5 treats to cheer me up......

There's times when you deserve a treat, something to cheer you up and banish the blues away. I don't spend money on myself that often or have nice surprises but here's what I like:
British books - I love to read about the British Isles, so books are top of my list. Books about our wildlife, places to visit, history,our food and train journeys. There's always something quirky to discover about our wonderful island and I'm always hungry for more knowledge. Next on my list is Meadowland, a book that covers a year of a field in Herefordshire, how the seasons pass and the animals and plants that live there. 

The Alphabet Project: T is for Tweedledum and Tweedledee

They agreed to have a battle until the monstrous crow swooped in.

The famous illustrations of the Tweedle brothers by John Tenniel on a badge collection at a little Alice in Wonderland gem of a place I found in the Cheshire countryside (story to follow soon)

Vintage Tea Party Printables

Here are the printables that I designed for the Mad Hatter's Tea Party at the weekend. I thought I'd add them on here in case you'd like to use them for a vintage tea or Alice in Wonderland party. The below party circles I used as tags on the tea cups cut out with a 2 inch craft punch or the teacup circles could be used as cupcake toppers. 

Click on pictures to go to the download.

And the 'Tea Time' Bunting. I glued these to a length of ribbon.

Finally, these flags were wrapped around cocktail sticks and glued. We used them to decorate the cakes and sandwiches.

xxx

Curiouser and Curiouser

Aunty Bird had a Mad Hatter's Tea Party for her birthday. Pretty mismatched tea cups and saucers, joyous roses and gorgeous cakes of every description were a sight to behold. 

Of course I had to have a go at some printables - bunting, Eat Me, Drink Me tags and flags. I love it and with my new 2 inch scalloped craft punch there's no stopping me :)

Aunty Bird did an amazing job with her OH putting together a lovely party. And look at the cake stand she made below from thrifted china. Don't you just love teacups!?!

So many cakes of which I have now given up until I look less like Humpty :) I love baking but oh my doesn't it pile on the pounds. Boooo to calories. The raspberry jam frosted pink cake looking all oozy below will be my last bake for a while.

The fancy dress efforts were brilliant, such craftiness and quirkiness put into them. Playing cards, Mad Hatters, the March Hare, Alice of course, a white rabbit, Tweedle Dee, the Queen of Hearts and a marvellously sinister Cheshire Cat who scared Little Bird :)

I will post my printables up in the next week so you can use them if you wish at your tea parties. If I can't bake then I will just do more Photoshop fun!

A very merry unbirthday to you. xxx

Little Bird's Outdoor Adventure in Wonderland

Little Bird was sitting in the house very bored. Fed up of Mummy saying, 'No' and 'Don't touch that!' or 'Be careful!' he wondered what he could do? Suddenly out of the window ran a White Rabbit shouting 'Oh dear! I shall be late!' and looking at his pocket watch. Little Bird became very curious and decided to try and follow him through the cat flap.

Falling, spinning, spinning he went shooting out until bump, he landed giggling uncontrollably on some wooden decking in the big wide outdoors. GREAT, fresh air! He sees a gate with a beautiful garden beyond but cannot get through as he doesn't have a key. The White Rabbit appears again but is frightened by the noisy tearaway toddler and drops his gloves. These gloves are magic and the gate mysteriously opens to a garden that looks like amazing fun!

Look, a water table with lots of colourful buckets and funnels! But what are these birds doing dancing? A Caucus-Race around it to get dry apparently. Poor Mr Dodo gets a nose chew and our tot enjoys throwing the toys out and then putting them back again whilst splashing around in the warm water. Too much watery frivolity causes the animals to disappear and our venturer finds himself in a lush green garden. Tramping across the long grass he whirls around excitedly especially when a frog jumps out at him. Ribbit! Such new wild wonders at 17 months old.



A bleeping noise and flashing lights direct him to a caterpillar sat near a lovely red mushroom. Ooh great, toys outside. The caterpillar, a dignified fellow became angry at his rough treatment and orders him away. No matter as Little Bird has found some very unusual items to prod and poke at. Giant insects, huge flowers, tickly leaves and the Queen's (plastic) greenhouse to be very cheeky and tip seed trays over in. Why not a good trampling over the flower beds to get very muddy aswell? There goes a bouncy ball - hey, isn't it that frog I saw earlier?

Tra la la, tra la la -probably mummy making a cup of tea? This deserves further investigation to see if my lunch is ready. The tiny explorer has an outdoor tea party with all sorts of goodies. Gosh this makes a nice change from the highchair.
'More tea' says the Mad Hatter but quickly withdraws his best china and offers a plastic beaker instead. Suddenly, there is shouting...'Oh Dear', says the March Hare, 'You're in trouble. The Queen has found her prized flowers crushed and mushed by your little paws!'

Little Bird quickly dashes back to the house without looking back. 'Mummmmmmy!!'
A snoozy snoring little toddler is there in his bed, it must have all been a dream. Perhaps?

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

This is for the Tots 100 Blog Hop