Little Ones, 2012 - present. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of any materials/photos within this website without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Pui Hua and Fun With Little Ones with appropriate and specific direction to the original content

{Book Review} How Did That Get In my Lunchbox?

When the batch of new books I ordered for my duo arrived, I fell in love with this pictorial book the moment I read it, How Did That Get In My Lunchbox? The Story of Food by Chris Butterworth, illustrated by Lucia Gaggiotti.  I knew my duo, especially my little captain who is 5yo now will be interested with the topics covered.

I was right. He was hooked onto the book instantly and kept asking me to read more with him that very evening we got the book.

Look at the lovely drawings of food and little kids around the world. Which little ones would not be attracted?

It started with a colorful illustration of a lunch box comprises of a cheese sandwich, a choc chip cookie, some tomatoes, carrots, clementines and a packet of apple juice. Something I regularly packed for my kiddos or serve for their breakfast, so I know they can easily connect to this book.

I love the illustrative explanation on the processes. Not too wordy or overly elaborative, just enough to let the kids understand where the food originated (from the tree, cow, farm etc), and what sort of processes it gone through (pressing, extraction, sorting, packaging etc) before it became what it was or get to where it was.

Like, how the apples on the apple tree turned into packets of juice.

Or, how was the cheese produced? My little captain was especially interested in this page as he loooooooove cheese like a mouse. Kept coming back to this page and asked me to explain each step.

It's a light paper back with only 32 pages, but full colored and not a single page of dullness. So I would strongly getting this book for your preschoolers, as they can easily associate with the content and have a good understand of how the food value chain works, hence can better appreciate the food that is packed in their lunch box - it's a result of hardwork from many people involved, not as easy as just picking them from the air-conditioned convenient store. This book reminded me of the TV series "How It's Made?" on Discovery channel, one of my favorite late night shows (err... when I used to have time for my own TV Programme.)

This book will be ideal for 4 years old onward (assisted reading), but for younger toddler like my baby C, the  pictures make it a fun book for story telling too (just make sure they won't tear the pages apart...)

Interested in this book? Check out any of the following websites..

Scholastic Malaysia

Book Depository   (5% off and worldwide delivery!) 

Amazon.com

Happy reading!

Copyrights © Pui Hua and Fun With Little Ones, 2012 - present. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of any materials/photos within this website without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Pui Hua and Fun With Little Ones with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

{DIY Time} Personalized Snow Globe! 自制小雪球

I got my Little Captain a glass snow globe last Christmas which had a snowman and a little bear just like in his new book, Little Bear's Best Friend.

He liked it a lot but unfortunately, his little sister broke the snow globe accidentally and since then I just kept the both figures aside. I'm glad I did not threw it away as we managed to figure out what to make of it - a plastic snow globe!

A brand new personalized snow globe, with blue glitters.

  

The duo had lots of fun shaking it and watching the "snow" fell, my little bunny girl was so excited that she kept singing "Let it go... Let it go..". she became  fan on Frozen ever since I showed her the music video. Now I have no fear of shattered glass as a result of aggressive play :)

The duo exploring with their new snow globe...

The making is simple, here's what you need:

• a screwed on plastic jar (I got mine from bakery store, used it for storing our CNY cookies)

• super glue

• some glitters (avail in most stationery shops or party supplies stores)

• a figurine of your choice (Clay is ideal)

• A teaspoon of Glycerine  

• Water (distill water is ideal so it won't turns yellow over time)

The Making:

1. Glue the figurine to the reverse side of the jar cap. Let dry.

2. Pour water into the plastic jar till 4/5 full (leave room for the figurine), then add some glitters and a teaspoon of glysterine. Shake to mix well.

3. Put some glue around the edge of the jar, screw on tight. Place the snow globe upward and the glue dry up before start shaking it.

Now, go and have tons of fun shaking, rolling, tossing or just staring at the glitters falls with your little ones. I love this as I have not fear any accidental broken glass piece as a result of aggressive play from my little girl.

DIY can really be as easy as 1,2,3. ;)

Happy DIY!

Copyrights © Pui Hua and Fun With Little Ones, 2012 - present. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of any materials/photos within this website without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Pui Hua and Fun With Little Ones with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

{Back to Basic} Snake & Ladder game!

Do you still remember this good old game, snake & ladder? I used to play this board game when I was a kiddo, I don't seem to find it in book stores nowadays so I decided to make one myself. It was a random 10 minutes doodling and hey, it's not too bad huh?!

Randomly designed moves.

My little captain was so fascinated with this game, he wouldn't let me stop until we finally played 7 full games!

I just drew the squares with some ladders and snakes going up-down. Took the dice and characters from the monopoly game and we were good to go!

The rules? Simple. Take turns to throw the dice and move your character accordingly. Whoever reaches the STAR (final step) first, wins. Snakes bring you down (basically you are eaten then purged out!) and ladders are the fast tracks that bring you up. Easy game, easy rules, your preschoolers will thank you for such simple fun game. And best of all, it's entirely free, allows multiple players & bring back good old memory to the parents :)

Happy climbing ladder and watch out for the snakes!

Copyrights © Pui Hua and Fun With Little Ones, 2012 - present. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of any materials/photos within this website without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Pui Hua and Fun With Little Ones with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

It's Peter Pan in the House!

Well, it's actually just a Peter Pan hat with a little red felt feather coz I wasn't really in the mood to make a full costume.

Little Captain saw my stash of felt and asked for a green hat, so without much ado I just made him a Peter Pan hat. It only took me 10 minutes and about 1/4 yard of felt. I didn't even had a pattern, just draw on the felt with my fabric marker and cut right away.

Here's the hat..

Made from 4 simple pieces of felt.

Little Captain happily put on his new hat and watches his favorite little Einsteins show.

Wish I have a real feather, but I guess this shall do. Now he can wear it for his Friday Show 'n Tell at the preschool. Yippie!

Interested to make one?check out Ashley at Love it Make It where she shares the steps to make the full set of Peter Pan costume... 

Happy Sunday! 

Copyrights © Pui Hua and Fun With Little Ones, 2012 - present. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of any materials/photos within this website without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Pui Hua and Fun With Little Ones with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.