We've been sent the IDo3D Ultra 2 Pen Funky Pets Set for review - this is a 3D modelling pen which sets the 'ink' under the enclosed UV light in less than 1 minute.
Suitable for age 8+, it's a very affordable introduction to thinking and creating in 3D - you can even draw vertically, straight up into the air... 

Inside the I Do 3D Activity Set are 2 x pens in green and yellow, with screw on twist close nibs. There is a 3 bulb UV light which actually clips over the pen to 'light up as you draw', 1 x themed mould/tracing sheet, 1 x plain non-stick drawing sheet and an instruction sheet.

Don't miss the little press-out tool - it is really handy for scraping and shaping the wet ink. 

It's been just over a year since the first cases of COVID emerged, and yet we already seem to have been under restrictions for about 4 years. Being at home doesn't mean the end of all entertainment - lots of folks have moved online, and lots have been working online for years, but you might not have noticed.... 

Here are a host of people who are still entertaining us, teaching us and putting on events - and anyone can join in, whatever the weather, wherever you are.... 

I think most parents know the joy of washing paint or chalk out of the carpet, and thinking of the mess you'll have to clean up can make you reluctant to get the art materials out. We've been sent a selection of fantastic products from the award-winning Little Brian Paint Sticks range for review. They are almost entirely mess-free, instant to use and easy to put away, and ideal for children of all ages. 

We were sent the Little Brian Mini Art Station, Little Brian Paint Sticks 24 Pack and the Little Brian Paint Sticks Paint-A-Puzzle - Fun at the Farm floor puzzle for review. I'll be launching a give away for a Mini Art Station over the next few days - keep an eye on my Facebook page.... 

The Little Brian Paint Sticks and Chalk Sticks come in a big variety of vibrant colours which can't spill, dry in under 60 seconds, and have a really simple twist action when you need more (like a lipstick or glue stick). They can be used on all kinds of surfaces, including paper, glass, card, and even wood. 

I've worked with HARIBO quite a lot recently, partly because they've brought out a whole range of vegetarian sweets which I can eat too! They asked if I'd be interested in sharing the #HARIBOFestiveFun by making a gingerbread house and decorating it with HARIBO sweets. I replied that I was already planning to, so it couldn't have fallen better really...


Gingerbread houses are synonymous with Christmas, even though there's no law that says you can't eat them year round. Those festive flavours and the spectacle of a gorgeous sweet treat in the middle of the table are just perfect, and ridiculously easy to make. Trust me.

StickerYou is a website offering all kinds of personalised stickers. They sell custom printed die-cut vinyl stickers, labels, iron-on transfers, patches, badges, temporary tattoos, magnets and loads more, in any size, shape and quantity you need. They've offered a £40 voucher for one of my readers, so that you can create a whole load of stickers for yourself....


We've tried and tested many stickers over the years and StickerYou's stickers are made from vinyl which is waterproof, microwave and dishwasher safe, can be written on with permanent marker and removed without leaving a residue. They're super handy and I use these kind of stickers for all sorts of labelling, including my children's lunchboxes, shoes, glasses cases, school bags and jumpers...


A full page of vinyl stickers costs up to £7.54, which can be a lot of stickers for your money. They aren't only useful for parents of schoolchildren. With thousands of designs to choose from or your own designs and photos to upload, you can create photo stickers, bumper stickers, home produce and address labels amongst a bazillion other uses.


There aren't only regular vinyl stickers. StickerYou make customised window clings, tamperproof labels, iron on stickers, patches, badges and temporary tattoos - all with the design, shape and size of your choice.

Carlton Kids children's books are bright, colourful and full of information, and To The Moon And Back is no exception. This is a beautiful book crammed with facts about space and everything in it. What's different is that this a papercraft book and has 25 different cut-out and press-out projects for your child to create.


Susie Brooks' papercraft projects are incredibly varied in type and trickiness, and over the 80 pages there really is something ideal for anyone. All of the pages are designed to pull out easily, without ruining the book.

Home Robotics: Maker-Inspired Projects For Building Your Own Robots is written by Daniel Knox and will be released on 18th January. Recommended for younger readers and scientists aged 8+, I actually passed this on to my 20 year old Uni Student Engineer, as it's not only interesting to children. He can help his little brothers make something next Summer...


There are 13 different project robots that you can build at home, split into 3 difficulties - Basic Bots for beginners, Simple Robots for those with a little bit of confidence and understanding and Smart Makes, for when your child is ready to take over the world...

If you watched Blue Peter any time between 1998 and 2007 you'll be familiar with longest-serving female presenter Konnie Huq. Konnie hasn't given up crafts and this Christmas has teamed up with the Institution of Engineering and Technology to bring us a series of easy and fun STEM toys that you and your child can make at home very inexpensively.


Head of Education from the IET, David Lakin has highlighted a significant shortage of engineers in the UK, which is posing a threat to the economy. The STEM toys of Christmas is designed to inspire children’s natural curiosity about how things work and why – a key principle in engineering. We were asked if we wanted to have a go at one of the projects and as soon as I saw the list, I knew which one I was choosing.

Ora and Puffin Books (part of Penguin Random House) have teamed up for Space Week, and asked if I'd like to join in. Ora Kitchen Towel naturally lends itself to rocket-building, it's the perfect accompaniment, so along with my 7 and 9 year old boys, we've come up with some Space Week activities that won't break the bank!


1. Make A Space Station
Every Spaceman, Cosmonaut or Astronaut wants to go to the Space Station like Tim Peake. You can have your Space Station behind the sofa, or practically anywhere, but on this occasion we decided ours was going to be under the kitchen table. I prepared some construction materials and my 9 year old took on the role of designer.

If you are going to make something cool then you want people to see it. What better place to display your creations than your own head? BrickHats come in 6 different colours and somewhat bizarrely proved the perfect canvas for my partner to create an amazing tribute to the host of The Joy Of Painting, Bob Ross...


Usually I accept an item for review because I think we'll like it, but just occasionally I'm more intrigued than certain. I honestly couldn't decide about BrickHats, but it turns out they're actually brilliant...

There is always loads going on for families in the North West, including free and cheap events, but over half term some venues push the boat out and put on some really special events. Here are some of the things you can get up to with your children this half term and Spring...

In Manchester...

Adult drawing and colouring is really becoming popular, as more and more people rediscover the benefits of sitting without a screen and letting your creativity flow. Derwent have been making pencils and other drawing materials in Cumbria since 1832, and they are giving one of my readers the Christmas gift of relaxation...


The Unwind In The Wilds Colouring Book is printed on artist quality acid-free 150gsm paper. A few of the almost 90 pages have added activities, and there are hidden collections for you to find through the book.

We are very long-standing fans of Interplay, and over the years all of our children have played with their pocket microscopes and bug hunting kits. We've had craft kits galore, but we missed out on the Fuzzikins Craft Cottontail Cottage when our girls were little.

Possibly the most pink and fluffy of my Christmas Present Giveaways, I know most young girls 4+ especially would be delighted with this kit. The 3D rabbit toys that arrive with it are completely plain, so as well as customising their house, the children can customise their own characters too.

Three of the latest releases from Carlton Kids books are additions to the Creativity On The Go series. Three books (Holiday, Horses And Ponies and Art) full of projects and activities, puzzles, stickers and games to keep your child entertained for hours. We've been sent Creativity On The Go: Art by Ruth Thomson to review.


This is a really informative book. My 7 year old is fact mad, but also really enjoys drawing and colouring, so it turns out this is perfect for him and he's spent hours on it.  He's fascinated by the history of art and artists, and we've all learned about Van Gogh, Munch and a raft of other painters from all over the world in different time periods.

Paper Aliens by Jennifer Bryan and Paper Robots by Alexander Gwynne are two amazing large format paperback books which are full of press out characters for your child (and you) to make. Suitable for children aged around 8+, once you have made your models, the books also include games to play with the robots and aliens, even having press out cards at the back of the books for extra gameplay.


Although these books have a recommended age of around 8+, both my 6 and 7 year old boys did a fine job of making the models, with only a minimum of help. They weren't the only ones who got excited by the models though...

I've been a parent for the last 22 years and yet have only just had my first personal experience of using Hama. Small beads which you can form into pictures using pegboards, and then iron to keep your creation forever.


We've had Hama creations in our house for years, but my youngest 2 boys hadn't used them until we were sent a bundle of Hama Beads to review...including lots of the new Striped Hama Beads.

We love a good cardboard box car here, but somehow they are always missing something. Stickibox hope to fill that gap by supplying Cardboard Car Kits for the young explorer in your house. Luckily we have just the chap living here, and we've been sent a Cardboard Car Kit for review.


The box arrived and along the edge is a sticker with a message from the creators, Pip and Kerry:

"Each Stickibox Kit enables a child to express their creativity and helps support key developmental skills. Once built, this simple box can transport your child on a journey of adventure.
Build, Design and Jump Inside."

I like that. It's a nice ethos. Open your box, and you find, unsurprisingly, a box! Flat-packed and really simple to construct.

We've been sent the Kinetic Sand Build Crash'em Cars for review. Initially I couldn't believe they'd stay together at all, but the kinetic sand holds so well that the cars have to really crash to break, and you don't have sand flying everywhere, it mainly stays on the enclosed playsurface.


Inside the box we have a selection of printed cut cards to make a scoreboard and ramps to add to the scenery, 2 sets of car moulds, an instruction leaflet and 2 colours of Kinetic Sand.