Hama Bead Jewellery Bowl - Mother's Day Crafts

You may have noticed we've become slightly Hama Bead obsessed in the My Mummy's Pennies house recently, they are a great fun, low cost craft material with almost endless possibilities so why not?

One thing I especially love about crafting with Hama Beads is that it appeals to both my children despite a 3 year age difference. Ben is six with co-ordination and fine motor difficulties so crafting with small beads is great for developing these skills, he also has a great creative flare and a love of patterns which can be expressed when crafting with Hama. Hama beads are also ideal for supporting his school work and we have recently been using them to help him visual his times tables.

My daughter is 3 and so far hasn't shown any of the developmental delays that Ben did, she is a whizz at popping the little beads on the peg boards and also loves creating patterns. We use Hama beads as an educational tool with her too, identifying colours and counting out the beads.

So anyway on to today's craft which would be ideal as a mothers day gift... (note to any Dad's who have left things to the last minute, send Mum off for a soak in the bath tomorrow and get crafty with the kids!)

Hama beads are ideal for children from aged three upwards but for some younger children filling a peg board can test their patience, so a great way to use them is to make Hama bead bowls.

I remember seeing this post from Lucy's Madhouse a while ago and it inspired me to try out something similar.

I have a few pieces of jewellery that I wear every day and take off when I go to bed at night, at the moment I just dump them on my bedside table but they can often slide off onto the floor so I've been wanting a nice little jewellery bowl to keep them in.

This is a really simple craft that I did together with my three year old daughter...

Step one

Find an ovenproof bowl and lightly grease it with oil

Step two 

Pour in the Hama Beads. We decided to do our bowl in the shape of a flower, so we separated our beads into different colours, and poured each colour in separately. We then shaped the outdide to look like petals and used cream beads to make and outline just one bead thick, along the edge of the petals. We also used a few cream beads in the centre to make the middle of the flower.

Step three

Bake!

Pop in a preheated oven at around 200 degrees for around 5 - 10 minutes but do keep an eye on it and keep checking as it will vary depending on how large your bowl is.

Step four

Allow to cool, When the bowl comes out of the over the beads will still be soft and very hot so wait until the bowl has cooled down completely and the beads have hardened before trying to remove as not only could you get a nasty burn you will bend your beads right out of shape!

So there we go; a lovingly made Mother's Day gift in four easy steps!

You could make these in different shapes and sizes and for a multitude of uses!

Do let me know what you make! I would love to see your creations...

This craft was made with beads we bought our self but the lovely folks at DKL Toys have sent us some sets to have fun with so look out for reviews of these coming very soon and why not check out the great selection of Hama sets on their website?

Getting to know City of Friends....

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A few weeks ago I wrote about the lovely new addition to channel 5's Milkshake, City of Friends. This lovely animated show aimed at pre-schoolers has aired in more than 150 countries around the world and is now taking the UK by storm!

We’ve been fortunate enough to be privvy to a lovely interview with the main characters of the show, Max the police officer, Elphie the fire officer and Ted the paramedic!

Ben and Elizabeth loved hearing Max, Elphie and Ted's answers so why not read the following to your little ones...

Hello Max, Elphie and Ted, thanks for taking time to talk with us, how are you all today?

We´re all quite tired at the moment as Jump’s had some days off from school and has kept us very busy!

Max, you’re the police officer, Elphie you’re the fire officer and Ted you’re the paramedic – what made you want to work in the emergency services?

Max: Keeping the city nice and safe – and the joy of scooting around on my own emergency vehicle of course! With sirens and flashing lights I am unstoppable! I love my Scooter!

Elphie: with a trunk as big as this, I had to find something useful for it! My trunk is great and perfectly made for my job as a fire fighter or helping Jumpi down from high trees and buildings!

Ted: my daddy is a police officer, so I wanted to do something different – but still be able to help people and drive around with sirens and flashing lights! So becoming a paramedic and driving around in my ambulance is perfect for me!

And what’s the best part of your job?

All three in unison: Helping people!

Max: With sirens, of course!

What advice would you give to someone who wants to join the emergency services?

Ted: Be nice to others – and you will have to love to help others as well! I think that goes for all emergency services.

Elphie: Yes – and you will have to face fear, and still be able to think clear! So be brave!

Max: And if you want to catch thieves, you will have to run fast! Just as I do! Whoo-hooo!

What’s the best thing about living in City of Friends?

Max: Well, it has the best friends around – all in one city! And there is always something going on here, so we have enough to take care of!

Ted & Elphie: Thanks to Jumpi!

 Max you’re everyone’s friend and the city’s mischief-maker. The children in the city think you’re the coolest and the funniest in the whole city. How does that feel?

Max: Oh, well it comes quite natural to me I must say! And I love it!

How did you become a police officer?

Max:Well, I believe Bobby (City of Friends Chief of Police) saw my talent and hired me at once!

Really?

Max: No, not really! I have dreamt about this since I was 4 years old, and been asking so many times for Bobby and his team to take me on as a recruit! I think I was here with my application every day for two years! And now they have taken me on – and I will prove they made the right decision!

We love your police scooter, what’s that like to ride?

It´s just lovely! And fast! And cool! So all in all – it´s just like me! We are the perfect match for each other!


 Elphie you’re a bubbly and adventure-loving elephant. Your impressive trunk and its water- shooting abilities make you a natural fire-fighter. What’s the best part of working in the fire service?

Elphie: Even though I just love it when we go out in the countryside to pick apples from my cherry picker on the fire engine, the best part is when you feel you’ve made a difference to someone – and have given them a helping hand! Or should I say trunk?! And one more thing, if you have the time, when Frankie drives fast through the streets of City of Friends and the wind blows in my big, big elephant ears – it´s just lovely!

And how does it feel to be the world’s first fire fighting elephant?!

Elphie: Just fantastic! If you have any elephant readers, I must encourage them to try to follow in my (big) footsteps! But they must remember, it could be dangerous fighting fires but it´s the best!


Ted you’re the caring young teddy bear and have just started your life in the ambulance service. Why did you want to work as a paramedic?

Ted: I wanted to help others! This is the perfect job for that, even though most of the time I’m helping Jumpi! But sometimes we help others as well!

Ted, you’re very popular and offer great comfort to people in need, providing reassurance with your cuddly warmth. What makes you so caring?

I am a teddy bear – I am just made for that, don´t you think? As a proud member of The TBA (Teddy Bear Association) I must encourage other teddy bears to try this – we are made to comfort people, especially youngsters!

How cute was that?! See the lovable friends in action here...


   


City of Friends airs weekdays on Channel 5’s Milkshake at 6.20am, Saturdays at 6.15am and Sundays
at 6.25am and you can visit www.cityoffriends.com and the Facebook page  to find out more...