Craft: DIY Teachers' Day presents

Hi friends of Hazelnutt House (",) 

Teachers' Day is approaching.  Kiddo and I are busy preparing little gifts for her teachers.

I've collated last year's as well as this year's gift ideas in this entry. 

Here are some ideas: 

1) Magnets - teachers use magnets all the time, right?  

I drew the outline of these cupcakes and flowers and got Kiddo to fill them in.  After which, we laminated them and cut them out together. 

Affix these adhesive magnets onto the back and you've got yourself some DIY decorative magnets! 

2) Clips 

Other than magnets, teachers probably use clips very often.  Using the same cupcakes and floral laminated cutouts, affix a clothes peg behind and you've made yourself some clips (",) 

3) Hair accessories 

Kiddo's dance teachers have long hair, so using the Big Shot die cut machine and the Tim Holtz Tattered Flowers die we made them some hair ties. 

Here's Kiddo cranking up the machine...

and peeling out the felt cutouts.

We layered the felt pieces together and made them into layered floral pieces.

I used hot glue and adhered an elastic band at the back of the flowers.  You can adhere a magnet and turn this felt flower into a magnet as well (",)

4) Cards... good O' cards

We made some simple cards with cutout clothes.  When her teachers open these cards, they'll get a poppin' surprise!

Check out the pop up flowers hidden inside the cards (",) 

For the simple instructions to making this pop up card, check out this video (",)

Hope you've enjoyed the gift ideas for Teachers' Day (",)

Castle craft for kids

Hihi friends of Hazelnutt House (",) 

It has been some time since Kiddo and I embarked on a 'large scale' project.  Since we've no plans today, we gathered ALL the boxes, cardboard pieces and all the odds and ends that I have been saving and we spent some time thinking of what we can create.  

Eventually, Kiddo and I decided to create a castle.... 

"A big one, Mama..." reminded Kiddo.

We made use of the wall paint that we have and painted all the sides of the boxes and cardboard materials.  I particularly like using wall paint as it dries really quickly.

To add some texture to the plain walls of the castle, we stencilled some 'bricks' at random parts of the walls.

Lastly, we assembled all the parts onto a large piece of cardboard and secured them with hot glue.  

Kiddo made some flaggies for the towers and added her figurine family on the deck of the castle.

Here's the back of the castle.

We spent almost the entire day working on this project.  We did not rush.  Took our time to get it right and also lots of breaks in between.

Talk to you ladies soon!  

My love affair with iHerb... Another iHerb haul

Hihi friends of Hazelnutt House (",) 

I'm back with another iHerb loot to share.  My past few iHerb orders contained the usual regular stuff that I tend to order, therefore, I wasn't excited to share them.  However, this time round, I ordered several items that I've never ordered before.  

So, here goes... 

I am obsessed with coconuts... the fruit, the drink and the scent... therefore, there's no stopping me when I saw the Alaffia Everyday Coconut range of coco-nutty products.  I've completely used up ALL my body lotions (YEAH!!!... it was a slow process and a tall order making my way through all the lotions I had stashed up.) So, I decided to order the Everyday Coconut body lotion which smells pretty good - the coconut smell is kinda sweet, but not crazy sweet.  It doesn't linger on for long which is a plus and absorbs rather quickly.  The texture is similar to that of Jergens and Crabtree and Evelyn's body lotions.  

I use the Everyday Coconut Face Wash in the shower as a second cleanse to remove any remaining traces of makeup.  It has worked pretty well thus far; cleanses we'll  does not sting and does not dry out my skin.  It contains neem which helps to regulate my oily skin.  The Everyday Coconut Face Toner contains neem too.  I use it as a hydrating toner and stick to Paula's Choice 2% BHA lotion as my exfoliating toner.  The spritz bottle is kinda big and heavy to spritz with one hand... I have to hold it up with one hand and spritz with the other.  

So far, I am enjoying these coco-nutty products (",) 

Everyday Coconut Hydrating Body Lotion - $11.19USD

Everyday Coconut Face Wash - $7.20USD

Everyday Coconut Face Toner - $7.20USD

I ran out of the Paula's Choice Resist C15 Super Booster which is a vitamin C serum and I had been eyeing Mad Hippie's products.  So, I decided to make an order of the Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum.  I've yet to use it, therefore, can't comment on it. 

I've had really good results with the Badger Damascus Rose Antioxidant Face Oil (click to read review) but I also wanted to try out this Mad Hippie Antioxidant Facial Oil.  I've used it a couple of times, mainly at night, after serum.  It smells of berries and all things good hehee... My skin feels evenly hydrated the next day.  

Mad Hippie VItamin C Serum - $27.19USD

Mad Hippie Antioxidant Facial Oil - $19.99USD

In the supplement category, I picked up these items up.

Zoi Research Vitamin C in Mixed Berries - $2.95USD

Nature's Bounty Evening Primrose Oil - $8.75USD

Doctor's Best Extra Strength Ginkgo - $7.69USD (for my mum, thought she'll benefit with some brain boost... hehehe) 

Doctor's Best, Best Lutein - $12.99USD

These Aubrey Organics shampoo and conditioner were on trial for $1USD, so I picked them up for future travels.  This Harvest Apple scent smells great :) 

I love the Bee Natural's facial polish.  Will be doing a short review with more details on it soon.

Reviva Labs, Firming Eye Serum - $13.30USD

Bee Naturals, Queen Bee Facial Polish - $7.28USD

This ChildLife Liquid Vitamin C is for Kiddo and it tastes super duper good.  It's has a seriously concentrated sugary citrus flavour which I enjoy too heheee....

ChildLife, Liquid Vitamin C - $6.12USD

Use this code if you're making your first iHerb order (",)

That's all for now... talk to you soon!!!!