Giving it some Welly!

Win a pair of Warm Welly Co. kids' wellies | H is for Home

Welcome back autumn! I lament the end of summer, but autumn is Justin’s favourite season of the year. He likes the nights drawing in, the trees turning russet, the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot – and his beloved log burner being lit again!

Line up of kids' Wellington boots from The Warm Welly Co.

The weather often turns wet and windy at this time of year, so when summer rolls on to autumn and winter, an essential piece of kit is a pair of Wellington boots. We have a super pair of kids’ boots to give away courtesy of The Warm Welly Co. Just the things for being outdoors splashing around in big, muddy puddles!

Line up of Warm Welly Co. wellies on a wall in the countryside

As the name suggests, they’re not just waterproof rubber wellies, they’re lined with neoprene to keep your kids’ feet & toes nice and toasty warm.

They’re available in sizes from toddler to teenager – and they’re soon to start producing them in adult sizes too!

To win a pair for your child, visit the The Warm Welly Co. website then return here to let us know what colour, style & size you’d like and who they’d be for!

A pair of kids’ wellies from The Warm Welly Co.

Shared on: Superluckyme | The Prizefinder | Loquax | U Me and the Kids




Create a bedroom worthy of your little superhero

'Create a bedroom worthy of your little superhero' blog post banner

kids' superhero-inspired twin bedroomcredit: Classy Clutter

There are many things you can do for a superhero fan, from buying them the latest Marvel comics to purchasing cool superhero merchandise, such as these pyjamas. These gifts are sure to put a smile on their face, but if you really want to make them grin from ear to ear, how about transforming their bedroom into a superhero paradise by following these twelve creative tips?

Marvel comic strip wallpapercredit: Graham and Brown

  1. Put up comic strip wallpaper

Believe it or not, you can pick up comic strip wallpaper, as well as large wall murals and borders, featuring all of the best characters from sites like eBay and Amazon. Pick their favourite and get busy with the wallpaper paste.

Washi mural of urban skyline in kid's roomcredit: Rebecca Dodge

  1. Use washi-tape to create an urban skyline

Every superhero needs a city to protect, use washi-tape (which can peel off easily later) to create a skyline across the wall. It will make imagining those epic throw downs with super villains much more fun for your little one.

superhero bunting by Noahs Ark & Crafts on Etsycredit: Noahs Ark & Crafts

  1. Comic strip bunting

Follow this super easy tutorial to create your very own comic book bunting to hang around the room; across the ceiling or along shelving.

kids' DIY superhero capescredit: Piece of Cake

  1. Capes and costume hangers

Screw hooks into the wall and decorate them with superhero capes and costumes, so your little one can easily choose who they want to be that day. If you want to get creative make your own capes that can be worn over normal clothing; use gold & red material for Iron Man, red, white & blue for Captain America in the famous shield design and bright green for the Incredible Hulk. Not sure how to make a cape? This tutorial is great for those of us who aren’t confident using a sewing machine.

George Home Superboy duvet setcredit: George Home

  1. Opt for superhero bedding

What would a superhero bedroom be without the appropriate bedding? From Spiderman-themed sheets to Batman duvet covers, there are many designs to choose from online and in stores such as Asda.

'Pow' comic strip cushion covercredit: Catherine Lansfield

  1. Don’t forget pillows & cushions

Got some spare pillows or cushions lying around? Slip these into superhero-themed covers and you’ll be good to go!

Spiderman curtainscredit: Price Right Home

  1. Hang some superhero curtains

While blinds will keep out the light, curtains (especially the superhero kind) are a must-have for any budding crime-fighting, wall-climbing hero in the making.

Hulk wall lightcredit: TruffleShuffle

  1. Light it up

Pick up a fun 3D wall light, which looks like your favourite superhero is bursting through the wall. With Spiderman’s face, Thor’s hammer, the Hulk’s fist and Captain America’s shield available your superhero can choose their favourite to have in the room. Check them out here.

Decoupage comic canvascredit: Mod Podge Rocks!

  1. Comic canvases

Put your artistic skills to the test and create some fun wall art. Paint graphic canvasses with designs like Captain America’s shield or Superman’s ‘S’. Paint brightly coloured comic-strip words such as ‘biff!’, ‘bang!’, ‘pow!’ and ‘zap!’. You can then hang them on the wall in a row or on along a mantelpiece. If you’re not confident about your painting prowess, découpage a canvas with strips cut out from superhero comic books.

Captain America cardboard cut-outcredit: Starstills

  1. Life size superheroes

Your little superhero will love having a true-to-life version of one of his personal heroes in the room; whether it’s a life size cardboard cut-out of Batman watching over him from the corner or Spider-Man guarding the door.

superhero shelvescredit: b00gal00 b0utique

  1. Super shelving

Every tiny Spiderman or Thor needs somewhere to store their superhero manuals, aka comic books, so why not create some fun shelving using decoupage? Simply cut out pictures from comic books and magazines and use them to cover the shelves, apply varnish to each layer, wait to dry and then hang them up.

Batman searchlight

  1. Batman searchlight

Does your little one wish that they were the caped detective, pretending that their bedroom is Gotham City as they run around trying to capture the Joker and Bane? Then create their very own Batman spotlight, which doubles up as a great night-light. Here’s a really easy to follow guide on how to make one using a Pringles tube, card and an LED light.

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Maths Class

'Maths Class' blog post banner

'Let's Explore Mathematics' children's book cover

We bet there are quite a few of you out there for whom the words maths class (or double maths!) strike fear into your hearts.

Number 2 illustration Number 8 illustration

Number 3 illustration Number 6 illustration

Would a gorgeous text book like this have made it any better?

'Let's Explore Mathematics' children's book

How many houses? illustration

We picked it up at the local market recently and were really taken by the interesting exercises set by the author LG Marsh – and even more so by the fabulous illustrations by Chris Hoggett.

Who is the tallest? illustration

How tall? illustration

Let’s Explore Mathematics dates from the 1960s and has a distinctive style from the period.

How much? illustration

Spotting numbers illustration

The graphics are captivating, charming, clever and colourful (how many Cs is that readers?)

Looking for triangles illustration

How many bottles? illustration

 This is Book 1 of 4, so there’s a lovely series to collect. If we have 1 of 4 books, what percentage do we own (stop it now!!)

How many rungs on a ladder? illustration

Eight soldiers illustration

It’s published by A & C Black Ltd; if you’re looking to track down some vintage copies – we noticed that there are a few on eBay & Amazon at the moment.

New York, New York

New York, New York blog post banner

illustration from Miroslav Sasek's vintage children's book, This is... New York showing Brooklyn Bridge with cars passing beneath it

Our recent post I is for Ireland featured the This is… series of books by Miroslav Sasek.

illustration from Miroslav Sasek's vintage children's book, This is... New York showing a view of water tanks in the New York skyline

In it, we promised some more photos from a recent acquisition – This is New York.

illustration from Miroslav Sasek's vintage children's book, "This is... New York" showing people in the aisle of a grocery store

The book was published in 1960 and, as per usual, the illustrations are fabulous!

illustration from Miroslav Sasek's vintage children's book, "This is... New York" showing various types of vending machines

New York is one of those cities that works particularly well…

illustration from Miroslav Sasek's vintage children's book, "This is... New York" showing a New York traffic cop illustration from Miroslav Sasek's vintage children's book, "This is... New York" showing an American footballer

…with it’s distinctive buildings, day to day goings on and familiar characters.

illustration from Miroslav Sasek's vintage children's book, "This is... New York" showing a view of a city street lined with cars

The artist captures the 1950s/60s era – the sights and the vibrancy of the city.

illustration from Miroslav Sasek's vintage children's book, "This is... New York" showing firemen in a New York fire engine

We had a 10-day holiday there a few years ago. It had changed a bit since Sasek wrote these books but lots of the unmistakable landmarks and energy of the city were still there.

illustration from Miroslav Sasek's vintage children's book, "This is... New York" showing a street vendor selling hot dogs and soft drinks

Flicking through these pages reminds us of the great time we had – hopefully we’ll get back there again one day…

illustration from Miroslav Sasek's vintage children's book, "This is... New York" showing an aerial view of Manhattan's skyscrapers and the Hudson River in a pixelated style

…and it would be a real dream to cruise up the Hudson river to arrive in real style!