Summer is finally here and the schools have now broken up for the holidays. You would think that this would be enough to put smiles on the childrens faces wouldn't you but in an effort to stave off the inevitable "I'm bored" chant, we have been fortunate enough to review the Interplay Fab Lab Festival Tattoo and Tie Dye Sets.

I thought that the teenager would love the festival tattoos as we have done a lot of festival glitter over the past few months but it was the 6 year old that was the biggest fan. They are so easy to apply that I found her cutting out the tattoos herself with the safety scissors provided and simply putting them on her skin, wetting with the sponge and voila, she has a tattoo!

It really is that easy! 

Applying the tattoos to her face obviously need a little more help and assistance but there is no tricky application or fiddly process, you very simply remove the plastic film from the image you select and then put onto your face (or other part of your body). Then wet the sponge provided and apply over the tattoo. It takes less than a minute for the tattoo to transfer onto the skin.

We have found the tattoos to be quite water resistent and some of them have lasted 4-5 days, whereas others were less so but you do need the removal oil to clear them off completely. I just hope that the bottle lasts for all the tattoos that are included!  

The FabLab Festival Face Tattoos retail at £12.99, so is well priced and would make an ideal birthday gift too.

* Easy to apply and easy to remove with the tattoo removal oil provided.

* Also includes glitter tattoos to add sparkle and to customise your look!

* Great fun to do and perfect for festivals, parties and sleepovers!

* Contains no harmful chemicals. Fully tested and 100% non-toxic

The tie dye look has made a triumphant return, (I didn't know it had ever left to be honest) with vibrantly tie-dyed clothes featuring all over the NYFW, Milan and recent fashion show runways.  The FabLab Designer Tie Dye set has ingredients for 5 t-shirts with 4 bright colours. 

This set is suitable for over 8 years of age so I set the teenager and her friend the task of trying it out. I purposefully left them to it and didn't intervene as I wanted to see just how easy it was (and to assess their ability to read instructions). They were delighted at the opportunity to tie dye their old school shirts following the end of term and set to work on creating a master piece.

I have to admit to being a little nervous but they protected the surfaces and themselves as ultimately it does contain chemicals so you need to be safe too. It is important not to let the chemicals to come into contact with any part of the body, particularly the mouth and eyes and to keep small children and animals away from the work area at all times.

The kit kept them busy for well over half an hour and it was great to see them creating and away from their phone screens for a while. (I will update this post with their final creations once they are dry)

The FabLab Designer Tie Dye Set is priced at a really affordable £9.99 and as it will make approx 5 shirts, it is great value for money.

* It is fun and easy to do and the 8 page instruction booklet explains the techniques to get the latest trendy looks.

* The Kit contains 4 dyes in applicator bottles, rubber bands and PVC lab gloves.

The abillity to create doesn't just stop at shirts and tshirts, you could do hats or anything you put your mind to (within reason I guess). 

If you think your children might enjoy these activities over the summer holidays, why not enter our giveaway?

Good luck!

 FabLab Festival Tattoo & Designer Tie Dye Giveaway

 

Terms & Conditions

The Prize: FabLab Festival Face Tattoo & Designer Tie Dye Set

The winners will be chosen at random by the random winner generator on Gleam and notified within 7 working days by email
There is no monetary equivalent.
Little Lilypad Co take no /responsibility for loss or damage in the despatch of prizes
If the prize is unclaimed within 7 days we reserve the right to redraw the winner.
End Date 17/08/2018

 

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I love to read but what with all the girls activitives, school, work and general life being bonkers busy most of the time, reading seems to take little priority. So along with my 40 things in my 40th year list, I have challenged myself to read more this year and I love that it is also saving me money!

Why is reading saving me money you may ask (or may not) but I am going to share it anyway.

I have never been a big fan of reading on a tablet, I love the smell and feel of a paper book but trying to squeeze in a couple of chapters before I go to sleep isnt practical when you have a husband who likes to sleep in the pitch black. Reading on a tablet gives me a solution to this. 

I can download books instantly.

I can download free books. 

I can download the latest releases without going to the shops and spending money unecessarily on other things I don't need.

I can read on the sofa and not spend my time browsing online websites and spending money.

I can read in the dark (saving on the electricity .... okay I admit that this is a very loosely hinged money saving point).

My most favourite thing though? It might keep my pennies in my purse but it keeps my mind rich too! I am looking forward to reading on holiday this summer ..... I just hope the iPad doesn't overheat! 

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It feels like our wedding and honeymoon is so long ago now and planning your honeymoon is often as stressful as planning your wedding day, but it’s just been made a lot easier. The online travel agency Opodo.co.uk have just released their findings after a lengthy survey about how to enjoy the perfect honeymoon, and some of the results are quite a surprise. While most people look no further than the nearest beach when they’re dreaming of the ultimate honeymoon, it’s actually more about finding the best blend of activities that suit you as a couple. The trick is to work out exactly what kind of honeymoon you want, but to allow some room for flexibility so that you can take advantage of any unexpected experiences.

Your Family over the Royal Family

How do people find their honeymoon ideas? That’s one of the main questions that’s been answered by the Opodo survey, and the results are quite unexpected. While perusing through wedding magazines accounts for 20% of the inspiration search, more people find the best advice from their circles of friends and family members, with just under half (48%) of honeymooning couples saying their best recommendations came from that source. Many use social media for inspiration, with 26% saying use ideas to plan their own wedding, which is why you should consider online travel agent Opodo.co.uk when choosing the perfect honeymoon, and take their advice when it comes to planning the ultimate in honeymoon experiences. Looking at famous couples was the least popular source of honeymoon inspiration, with just 6% of those surveyed saying that they found honeymoon inspiration from the Royal Family.

Plan together

If you take one piece of advice from the survey results released by Opodo, it’s that you should always plan your honeymoon and honeymoon activities together. While 42% of people said that the honeymoon should be all about focusing on your partner, more said that it was essential to plan your activities together (57%). What was more revealing is that three-quarters of couples surveyed said that the key to the perfect honeymoon was striking the right balance between relaxation and adventure, so follow the advice of that 75%, and you won’t go far wrong.

Balance the romance with adventure

The common mental image of the traditional honeymoon is simply lounging on the beach sipping cocktails, and while spending time on the beach remains a popular activity (69% stressed the importance of beach trips), it’s also important to consider other activities. Sightseeing and city-hopping are also some of the more popular activity options, with 64% of honeymooning couples naming it as a priority. However, don’t forget the adventure aspect as well, and if you’re an adrenaline couple you won’t go far wrong with a little watersports (35%) or adventure touring (31%) to really get the blood pumping. While your honeymoon should always include the romance and relaxation, it’s clear that most people also want a splash of adventure thrown in, so make your honeymoon wishlist perfect before you even pack your bags.

Thanks to this survey conducted by travel experts, and the timely release of the results, it’s never been easier to learn the secrets of the perfect honeymoon. Take your time to find the perfect location and the best activities to enjoy, and you’ll be looking back on your honeymoon and wondering when you can jet off to do it all over again.

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We all want our children to invest a little time into hobbies and creative pursuits. While I’m not against screen time, alternative family activities are certainly time well spent. Let’s be honest, it certainly can be a challenge nowadays. What with Kindles, consoles, and all kinds of kids TV, tearing them away from a tablet can be quite the task.

This is why my girls and I are huge fans of the new craze in the UK, Kindness Rocks.

So, yeah, 2017 was the year of the fidget spinner, bottle flipping, and the almighty dab. Gawd bless all parents across the country. We survived it. But this year, the newest craze has got a little more cultural, creative, and, well, kind.

The Kindness Rocks movement encourages children to children (and adults, might I add), to decorate pebbles and leave them in places where walkers-by are likely to find them. When strangers fall upon a Kindness Rock, they can take it for their own or share the joy and hide the special stone somewhere new.

It really is that simple, but so very wonderful, right?

I have to say, we’re now painting rocks on a weekly basis, in our house. As soppy as it may sound to those of you who aren’t in the know, this movement is doing more than spreading kindness outside in the big wide world, it’s responsible for bringing the family together too.

While enjoying crafting with the kids is enough of a reason to get involved in Kindness Rocks, it does send out a pretty important message.

I love that our girls are so excited to create something together and go out and brighten strangers’ days with their handicrafts. Not only does this really reinforce how vital it is that we do nice things for others, it also instils in them a sense of confidence; their creations, their little pebbles, can really have an impact on how someone else feels.

Where did this incredible craze come from? Over the pond, actually. That said, it’s really taking the UK by storm. Hundreds, thousands of people are signed up to local Kindness Rocks Facebook groups, many of which are actively designing and dishing out their pebbles in towns, parks, and cities across England.

So, what do you think? Are you in on it, and have you seen any Kindness Rocks lurking around? We’d love to see your makes and finds – please do share!

And now, if you’ll excuse us, we’re off to hide some painted pebbles. Stay kind.

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