The Joy of Cardboard Boxes #zackandquack

Earlier this month, I was lucky enough to be one of the bloggers chosen to host a 'Zack & Quack Craft Party' to coincide with the launch of a brand new kids show on Nick Jr. The Craft Parties were just part of Twitter Extravaganza where everyone was invited to join in and tweet with the #ZackandQuack hashtag.

I received a big box of craft materials and some exciting goody bags for our guests to take home with them.

I love an excuse for a bit of a get-together with other mums and my two little ones were very excited at the thought of having friends over to our house. We sent out our invitations.

For me, a party of any kind is a reason to do some baking. I baked. I also tried my hand at making origami frogs from instructions provided in the party box. It was tricky but I persevered and they made cute little cake labels.

Before the guests arrived, I set up work stations for various craft activities and organised the seating in my living room so everyone could be comfortable for watching the premiere of Zack & Quack. For all the preparation work and during the party, I was tweeting about the event.

— Paula (QWERTY Mum) (@PaulaHaylock) February 7, 2014

The guests began to arrive and excitement levels rose. Before long, everyone was involved in sticking, cutting and generally getting creative. It was lovely to see. We had a couple of exploding glue incidents and glitter glue spread so thickly it would most likely take a month to dry but the children were thoroughly engaged with their tasks.

When the time came for the start of the Zack & Quack show, we got the children seated. There was a welcome change in the noise levels of the party as six pairs of eyes were all transfixed by the images on the screen. A wonderful calm descended as Zack and his duck best friend Quack worked their magic on the spellbound viewers. For me, it was time for a much needed cup of coffee before the final part of the party.

The children were unanimous in their opinion that Zack & Quack was GREAT!!

Our final activity was crafting on a grand scale. The children, hopefully inspired by the show, were invited to use their imaginations to build whatever they wanted as a team from materials provided.

Three of our little guests decided that all they needed to do was jump in a box and exclaim gleefully We made a boat!.

The project became more ambitious when one of our mums let loose her own creativity. The kids loved helping with the transformation and playing with their own cardboard vehicle. The following day, the 'box train' was still the source of much amusement for my children and our visitors (including some old enough to know better!!)

I had some lovely feedback from the party including - Best party ever and the best party bag! 

Watch Zack & Quack Fridays at 4.30pm on Nick Jr.

Zack & Quack Twitter Party

www.evolutioncomps.co.uk/zackandquack

There is a brand new show coming to Nick Jr.

The show is called Zack & Quack.

Zack and his duck best friend Quack are characters in a pop up cardboard world. Their adventures feature a strong craft element which will hopefully inspire viewers to have a go at their own craft projects.

In conjunction with the Nick Jr UK premiere of Zack & Quack, a Twitter Party Extravaganza is taking place between 3.45 and 5.45pm this Friday the 7th February. Everyone is invited to join the party and tweet with the hashtag #zackandquack. There will be the chance to win some fantastic prizes as well as share your thoughts on the new show.

I have been chosen as a party host. I will be inviting friends to watch the premiere at my house and enjoy a range of craft activities. Of course, I will be tweeting about how we get on!

Join in the fun. Tune into Nick Jr at 4.30pm and log into twitter. Don't forget to use the all important hashtag #zackandquack

#SylvanianFamiliesParty

I am always talking to my older children about creating opportunities for themselves and this blog has certainly done that for me, the latest being the chance to host a Sylvanian Families Twitter Party. I wasn't really sure what I was letting myself in for when I accepted the challenge but I was sure of my great fondness for the miniature inhabitants of Sylvania and their intricately accessorised homes.

My older girls had a collection of Sylvanian Families when they were younger including: a mansion house, a tree house, a bus and my personal favourite, a bakery. These provided many happy hours of make believe play, not forgetting a memorable incident when my daughter Ivy knocked out her cousin's wobbly tooth! Ivy was very quick to volunteer her services to help me co-host the party.

We had a lot of fun with the planning and preparation and particularly enjoyed sorting through the box of party games and toys we were sent.

Even with the best of planning, you can't budget for illness which did jeopardise the success of our party but we muddled through and as the saying goes - it was alright on the night.

Our party guests got stuck in with the Sylvanian themed colouring sheets, plasticine modelling, party food and of course experiencing the world of Sylvania through the lovely Log Cabin, Camper Van, Bathroom Set and Celebration Cat Family generously provided for that purpose.

Although the party was aimed at little girls, I have to say my 2 year old son probably enjoyed playing with the toys more than anyone!  I did put some of the really tiny accessories to one side for fear of losing them.

Sylvanian Families Camper Van

The party lasted two hours which went by very quickly but it was quite frantic trying to keep up with Twitter aspect of the event. The idea was to live tweet about the party using the #sylvanianfamiliesparty hashtag. Competitions and discussions meant that everyone could be involved and it wasn't long before the hashtag trended. It was an exciting moment being a part of that accomplishment. I did curse my computer when it seemed to take forever to upload my photographs and the twitter feed did move so fast it made my head spin at times. I was very grateful for Ivy's help.

Sylvanian families are celebrating their 25th anniversary this year which I think is testament to the fact that they are a timeless classic. I am very happy that my younger children are discovering these lovely toys and will hopefully carry some happy memories of Sylvania into adulthood as my older girls have done (maybe without the home dentistry part though).

I very much enjoyed sharing the Sylvanian experience both online and here at home with my party guests who took away with them some gorgeous sets to start their own collections.

A Date for your Diaries #sylvanianfamiliesparty

Anyone that knows me will tell you that I love a good excuse for a party. The Sylvanian Families Twitter Party has given me an excellent excuse.

I am one of the bloggers lucky enough to have been selected to host a Sylvanian Families Party at my home for friends and family. Yesterday, I received a big box of goodies including Sylvanian playsets for the guests to play with, themed activities with prizes, lovely gifts for the guests to take home with them and one rather sad box of cupcakes that I found squashed right at the bottom! I am not too sad about my squashed cupcakes. I'm sure they'll still taste good and it gives me a reason to do some baking (which I love) to make some alternative treats perhaps more worthy of Sylvania's Blackcurrant Cafe.

I will of course be tweeting and blogging all about the preparations and the party itself.

Don't forget to make a note of the date and time - everyone can join in on twitter and have the chance to win some fantastic prizes.

Tuesday 16th October 2012, 4pm - 6pm

Follow @ukmumsTV and use the hashtag #sylvanianfamiliesparty