Step by Step Guide to 3D Wall Art For Kids

The Moto: DIWYK (Do It With Your Kids)

Creative ways to decorate your kids bedrooms are becoming more and more exciting and are moving rapidly away from the traditional 'lick of paint' approach. In a previous post we talked about the new trend of the grey nursery, which we love! But we thought we'd have a look at ideas for older kids, and ones which they can get involved in. The one we found which we fell in love with is the one we're going to talk about today: origami butterflies. The paper design makes for simple, elegant yet fun wall art. If you wish, you could order a set of cotton butterflies from somewhere like Etsy, but we think there's a better option: DIWYK.

These are the reasons we like it so much 1. it looks great and can be made to match any colour scheme, 2. you can do it yourself and the kids can get involved to help decorate their own rooms, and 3. it's a fraction of the price.

So, here is a step by step guide to creating your own origami butterfly:

First choose your paper and your colour scheme. Then cut the paper into different sized squares. Remember to keep those edges as straight as possible!

Fold each one into the base shape for origami, 'Origami Water Balloon Base'. The video link below shows you very clearly how this is done. 

Then all your squares should look something like this.

Then fold them into the shape of the origami butterfly, following the steps demonstrated on the Origami Instructions website.

Once done they should all look a little like this.

Then secure each butterfly to the wall - we used drawing pins. We turned them upside down to make it easier for securing and we also layered some of them up to give a 2-tone effect. 

And voilà! 

Top Tips: 

• Make sure you use strong paper, or else it can easily rip.
• Have a couple of practice goes with scrap paper so you understand the process fully before sharing it with the kids.
• The smaller the square at the start, the harder it is to fold - so maybe let the kids try it with the bigger ones first.
• Make sure you press hard on the creases so that they don't crumple.
• And finally, have fun!

Have a go at making some of these at home. We'd love to see your efforts, so send us your pictures or tag us in them on Facebook!! Hope you love it as much as we do! 

The Hooded Towel 

Natural Bath Time Products

Too many skin care products, especially those for children, are full of additives and chemicals. So, we've been on a hunt to find what we think are the best bath time products for your kids!

A lot of products are crafted to care for a baby's delicate skin, like Burt's Bees Baby and Mama range, which are naturally made, paediatrician tested, and chemical free.

Below we've listed, what we think, are the best natural products on the market, not just for babies but for children too.

1. Childs Farm

This range of children's toiletries is kind to all types of skin, from normal to eczema prone skin. Their products are all made here in the UK. And they smell great too!

2. Mini-U

Mini-U have a 'no nasties no nonsense' philosophy. Their Hair and Body wash is a great way to get two jobs done with just one bottle. 

3. Tru Kid

Great for getting out the tangles, Tru Kid's Silly Shampoo is eco-friendly, and of course it is natural and non-toxic. 

4. Neal's Yard

OK, so this one isn't for baby or child. This one's for mum. But mum's need looking after too and we happen to know that this Geranium and Orange Body Balm by Neal's Yard is beautifully nourishing, natural, and made right here in the UK. Love it!

Here at The Hooded Towel Co., we recognise the importance of not exposing a child's delicate skin to harmful chemicals, so we hope this blog helps you find your way to a more natural solution.

Have we left anything out? Comment below if you use a product that we should know about.

Beaches in Scotland for families - 5 of the best

There is no question that Scotland has some of the best beaches in the world. In this short guide we will tell you which ones we think are the most child friendly, ideal for kids and parents alike, regardless of the weather.

Silver Sands, Aberdour, Fife

With it's long stretch of 'silver sands' this is one of Fife's most beautiful beaches. A short drive from the village of Aberdour or a 10min walk from the Aderdour train station this beach won the Blue Flag award in 2012.
It offers the freshness and variety of a good seaside but with the tranquility of the countryside. The coastal walk is well worth looking into for those with older children as it offers some fantastic views out to the islands of Inchmickery and Inchcolm.

Milsey Bay, North Berwick, East Lothian

North Berwick is easily one of my kids favorite beaches. It has a boat pond which holds the water when the tide is out making it a safe place to sail boats and paddle. The beach is on the doorstep of the beautiful seaside town of North Berwick with it's picturesque harbour and quaint streets. 

There are some great places to get goodies for a picnic and an ice cream to follow while mums can browse the gorgeous shops. I have been known to leave my husband on the beach with the kids for hours at a time.

Loch Morlich, Highlands

Loch Morlich, at the foot of the Cairngorms in the heart of the National Park, is Scotland's only fresh water beach and it's location means it's ideal for water sports, sunbathing and picnicking. This award winning beach also has great lochside walks.

Inverboyndie Beach, Aberdeenshire

Inverboyndie has a very popular beach, being recommended as a marine conservation area. It is very popular with families and also attracts many surfers and wind surfers. It is next to the 4 star Aberdeen council caravan site and has a popular play area.

Ganavan Sands, Argyll and Bute

As we holiday a lot in Oban this has become one of our most frequently visited beaches. It has plenty of car parking and is a short drive from the main hub of Oban, a busy fishing town that offers a step back in time.  The views are fantastic out to Mull, Lismore and Morven and beach is so large it never seems busy.  

Happy sandcastles and remember those hooded towels!

Beach House Style

I love Pinterest!
I'll just get that out there at the beginning of this blog. Pinterest is a great place to go to restyle yourself, create mood boards and generally have a dream.
Dreaming of decorating our holiday home to make it a utopian mediterranean style beach house is just that, a dream, because I know that I am too much of  a slummy mummy to be bothered telling the kids to keep the crabs, sand, seaweed etc in the garden. Or to tell my husband to gut the fish on the beach, not in the kitchen, or to keep the dog off the sofa until it is thoroughly dry.

But Pinterest lets me pretend that I lead a life where none of that happens..

I would have unique paraphernalia like this

and beautiful soft furnishings

 along with fun signs

and a thoughtful husband!

Try it, it's addictive!

The Great Outdoors - indoors.

As someone who loves nothing better than an alfresco forage, I love it when my kids school encourages outdoor learning and one of the greatest projects my son took part in at school was when the Clyde River Foundation Initiative partnered with the Glasgow Science Centre and developed Clyde In The Classroom.

It is a way of encouraging children to develop a sense of pride in their local environment by following the life cycle of the brown/sea trout.
It is a fantastic experience which starts with a field trip, followed by fish eggs being brought into the classroom.

These eggs are kept in a special portable hatchery and the children are taught by professionals how to keep the little blighters alive by keeping the tank at the correct temperature and the oxygen pump working.

This, along with feeding and studying the trouts natural environment teaches the children in a very real, hands on way and they love it,  right up to watching them being released back into the Clyde.

Another project I'm following with interest is Fishing For Schools, which again emboldens children to learn in different ways and promotes self confidence.
They offer lessons in fly fishing with real qualifications to enhance young lives and inspire diverse thinking and are now in more than 1000 schools in the UK.

While we are on the subject I hope no one minds if I mention Rainbows and Puddles  a fantastic nursery which truly embodies the outdoor ethos and is run by some genuinely inspiring people.

Bye for now! 

Grey Nurseries x3

All my friends and family know I love an interiors magazine or two, but even I hadn't realised the popularity of the grey nursery until, one by one, I was shown into 3 appealing nurseries, each in a different shade of grey, after we experienced a wee baby boom on our terrace last year.

First to be born was an adorable girl and her nursery was decked out in delightful coloured bunting made by her Granny.

Then, cute Zac came along and I love this very classic room with white stars.

Finally 2 doors down we had an angelic baby boy born at Xmas and his Daddy has done a superb job with white trees and royal blue owls, a little like this.( He was sleeping so I didn't want to disturb him! )

All very inspiring and beautifully executed. Well done girls ( and boys in one case).

Shows, Exhibitions and more Shows

As I new start up business I need to get marketing, now I know there are numerous ways to do this, Twitter, Facebook, newspaper/magazine ads etc, but also there are an array of trade and public shows to exhibit at.

If anyone has attended or exhibited and thinks they know the perfect show for me please comment:

1. First we have Bubble London, the only Uk Trade show for childrenswear. A great example of how Britain can do things so well, with innovative and beautifully made clothes for the discerning customer, although it's pretty pricey to exhibit.

2. Another show is the Independant Kids Show, Birmingham, this is exclusively for independent retailers and is a favourite not least because of the personal service and free lunch! Reasonable rates on offer to exhibitors.

3. The Harrogate Nursery Show is very much for trade only and features a lot, and I mean a lot, of  travel systems, prams, pushchairs, car seats etc. A whole floor devoted to them, it is quite overwhelming. Not to pricey considering it is 3 days, if 3 days is what you want.

4. Nearer to home I have the chance of exhibiting at The Good Parenting Show in Glasgow which seems, at first glance, a fun, interactive show for children and adults alike, but on reading the literature there are a lot of misprints and errors which doesn't bode well... http://bit.ly/1dx0OE1

5. Top Drawer isn't very child centred but does showcase great gift ideas and often have some new and gorgeous things. Again this is for trade only.


Choices , choices ..... let me know what you think?