Apple Prints

:Tape a piece of butchers paper to the table:
:Cut an apple in half, cut notches so that little hands can get a good grip:
:Squirt some red paint onto a sponge:
:Press the apple half into the sponge:
:Make apple prints all over the butchers paper:
:Press a thumb or index finger into a sponge moistened with green paint:
:Add leaves to your apples by fingerprinting:
:Voila! Beautiful apple prints. Perfect for wrapping paper:

Baking in the New Year

What better way to start 2011 than afternoon tea in the backyard? A melt'n'mix butter cake with butter cream frosting (both recipes courtesty of Donna Hay) and a flat white made with the coffee machine that Santa brought me.

Christmas Sensory Tub

Slightly more sophisticated than my lentil and rice box, I present the Christmas sensory tub!! Equally as messy, seasonal, and adored by both my little elves. I must admit that even though the lentil and rice box idea was mine, I borrowed the idea of sensory tubs from Mari-Ann on her Counting Coconuts blog.

In the tub, I placed:

* jasmine rice, dyed green with food colouring

* plastic candy canes

* sparky pom-poms

* bells

* plastic containers for scooping

I had plans to wrap up matchboxes like little gifts, but ran a bit short of time. Next year, maybe.