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The other day mum and I went to the mall and guess what… the shops are all full of Christmassy stuff.
There are crackers, Christmas lights and the toy isles are starting to look very interesting.
I got all excited but mum sighed and said that each year the shops get their Christmas stuff in earlier and earlier and by the time Christmas actually arrived you were so sick of Jingle Bells you could hooch.
I thought she was completely crazy but decided not to say a word.
When we got home I rattled my piggy bank and was a tad concerned to see that it is not very jingly.
In fact it is downright empty.
I made a deal with mum.
She will pay me for extra chores – things like vacuuming and doing different odd jobs obviously – not my usual tasks like washing dishes, picking up my dog’s pooh and stuff like that.
Dad says if I help in the garden, he’ll pay me too.
Even so, I don’t think I am going to have enough money to buy cool Christmas presents for everybody.
I am going to have to get crafty…
Very crafty!
Ultra crafty in fact.
I am going to have to make my presents this year.
Good job I realised now already because it gives me enough time to get things done.
I’m planning on making some stuff out of Paper Mache.
I know we’ve done this before – but really – it remains one of the easiest and yet nicest ways of making awesome things using recycled plastic stuff like yoghurt containers and old newspapers or magazines.
You can transform simple junk into lovely useful pencil holders, boxes or mobiles – just by using a bit of imagination.
You can use wallpaper glue or you can make your own glue using water and flour.
It’s not hard and it does not cost much.
Once you’ve finished sticking on several layers (remember to let them dry in between) you can paint your article to make it look really nice.
The other day a friend of mine made a cool hat stand using a balloon and the top of a coke bottle.
Then she painted a face on it.
I bet you could use something like that for necklaces or scarves as well.
If you need help with your Paper Mache – check out my website – www.sibo.co.za
Get busy!
Sibo.