We’ve got Halloween covered this year thanks to Fruittella. In the second instalment of our Spooky Sundays series, we’re bringing you all the drama with these Halloween face paint looks, creating a Mummy, a Witch and a Skull - something for everyone. Keep your eyes peeled for more Halloween inspiration, as Fruittella and Craft Factory have got Halloween all wrapped up.

Witch

Items needed:

• Yellow Face Paint
• Green Face Paint
• Water Spray Bottle
• Small Face Sponge
• Various Sized Paint Brushes
• Greaseproof Paper
• Liquid Latex
• Cotton Bud
• Rice Puffs

Directions:

1. Spray the water based face paint with water using the water spray. 
2. Load the sponge with yellow paint & apply this to the face in the areas where you'd like the base to appear. 
3. Load sponge with green and apply to the remaining areas over the rest of the face.
4. Blend these two colours together.
5. Take a darker green and shade in areas of the face where required; around eye sockets, cheekbones and blend around the hairline. 
6. Take a medium brush and use a dark green to create some depth to the eyelid and eye socket. 
7. Using a thin paintbrush use black paint to draw in some wrinkle lines across the forehead and around the eyes - don't be afraid to work out from the eyes, across the forehead and add in thicker bushy eyebrows. It will all add to the look. 
8. Continue with the wrinkles around the face until happy with the details.
9. Add some line work with black paint to outline and enhance lips
10. Using a small white paint brush and some white paint, add highlights where necessary enhancing the wrinkles. 
11. Using some liquid latex, take a small amount on some greaseproof paper using a cotton bud (size of a 5p is more than enough!) and we’re ready to get creating our Witch’s wart. 
12. Take a couple of rice puffs and add to latex glue so they’re close enough to stick together.   
13. Allow the puffs to dry. 
14. Once dry, peel off backing paper and apply to the face with eyelash glue or more latex
15. Paint over the warts to create a similar colour to the face or as required.
16. Check final look for any enhancements required.

Mummy

Items needed:

• Medium Paint Brush
• White Paint
• Yellow Paint
• Brown Paint
• Pen / Pencil
• Scissors
• Green Paint (We chose green, but you can select any colour!)
• Thin Paint Brush / Sponge 

Directions:

1. Load a small paint brush with white paint, sketching out bandage areas on the face
2. Take your background colour and load this onto a medium sized brush - we have chosen yellow paint here to add the spookiness. 
3. Paint in between the bandage sections with the yellow paint. 
4. Using the brown paint, with a medium paint brush outline the yellow sections close to the edges of the bandage as we will blend to add depth. 
5. Take a sponge loaded with a small amount of the brown paint and drag blend those sections in to fill the areas. 
6. Using the brown paint add any texturing to the zombie skin as required - a dryer paint sponge works well for this. 
7. Load a large flat brush with your choice of colour for bandage (we have used white) and apply across the bandage sections.
8. Using a black paint on a thin brush outline the bandage sections and outline accordingly. 
9. Take a medium sized brush and drag out the black into the white paint to create a 3D illusion - use the video as a reference here as it looks great! 
10. Blend any shadows away where required to create some depth. 
11. Using a Grey face paint mixed with lots of water, apply some brush strokes over the white bandaged sections to add texture and depth. 
12. Using white paint on a thin brush run over the bandage outline for definition. 

Skeleton

Items needed:

• White Paint
• Black Paint
• Thin Brush
• Medium Paint Brush
• Sponge
• Cosmetic Glue 
• Gems

Directions:

1. Spray the water based face paint with water using the water spray. 
2. Load the sponge with white paint and apply this to the whole face. 
3. Load a brush with black paint and apply to areas following the line from the temple to the jaw.
4. Take a sponge and drag blending outwards to create a blended cheekbones look.
5. Repeat this process on the jaw line and blend down the neck with black paint and a sponge. 
6. Using the loaded thin brush with black paint, create two circles around the eyes and blend to create two black eyes. 
7. Using a thin paint brush using the black paint, create a bone like shape nose - refer back to the video for ease here. 
8. Load a medium dry brush, take some black paint and add some small lines downwards over the lips to create a boney look.
9. With the same brush add in some wrinkle lines and texture to the forehead above the eyes. 
10. Take a small thin paint brush and black paint and create some line work down from the forehead, and outwards from the eye sockets to create skull crack effect. 
11. Select glitters and gems for applying to the face. 
12. Apply water based glue to the gem and wait for the glue to go tacky. Apply the gem to the face, press the gem into position and wait to dry. 
13. Repeat around the lip area and forehead - wherever desired. 
14. Apply water based glue in the areas where the glitter will be placed allow the glue to go clear. 
15. Once the glue has become tacky, take a sponge, collect glitter and press onto the tacky glue. 
16. white for the glue to go tacky on the gem and on the face then press the gem onto the face
17. Check final look for any enhancements required

Decorated Pumpkin 

You Will Need: 

• Pumpkin 
• White Paint 
• Paint Brush
• Elmer’s Purple Glitter Glue (Elmer’s Spooky Slime Kit)
• Elmer’s Green Glitter Glue (Elmer’s Spooky Slime Kit)
• Elmer’s Black & Orange Glue Pens (Elmer’s Spooky Slime Kit)

Method:

1. Paint the pumpkin white all over, this will help the colours stand out even better! Leave to dry 
2. Once dry, turn the pumpkin onto it’s slide and add dots using the different colours of Elmer’s Glitter Glues all over. 
3. Leave to dry, turn the pumpkin around and repeat into the next section.. 

Treat Bags 

You Will Need: 

• Elmer’s Extra Strength Glue Stick 
• Orange Paper Bag 
• Orange Sharpie 
• Black Craft Foam 
• Scissors 
• Ruler 

Method: 

1. Using the orange Sharpie, and a ruler, draw vertical lines down the bag 
2. Cut out shapes for eyes and a mouth using the black craft foam 
3. Stick the foam shapes onto the bag using the Elmer’s Extra Strength Glue Stick

Mask 

You Will Need: 

• Elmer’s Extra Strength Glue Stick 
• Buttons 
• Different Colour Sharpie’s 
• Coloured Craft Foam 

Method (for the witch) 

1. Cut a piece of craft foam into a mask shape 
2. Using a green Sharpie, draw on wrinkles around the eyes and on the forehead 
3. Draw on eyebrows using the black Sharpie 
4. Cut a witch’s hat shape from black craft foam and then stick this onto the top of the mask using the Elmer’s Extra Strength Glue Stick 
5. Stick on the buttons using the Elmer’s Extra Strength Glue Stick 

Witches slime 

You Will Need: 

• Elmer’s Green Glitter Glue (Elmer’s Spooky Slime Kit)
• Elmer’s Magical Liquid (Elmer’s Spooky Slime Kit)
• White Beads 
• Red Sharpie & Black Sharpie
• Plastic Mini Cauldron 
• Mixing bowl 
• Spoon

Method:

1. Draw a circle on a white bead using the Red Sharpie and then add a smaller black circle inside the red circle to create an eye. Repeat with all your beads 
2. Using the mixing bowl, mix together the Elmer’s Green Glitter Glue and the Elmer’s Magical Liquid until you reach a slime consistency
3. Add the beads to the slime and mix together 
4. Place the slime into the mini cauldron

Ghost 

You Will Need: 

• Elmer’s Clear Glue 
• Empty Elmer’s Glue Bottle 
• Ping Pong Ball 
• Black Sharpie 
• Cheese Cloth 

Method: 

1. Poke a hole into a ping pong ball using a pen/pencil 
2. Stick the pink pong ball on top of the empty Elmer’s Glue bottle 
3. Cut a square of cheese cloth and dunk this into some of the Elmer’s Clear Glue, until it is fully saturated 
4. Drape the cheese cloth over the ping pong ball
5. Smooth out and then leave to dry 
6. Once dry, draw on a face and remove from the ping pong ball 

This October, in the lead up to Halloween, every Sunday Craft Factory will be giving you all the inspiration you could need to make this spooky season one to remember. From DIY costumes, to spooky facepaints and even some super simple yet scary decorations you can make at home Fruittella and Craft Factory have got Halloween all wrapped up. In our first of the series we’re bringing you Pumpkin crafts… 

Spider Pumpkin

Items needed:

• Pumpkin
• Ribbon
• White Paint
• Black Paint 
• Fake Spider 
• 2 x Sponge

Directions:

1. Take your pumpkin - be aware that we will be painting so make sure to protect your surfaces. 
2. Using white paint cover your pumpkin and use a kitchen sponge to ensure it is all covered evenly. Leave to dry.
3. Now to create your spider web design, using PVA glue, stick on strips of ribbon all coming from a central point on the pumpkin. 

Tip: using fingertips ensure the ribbon is stuck down in the ridges of the pumpkin to get full coverage. 

1. Once the diagonal ribbons are in place, add small pieces of ribbon to connect them up in a spiral design. 
2. Continue this process until you have completed the full design and allow to dry. 
3. Once dry, take some black paint & a sponge and cover the entirety of the pumpkin surface being gentle and dabbing the colour on. Be sure to get in all of the nooks and crannies!
4. Once dry, it’s time to peel. Take the end of one of the ribbons and peel away, where you will see the white paint underneath. Repeat with all ribbons until the spider web is fully visible. 
5. Add on a fake spider for a trulyfor truly spooky effect & your spider pumpkin is complete! 

Spooky Pumpkin

Items needed:

• Pumpkin
• Masking Tape 
• Pen / Pencil
• Scissors
• Green Paint (We chose green but you can select any colour!)
• Paint brush / sponge 

Directions:

1. Take a strip of masking tape around 15-20cm in length  (depending on the size of your pumpkin) and lay it sticky side down on a work surface. Repeat this to create a square shape made from sticky tape, with each strip overlaying the previous ever so slightly. 
2.  Using a pen / pencil draw  your pumpkin face design on the masking tape. 
3. Cut out your masking tape design & stick shapes onto the pumpkin. 
4. Using a paint brush or sponge, paint your pumpkin green taking extra care around the face stencilled area. Leave to dry. 
5. Once the paint is dry, peel off the shapes revealing the face of the pumpkin and you're done. The spookier the better we say!  

Sweet Dispenser Pumpkin 

Items needed:

• Pumpkin
• Ping pong ball
• Glue gun 
• Cardboard
• Scissors
• Newspaper
• Blender
• Water
• White felt
• Fruittella sweets

Directions:

For this spooky creation we are using paper pulp, this is something you can buy ready made, just add water. However if you wish to make it yourself here are the instructions below.

TIP- This will need to be done the night before.

1. Take some ripped strips of newspaper or old paper and tear them into 1 inch pieces. 
2. Place the paper into a bowl & add hot water until all the paper is submerged.
3. Let the paper soak overnight somewhere undisturbed for 8-12 hours. 
4. Once soaked overnight, break the pieces of paper with your hands. Keep breaking them down until they are small enough to turn into a pulp. You could use a kitchen whisk for this too to speed up the process. 
5. Blend the paper pulp in a kitchen blender for the smoothest consistency for 15-30 seconds.
   Tip: if the pulp is too thick, add water, too thin, add instant starch. 

Now it’s time to make the Pumpkin Sweet Dispenser.

1. Cut a piece of cardboard with some scissors into a rounded semi-circle shape, slightly bigger than the length of your pumpkin - this will create a jaw shape. 
2. Fold the card into thirds, and bend the two outside thirds inwards. 
3. Using a glue gun, stick the cardboard onto the pumpkin with the folded edges towards the pumpkin this creates your mouth shape. 
4. Take the pulp and mould around the cardboard jaw - shape it to give it character and to match up with the rest of the pumpkin. Leave to dry. 
5. TIP Use wet fingers to smooth the pulp out. 
6. Once dry, paint the jaw orange to match your pumpkin colour.
7. Take your ping pong ball and cut in half, draw an eye in the middle of one half. 
8. Using the glue gun, stick the eye on the pumpkin. 
9. Using some white felt, cut into small triangles to make teeth and stick them on the inside of the pumpkin jaw. 
10. Fill your pumpkin jaw with all Fruittella sweets and you’re set for Halloween. 

Star Shaker Notebook 

You will need: 

• Elmer’s Disappearing Purple Glue Stick
• Plain notebook 
• Card (the same size as your notebook cover) 
• Card border (the same size as your notebook cover) 
• Plastic sheet (the same size as your notebook cover) 
• Sequins 

Method: 

1. Draw or paint your preferred design onto a piece of card the same size as your notebook cover
2. Once finished, stick this design to the cover of your notebook
3. Add a line of Elmer’s Disappearing Purple Glue to the outside edge of the cover and stick the card border on top. 
4. Sprinkle some sequins into the middle of the design and then add another layer of Elmer’s Disappearing Purple Glue on top of the card border. 
5. Cover this with a sheet of plastic the same size as your notebook cover and wait for it to dry, watching the colour change from purple to clear!  
6. Shake your newly decorated notebook and see all the sequins moving around. 

DIY Bookmark 

You will need: 

• Elmer’s Blue Transparent Liquid Glue
• Sequins 
• Plastic tray/box
• Hole punch 
• Ribbon 

Method: 

1. Using a narrow plastic box/tray, fill this with a layer of Elmer’s Blue Transparent Liquid Glue
2. Sprinkle some decorative sequins on top whilst the glue is still wet and wait to dry
3. Once dry you should be able to peel the glue away from the tray and cut this into your desired bookmark size & shape. 
4. Hole punch a hole at the top of the bookmark and then tie a ribbon through the hole. 
5. Add to your favourite book and you are ready to go! 

Confetti Slime Stress Ball 

You will need: 

• Elmer’s Confetti Magical Liquid
• Elmer’s Clear School Glue 
• Clear balloon
• Plastic bottle / funnel 
• Old fishnet tights 

Method: 

1. Pour a bottle of Elmer’s Clear Liquid Glue into a large bowl and then pour over the Elmer’s Confetti Magical Liquid
2. Mix with a spoon until you have slime consistency
3. Using a plastic bottle or a funnel pour your slime into a balloon and secure with a knot at the end 
4. Using an old pair of fishnet tights, wrap this around your balloon and then carefully tie the ends up 
5. Squeeze your stress ball and reveal the confetti inside.

Personalised Backpack 

You will need: 

• Elmer’s Silver Glitter Liquid Glue
• Plain backpack 
• Stencil 

Method: 

1. Place your stencil on top of your plain backpack and cover the shape of the stencil with Elmer’s Silver Glitter Liquid Glue and allow it to dry
2. Repeat this process until you are happy with your design 
3. Allow to dry completely and then your new bag is ready to be used. 

You’re A Star Slime 

You will need: 

• Elmer’s Metallic Slime Kit
• Large glass bowl 
• Spoon 
• Star sequins 
• Star shaped plastic container 

Method

1. Using the Elmer’s Metallic Slime Kit, add the Metallic Glue and the Elmer’s Magical Liquid to a bowl 
2. Mix with a spoon until you have slime consistency
3. Add in some star sequins and mix again 
4. Add your slime mixture to a star shaped plastic container and enjoy. 

Adult supervision required. Not for children under 3 years. Wash hands before and after using. Contains small parts that can be swallowed – suffocation hazard. Contains biocides which may cause allergic reaction

Stick To Playtime: Summer Holiday Crafts With Elmer’s 

Butterfly Suncatchers 

You will need: 

• Elmer’s Clear School Glue 
• Elmer’s Colour Changing Glue Kit 
• Black paint 
• Lollipop stick 
• Design 
• Acrylic sheet 

Method

1. First, add some black paint to your Elmer’s clear school glue & stir with a lollipop stick to mix fully. Then pop the lid back onto the glue 
2. Next, decide on your design for the suncatcher. We have chosen a butterfly design and drawn this onto a piece of paper. 
3. Put your plastic sheet over the design on the paper and trace the lines with the black coloured glue. Leave to dry 
4. Fill in the design with one of the colour changing glues and then leave to dry, then fill in remaining gaps with the other colour changing glue & leave to dry.
5. Once dry, carefully peel the design off of the plastic sheet and stick to a window. 
6. Watch the magic happen as the sunlight changes the colour of your design. 

Paper Spinners 

You will need: 

• Elmer’s Opaque Coloured Glue: Pink, Blue & Purple
• Elmer’s Re-stick Glue 
• Paper
• Card 
• Scissors 
• String 

Method: 

1. Cut your paper & card into a circle around 6cm wide. 
2. Draw your design with the different colored glues, you can be creative here and make any design you like! Let this dry 
3. Once dry, using the Elmer’s Re-stick Glue, stick the paper design onto the card, add a design to each side! 
4. Using some scissors, carefully poke a hole in the middle of the disk and then tread your string through the holes. 
5. Spin the string and then pull the string tight and the paper disc spinning down the string. 

Colour Changing Mermaid Slime 

You will need: 

• Elmer’s Colour Changing Slime Kit 

• Elmer’s Blue Glitter Glue 

• Large bowl 

• Spoon 

• Jar 

• Mermaid tale (optional) 
• Beads for decoration 

Method: 

1. Add the Elmer’s Colour Changing Blue Glue to a bowl and then add a small amount of the Elmer’s Purple Glitter Glue to the bowl. 
2. Pour in the Elmer’s Magical Liquid & your decorative beads and give it a stir until slime consistency 
3. Pour the slime into your glass and top with a mermaid tail if you have one. 
4. Leave your slime in the sun and see how the colour transforms under UV light

Sensory Glitter Bottles 

You will need: 

• Elmer’s Glitter Glue: Pink, Blue & Purple 
• Water 
• Bowl
• Stars for decoration
• Bottles 

Method: 

1. Bring in the bowl and fill with one of your Elmer’s Glitter Glue colours, add some water and your star decorations and give it a good mix. 
2. Pour the mixture into a plastic bottle & add the lid 
3. Repeat for each colour. 
4. Shake the bottles and see the glitter and stars move around

Tassel Garland 

You will need: 

• Elmer’s Re-Stick Glue 
• Coloured crepe paper (x3 colours) 
• Scissors 
• String

Method: 

1. Using one sheet of your coloured crepe paper glue the top section with the Elmer’s Re-Stick Glue, then pop a different colour on top. Repeat with the other colour of paper 
2. Using scissors cut the length of the paper sheets into around 1inch thick strips, be careful to stop cutting a few inches from the top. 
3. Add a line of Re-Stick Glue to the top uncut strip and then roll the paper up from one end to the other. 
4. Repeat the above process until you have around 6 or 7 tassels 
5. Using a small pair of scissors, carefully poke a hole through the top of each tassel. 
6. Thread the string through each tassel and then hang up in your bedroom or garden. 

Method:

1. Bring in a bowl with shredded wheat bars in and crush up with fingers
2. Then bring in melted choc and pour on top
3. Mix together
4. Put to one side and bring in foil sheet and shape into a bowl 
5. Pour in the mix and use the bottom of a bowl to press a dent in the middle
6. Leave to set
7. Once set peel off the foil 
8. Put the chocolatey egg in the middle
9. Add decorations to the nest such as edible leaves, flowers, Colin Caterpillar faces and M&S mini chocolate eggs

Equipment:

• Small and large bowl 
• Roll of tin foil 
• Spoon 
• Cake board or a plate

Ingredients:

• Shredded wheat bars
• Melted chocolate (the same quantity as your shredded wheat) 
• Extremely Chocolatey Egg
• Colin Caterpillar faces and M&S mini chocolate eggs to decorate

M&S Kylie Koala Log Cake

Method:

1. Bring in a chocolate roll and put on one end onto a plate. 
2. Buttercream the sides with chocolate frosting
3. Put Kylie Koala to one side of the log. 
4. Take a sheet of parchment paper and pour melted chocolate onto it, spread it out to a thin layer with a spoon or palette knife. 
5. Roll it up carefully and pop in the fridge, when it is set use a rolling pin to hit the side of it to crack it and then unroll to see all the lovely chocolate bark pieces. 
6. Decorate the chocolate log tree with the pieces of chocolate bark. 
7. Add some final touches to it with piped buttercream leaves and edible flowers.

Equipment:

• Parchment paper
• Spoon or palette knife
• Plate or cake board

Ingredients: 

• M&S Kylie Koala 
• Chocolate roll
• Chocolate Buttercream 
• Melted chocolate
• Green buttercream and chocolate curls to decorate

You will need:

Elmer’s Glitter Slime Kit
Elmer’s Washable Transparent Pink Colour Glue
Elmer’s Metallic Magical Liquid
Large Bowl
Spoon
3x Small Jars
Felt, Pom Poms & Googly Eyes (for decoration)

Instructions:

Pour the contents of Elmer’s Washable Transparent Pink Colour Glue into a bowl and mix with Elmer’s Metallic Magical Liquid until you reach a slime consistency.
Fill one small jar with the slime and decorate it with felt bunny ears, whiskers, googly eyes and a pom pom nose.
Repeat this process with the Elmer’s Glitter Slime Kit, creating slime with (1) Elmer’s Purple Glitter Glue and (2) Elmer’s Blue Glitter Glue, so you are left with three Easter Bunny Slime Gift Jars!

Colourful DIY Napkins

You will need:

Elmer’s White Washable School Glue
Cotton Fabric (cut into napkin-sized squares)
Watered Down Fabric Paint
Paint Brush
Large Bowl

Instructions:

Lay your napkin fabric on a flat surface and begin to draw a design/pattern of your choice using Elmer’s White Washable School Glue.
Allow the glue to dry overnight.
Pick your favourite colour of fabric paint, water this down, and use your paint brush to colour the whole napkin. Allow to dry.
Put the dry napkin into a bowl of warm water and begin to rub away the glue where you created the pattern. Continue until all of the glue has been washed away.
Allow to dry completely and your Colourful DIY Napkins are ready to use!

Easter Egg Animals

You will need:

Elmer’s White Washable School Glue
Elmer’s Blue Glitter Glue
Eggs (emptied)
Coloured Paint
Paint Brush
Sharpie Permanent Marker (for decoration)
Coloured Card (for decoration)

Instructions:

Empty your eggs by creating a small hole on both ends, blow on one side to push the egg white and yolk out the other and run water through it until clean.
Paint your emptied eggs with desired Easter animal designs and allow to dry fully.
Cut out features such as ears, feet and nose from coloured card and stick these onto your painted eggs using Elmer’s White Washable School Glue.
Use a Sharpie Permanent Marker to draw eyes on your Easter Egg Animals.
Add some glittery decoration using Elmer’s Blue Glitter Glue!

Giant String Easter Egg Nests

You will need:

Elmer’s Metallic Blue Glue
Elmer’s Purple Glitter Glue
Elmer’s White Washable School Glue
Large Bowl
Water
Balloons
Small Chocolate Eggs
Embroidery Thread

Instructions:

Pour equal parts of water and Elmer’s Metallic Blue Glue into a bowl and mix well.
Place your embroidery thread in the glue mixture, being careful not to let it tangle, and make sure your thread is fully coated.
Inflate a balloon into an egg shape and begin to wrap the glue covered thread around it, criss-crossing the surface well, using your fingers to pull off any excess glue.
Once the balloon is covered in thread, allow it to dry overnight.
Using scissors, carefully pierce the balloon and remove any bits of balloon that may be sticking to the string.
Repeat this process with (1) Elmer’s Purple Glitter Glue and (2) Elmer’s White Washable Glue, so you are left with three Giant String Easter Egg Nests in different colours.
Fill your nests with small chocolate eggs (or treat of your choice)!

For the creation of these crafts, adult supervision required. Not for children under 3 years. Wash hands before and after using. Contains small parts that can be swallowed – suffocation hazard. Contains biocides which may cause an allergic reaction.

Encouraging your little ones to learn the importance of brushing their teeth well, and persuading them to actually do it twice a day, is no mean feat.

Frankly, there are probably a million things a kid would rather be doing, but the good news is that there are a number of ways to turn tooth brushing time into a fun and enjoyable experience rather than a chore. Here are some things you can do to ensure your kids never try to shirk their tooth brushing responsibilities again!

1. Get creative

This clever model of a mouth will make teaching your kids about brushing their teeth enjoyable. You can easily frame the model as a fun game to make sure they brush out all of the spots! Check out how to do it for yourself in this video:

2. Make it colourful

This creative solution, made using bottles and pom-poms will help you teach your kids about the different kinds of teeth in a visually stimulating and colourful manner that's sure to grab their attention!

3. Get crafty will leftover toothpaste boxes

In this wonderful video, you can learn how to make a fun and imaginative craft out of your leftover toothpaste boxes - what an incentive to get to the end of the tube of toothpaste so you and your kids can make a new craft each time.

4. Create a reward calendar for your kids successfully brushing their teeth

There's nothing like an incentive to help your kids learn to love the very important daily task of brushing their teeth properly. Why not make a weekly calendar that comes with a reward if they brush their teeth well without complaints for a specific period of days?

Credit: Aquafresh

5. Dance and brush

There are several apps that will provide you and your kids with music to dance around the bathroom to as you brush (just make sure they're still taking care with their brushing technique!) When the music stops - you've brushed your teeth for long enough. In fact, Aquafresh has a brilliant 'Brush Time' app, which shows kids a fun way to brush all parts of their teeth correctly using catchy songs and dances.

Credit: Aquafresh

6. Let them choose their new toothbrush

Your kids might feel more invested in brushing their teeth if they get to choose their own fun, colourful toothbrush. Aquafresh have plenty to choose from, so why not let them take ownership of their toothbrush and feel proud of it?

Credit: Aquafresh

7. Make it a friendly competition

If you have more than one child, they can compete against each other - or your child can compete against you! Introducing some healthy competition into the mix will encourage your kids to do an excellent job of brushing their teeth and make it far more interesting for them.

Credit: Pexels

Hopefully, these fun hacks and games have given you some ideas that you can put into practice with your kids next time they're complaining about brushing their teeth.

Learn more with Aquafresh.

Having allergies doesn’t mean that you have to miss out on all the spook-tacular fun and games of Halloween. With our crafty hacks for the most hair-raising time of the year, kids can enjoy themselves safely without fear of allergies getting in the way.

Meringue Bones - Dairy Free

Ingredients: 

• 5 Eggs
• 200g Caster Sugar
• Raspberry jam - Raspberries and sugar

1. Preheat oven to 170F.
2. In a large heat proof bowl, crack an egg and remove the yolk by using a bottle.
3. Squeeze the bottle, place over the yolk and release the bottle which will suck up the yolk.

Credit: Craft Factory

1. Repeat this process for 4 more eggs. 
2. Add 200g of caster sugar to the egg whites.
3. Place the bowl over a pot with simmering water, the pot should hold the large bowl over the water without touching it. (Adults only)
4. Whisk the mixture continuously with a whisk until it reaches 130F.
5. Remove from the heat and using a hand mixer, beat the mixture until stiff peaks form and the bowl is room temperature.
6. Once it's cooled down, transfer the mixture into a piping bag with a round nozzle. 
7. Pipe bone shapes onto a baking paper with a baking tray.
8. Bake for around 2 hours depending on your oven. The meringues should be easy to come off the baking paper, if it’s still sticky then bake for a bit longer.
9. Once baked, turn off the oven and leave the bones inside to cool slowly to prevent them from cracking.
10. You can serve them with jam (raspberry guts) for a dip.

Credit: Craft Factory

Pumpkin Oranges - Dairy Free

Ingredients:

• Oranges
• Dark Chocolate - Dairy free
• Celery
• Coriander

Instructions

1. Peel an orange.
2. Melt some dark chocolate and transfer into a piping bag.
3. Pipe a spooky face on the orange.

Credit: Craft Factory

1. Keep it in the fridge for a couple of hours to harden the chocolate.
2. Stick some herbs and celery into the top of the orange for the pumpkin stork.
3. Create more oranges with spooky faces.

Credit: Craft Factory

Apple Mummies

Ingredients:

• Apples - red or green
• Dark Chocolate drops - Dairy free
• Lemon juice

Instructions

1. Cut an apple in half and remove the inner stork.
2. Using a potato peeler, peel the skin in strips to create the mummy wrapping effect.

Credit: Craft Factory

1. Stick dark chocolate drops into the apple for the eyes.
2. Cover them in lemon juice to stop them from going brown.
3. You can also use green apples too.

Credit: Craft Factory

Mummy Treat Bowl

Ingredients:

• 1 large white bowl
• Cling film
• Kitchen roll
• PVA glue
• Masking tape
• Black paint
• Gluten free sweets and snacks

Instructions

1. Turn a large plastic bowl upside down and cover with cling film.
2. In a smaller bowl, mix 2 parts glue to 1 part water.
3. Cut up strips of kitchen roll and dip them into the glue.
4. Cover the base of the bowl with kitchen roll and glue to create a thick layer.
5. Leave to dry.
6. Remove the kitchen roll bowl and cling film from the larger bowl.
7. Cut out a large mouth from the kitchen roll bowl.
8. Using masking tape, attach extra pieces of kitchen roll and the allergy label to the plastic bowl.
9. Attach the kitchen roll bowl to the main bowl also using masking tape on the inside
10. Paint the eyes and lines to create the mummy effect.
11. Stick on paper teeth.
12. Fill the bowl with your treats and you are ready to go.

Credit: Craft Factory

‘Piriton Allergy Tablets and Piriton Syrup contain chlorphenamine maleate for allergy relief including symptoms of food allergy (itchy skin, rash, hives). Piriton Allergy Tablets from 6 years. Piriton syrup from 1 year. Always read the label.’

We are committed to supporting our Black colleagues and followers, and taking action against the systematic injustices facing the Black community.

Like many organisations, we know we have a long way to go. We want to use our platform to share resources, have honest conversations and help play a part in the fight against racism.
Here is how you can take action:

Credit: PA Images

To Donate

• If you are able, donate to Black Lives Matter, HERE.
• You can get involved in your local Black Lives Matter chapter. The full list is can be found HERE.
• Donate to a bail fund for protestors. The Action Bail Fund organized by Black Lives Matter LA gives 100% of donations to support bail, fees, and medical costs.
• Donate to The Peoples City Council Freedom Fund.
• The Brooklyn Bail Fund can be found HERE.
• A useful Twitter thread on other bail funds can be found HERE.
• Donate to the National Police Accountability Project, which helps protestors find legal counsel.

To Sign A Petition

• Sign a petition that is asking for all the officers involved in Floyd's death to be brought to justice. You can find it HERE.
• The Justice for George Floyd petition can also be found HERE.

To Learn More

• Racial justice educator and lawyer, Rachel Ricketts, has shared a number of anti-racism resources, addressing white privilege and other topics.
• A comprehensive list of information for protestors, as well as other resources, can be found HERE.
• A list of mental health resources for black people can be found HERE.
• Watch this video, published by Black Lives Matter, on the death of George Floyd:

Here are some additional resources that may be helpful: 

• 75 things white people can do for racial justice
• How to Be an Antiracist, by Ibram X. Kendi
• White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism, by Robin DiAngelo
• They Can't Kill Us All: Ferguson, Baltimore, and a New Era in America's Racial Justice Movement, by Wesley Lowery
• The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, by Michelle Alexander
• Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race, by Reni Eddo-Lodge

This is welcome news in light of the devastating revelation that upwards of half a billion animals have lost their lives in the blazes which have been raging since September - a number which continues to grow.

Some of the worst affected are the already endangered koalas, which feed on highly flammable eucalyptus trees. These incredible creatures could be pushed to the brink of extinction, especially if the destruction of their habitat continues, as per the Guardian.

The crafters have been sharing their creations on the Facebook group, the Animal Rescue Craft Guild. They have also been giving each other advice on sewing and sharing designs for items such as joey pouches, which are in high demand from animal charities in Australia.

"25/50 Joey pouches coming your way!" Facebook user Zia Rahim‎ posted to the group. "I had a lot of non sewer family and friends wanting to do their bit so I came up with 'donate a pouch'

"Each pouch was [then] sold for $20 each. So the joeys get a pouch and my non sewer fam and friend get to be a part of it."

Similarly, Wendy Williams‎ has been doing her bit, making woolen nests for affected birds. This picture was captioned: "My start to making nests."

The crafters aren't blindly creating items to help the relief effort, either. Animal charities have explained exactly what items they require to help Australian animals in need, such as the Animal Rescue Craft Guild (ARCCG).

And the crafters' efforts are already helping some of the animals who need it most. Here are some adorable examples.

While many of the crafters getting involved are experienced, the situation in Australia is so devastating that some people have been inspired to take up sewing so that they can do something to help.

"Never sewn [sic] in my entire life," wrote Angela Do. "Yesterday was the first time in my life I've ever used a machine but for our furry babies of Australia, I learnt [sic] how to."

If you would like to help the crafters, you can join the group, or if you simply want to donate to the human and animal relief efforts, you can do so at one of the organizations below.

How you can donate:

The NSW Rural Fire Service has multiple options for direct donations. You can donate to the RFS as a whole, or to specific brigades. You can donate through bank transfer, credit card or cheque.

For bank transfers, there is a set bank account (Account Name: NSW Rural Fire Service, BSB: 032-001, Account No: 171051). This account is for the RFS as a whole.

 This link will take you to the landing page for credit card donations. You can donate to the RFS general fund or choose specific brigades from the dropdown box.

In Queensland, Fire and Rescue advise that you can donate both money and items through the website givit.org.au. The website allows fire-affected communities to list what they specifically need, from water tanks in Yeppoon to school uniforms in Zillmere.

In Victoria, the Country Fire Authority has two bank accounts - one for specific brigades and one for the general fund.

In South Australia, the Country Fire Service accepts donations through the CFS Foundation. You can donate to them here. You can also leave a bequest.

If you cannot find the particular brigade you are looking for, you can contact them directly.

Returning with an all-star cast including Charlize Theron, Oscar Isaac, Chloe Graze Moretz, Finn Wolfhard and Nick Kroll, the movie sees the family begin to unravel when they move to New Jersey and square off with a duplicitous reality TV show host, all while preparing for the arrival of their extended family.

Credit: Universal

And to celebrate the return of the iconic family, we've been crafting our very own Addams Family-themed Halloween crafts. With both the movie and the spooky festivities just around the corner, you can level-up your Halloween snack game with these easy-to-follow recipes and hacks.

From character-themed cupcakes to a delicious vivid green mocktail, you'll be the envy of your friends and family at your Halloween party this year, and your kids are sure to be delighted with the spooky fare.

A vibrant, hilarious tale of acceptance, The Addams family draws its inspiration from Charles Addam's New Yorker cartoons. The movie will inspire people of all ages to accept and celebrate difference.

The Addams Family is showing in cinemas from October 25.

This is a sponsored article in association with Universal.

Having said that, though, keeping your kids curious and interrogative is a rewarding experience, and one that will set them up for an interesting and varied childhood.

If you've already worked your way through the many classic kids' games, taught them how to do a sudoku and given them a taste of the never-ending epic board games of your own childhood, you might be wondering where to turn next.

Dear parent, allow me to introduce you to the wonderful world of slime. Your child is bound to love the incredibly satisfying process of making their own marvellous slime creations, and it'll encourage them to get creative and think outside the box, too!

Credit: Elmer's

Oh, and we haven't even got to the best part yet: there's a competition taking place, courtesy of Elmer's, to find the next slime king or queen taking place, and £1000 is up for grabs!

If you've never made your very own slime constructions before, then here's everything you're going to need in order to get the ball rolling;

"Elmer’s White School Glue

Elmer’s Clear School Glue

Elmer’s Glitter Glue

Elmer’s Magical Liquid

Food colouring to colour your child’s basic basic Elmer’s White or Clear School Glue

Glitter, sand, sequins, toys, embellishments etc – the more wacky and wonderful the merrier!"

Credit: Elmer's

From there, Elmer's describes the three easy steps you'll need to follow to make your own slime;

1. "Squeeze out all of your chosen Elmer’s Glue (Elmer’s White School Glue 118ml, Elmer’s Clear School Glue 147ml or Elmer’s Glitter Glue 177ml) then add your extras be it colour, glitter, sand, sequins... etc.
2. Add 2 Tbs of Elmer’s Magical Liquid, mix well, then add 2 more Tbs and mix. Add more of Elmer’s Magical Liquid as needed to get the consistency you prefer.*
3. Next get your hands dirty! Knead together the slime to get it to the right gooeyness."

So there you have it, you're already well on your way to a slime-filled paradise.

Entrants will be judged on one of four categories: best textured slime, biggest slime bubble, best colour combo and grossest slime. It's super easy to enter, too. First, you can download the Elmer's slime guide to make sure you're in with the best chance of scooping a prize. Next is the fun bit; it's time to get slimey. Help your child film their slime creation, then simply like the Elmer's Facebook or Instagram page, and upload your slime video to your own Facebook or Instagram page, tag @elmers.uk and mention the category you wish to enter your marvellous creation into. You can visit https://elmersslimegames.co.uk/terms-and-conditions/ for more information.

The competition closes on 25th August, and the winners will be announced on the week commencing 26th August. Good luck!

Please note that adult supervision is required, and that the activity is not suitable for children under the age of 3. Remember to wash your hands before and after you make and/or play with slime!

This is a sponsored article in association with Elmer's.

Sadly, clothing for children is no different in this regard, but now a few places are providing alternative options. The latest is Kohl's, which has now embraced inclusion by introducing a collection of kids’ apparel which offers adaptive capabilities for those with special needs.

The collection, in collaboration with manufacturer Jumping Beans, is aimed at kids aged three months and up, and offers wheelchair and sensory-friendly fabrics, as well as useful features such as easy abdominal access and diaper support.

Credit: Kohl's.com

Commenting on the new line in an interview with PEOPLE, technical designer manager Judy Koepsel (who herself has a 3-year-old daughter with special needs) stated: "We aligned on what needed to be considered when fitting. Such as: how a pant fits when sitting down, could the pockets still be used, is the shirt long enough to cover in the back? And so forth. Everyone involved was extremely thoughtful as to how the product would be used."

Meanwhile, Associate Product Manager for Jumping Beans Kara Smoltich stated: "Just because we are creating clothing for unique needs doesn’t mean that it needs to be basic. We have made every effort to ensure that the product looks as close to our core line as possible. Everything from graphic artwork to pocket detail is reflective of the brand."

Credit: Kohl's.com

There's a range of items on sale, including T-shirts, tank tops, sweaters, pants, bodysuits and shorts. So why not visit Kohl's official website, and see if there's anything you think a child might need?

Unfortunately, not all kids are lucky enough to have bedtime stories read to them. In fact, there are plenty of kids out there who, because of reasons outside their control, can't hear stories before they sleep.

However, two amazing little girls have stepped up to the plate and resolved to deal with this issue of their own initiative. Zaria Hathorn and Hailey Willard, aged 13 and eight respectively, are two sisters who hail from Delaware. As part of their altruistic mission, they have pledged to read bedtime stories five nights a week on Facebook Live to those kids out there who aren't able to experience them.

On their official Facebook page, the two girls wrote:

"My sister and I love to read. Our mom has been reading to us since birth and that, in my opinion, has helped me develop a love for reading. My sister and I were lying in bed one night giggling about something when this idea came about.

We presented the idea to my mom and she agreed it would be great. She personally doesn’t want us to be on social media but we all agreed being on it in a positive way would help light the world."

"Our main purpose is to read a book of our choice each night at a designated time so that children can have a bedtime story each night. We are already reading each night but we thought it may be beneficial for children who don’t get this luxury. Parents sometimes work late or are too tired for stories. We are not only helping children, we are giving parents a nice break after a long day of work." 

Zaria and Hailey read live on Facebook every day, from Monday to Friday, at 8:30 pm EST. So why not check out their channel and get your little one to watch some of their videos if you can't manage yourself?

From now on, parents will have to prove that their children have been vaccinated before they can attend school. If they haven't, then they can expect to pay hefty fines of up to €2,500 ($2,800) as punishment.

The decision has been made following a recent rise in reported cases of measles in Germany between March 2018 and February 2019. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, 429 cases have been registered in Germany this year alone.

Currently, only 93 per cent of German children has been vaccinated for measles. At least 95 per cent need to go through measles jabs before the population can be effectively immunised.

In a statement issued to the public regarding the new legislation, Health Minister Jens Spahn said: "Whether in kindergarten, at the childminder or at school - we want to protect all children against measles infection."

Measles is a highly contagious airborne viral infection which very young children often suffer from. Symptoms typically develop after 10/12 days and last around a week. Symptoms usually include a fever, a cough, runny nose, and inflamed eyes, as well as an angry red rash on the face.

According to a report from the World Health Organization, measles vaccines have resulted in an 80 per cent decrease in deaths as a result of the disease between 2000 and 2017. The same report claims that 85 per cent of children around the globe has now received their first dose as of 2017.

Furthermore, according to the Global Burden of Disease Study, vaccinations have had a profound effect on the death rate for measles. In 1980, there were 2.6 million reported measles-related deaths. By 1990, only 545,000 fatalities have been recorded, and by 2014, global vaccination had managed to reduce the number of deaths from measles to 73,000.

However, now a Facebook page aimed at new mothers has gone viral last week, after sharing an unlikely-sounding hack which they claim can almost completely alleviate the pain of childbirth, using an everyday beauty tool that costs as little as $3.00.

The hack was first shared by the Facebook page "Fox Valley Birth and Baby" last week, after they uploaded a picture of a woman holding an ordinary plastic comb. According to this post, the sharp points of the comb can simulate acupuncture, and distract a woman from the pain of contractions.

It might sound far-fetched, but a number of women in the comments have confirmed through personal experience that the trick really does work.

The original post reads: "Did you know a comb can be used during labor?! And no its not for your hair. When gripped in your hands, a comb can help hit acupuncture points in your hands. [sic]"

It added: "It also plays into the gate control pain theory. This theory states that the brain can only focus on a select number of sensations. Because the nerve endings are closer on your hands they reach your brain faster. Helping your body forget about the contractions."

"ETA: For those who have asked how to hold it Having the comb hit at the base of the fingers (across the palm of your hand)."

So there you have it: a simple comb could help spare you from some real discomfort. However, it goes without saying that you should consult with a doctor first, before making any crucial decisions surrounding your birth.

But just because kids aren't in a position to pay their parents for giving them lifts, that doesn't mean this invaluable service shouldn't cost them something. Well, courtesy of Škoda, teens might have to start coughing up chores as opposed to money if they want their parents to continue taking them from A to B.

On Tuesday, Škoda launched a free app that gives parents the chance to charge for lifts in exchange for household chores.

Officially called the 'Parent Taxi', the app essentially acts as a taximeter by keeping track of the distance parents have traveled for their kids. This is then converted into useful jobs their kids are expected to around the house in lieu of payment.

Parent Taxi tracks the car journey via GPS, and parents can set for themselves the chores (including washing the car, washing the dishes or feeding a pet) that equate to a specific number of miles.

Once a journey is complete, the app calculates the number of miles travelled before indicating which chore the child has to do. The app also allows users to view past journeys and their corresponding chores, access chore receipts and track the total amount of journeys.

Credit: Pexels

Another feature gives parents the ability to shame their children if they fail to complete the chores they were required to do as part of their 'payment'. Yep, parents can share a post detailing the uncompleted task directly to the social media pages of their offspring.

In order to test the app, Škoda asked parenting blogger Jo Middleton and her teenage daughter Belle to try it out.

Credit: Pexels

After completing a few journeys using Parent Taxi, Middleton said:

"This is the app I've been waiting for! It's true that kids generally have a better social life than adults and as a result that can mean a lot of car journeys each week. Although I love encouraging them to get out and do more, I think it's a great idea to swap miles for some help around the house in return."

The app is free to download now from the App Store and Google Play Store.

On May 21, 2019, we published an article titled 'Girls Get Most Of Their Genes From Their Maternal Grandmother, Study Reveals'.

The article referenced 'evidence' on the research by Chilean essayist Alejandro Jodorowsky, detailed in his book Metagenealogy: Self-Discovery Through Psychomagic and the Family Tree (ISBN: 9781620551035).

The article went on to list how we inherit most of our looks, temperament, tastes, and even emotions from our maternal grandmothers. It has since come to our attention that this information is false.

We at Craft Factory take fake news very seriously, and want to assure all our readers that our articles are fact-checked strenuously before publishing. Upon discovering this, we removed the article from the site, and we would like to apologize profusely to our readers for any inconvenience caused.

You can find more information from LeadStories here.

School dress codes, for instance, tend to be centered around the attire of female students and what it is they can and can't wear.

However, this might be about to change as one school district paves the way for fairer regulations.

Indeed, one school district in Roanoke, Virginia has decided to adopt a gender-neutral dress code policy in order to avoid any gender-based instances of injustice.

In a survey sent out to parents, 59 percent of the 1,370 parents who voted approved.

"The old dress codes we had and that many schools have today single out girls for bra straps and undergarments and many things girls wear," Don Butzer, the chairman of the Roanoke County School Board, told TODAY Style.

"The new policy is probably the most progressive in Virginia," he added. "Our goal was to make it as simple as possible." The new dress code has been edited down from over five pages to one page with a handy diagram showing acceptable clothing measurements across the body.

The decision was unanimous - the Roanoke County School Board is now in favor of a dress code that holds boys and girls to the exact same standards.

Credit: Roanoke County School Board

Butzer says that it was a parent, Jeannie Keen, who encouraged the board to change the dress code after her daughter Olivia, who will be entering the ninth grade this autumn was reprimanded for wearing a pair of track shorts that she was told were too short.

"Within the first two weeks of sixth grade, Olivia and many other girls were dress-coded for wearing athletic shorts," she told TODAY. "I took a photo of what she had on that day and sent it to my school board rep in order to begin a dialogue. I also used a gender-neutral dress code model from Portland, Oregon as an example of how it can be done."

Butzer said he believes students will be happy with the new changes and that the new dress code will be easier to enforce.

They don't even need to wear a scary costume. Gone are the days when a small child would have to make do with two holes cut into an old and musty bedsheet. Now there are all kinds of awesome costumes out there, so if your child wants to be a princess or a superhero, they can, as there are plenty of options available.

However, for disabled children - such as those reliant on crutches and wheelchairs for mobility - the choices for Halloween are sadly a little bit more limited. This isn't just because there's a lack of visibility for disabled people in popular culture at large. It's more due to the fact that costume manufacturers haven't given disabled kids a chance.

Indeed, when it comes to costumes, it's a sad truth that they can often be left feeling sidelined. But thankfully, a major retailer now has the answer.

That's right, Target has finally answered the prayers of anyone hoping for a costume that caters to their needs this year, by releasing special Halloween costume accessories designed for disabled kids who use wheelchairs. As of now, there are two options available: a pirate costume and a princess costume, both of which come complete with materials to turn the wheelchair into an enchanted castle or a nautical galleon respectively.

The item description for the pirate costume states: "This boys’ pirate costume is thoughtfully designed with openings in the back that lend ease of dressing, along with leg openings that are wide enough to put the pants on while keeping shoes on — perfect for giving kids who use wheelchairs an extra hand and a sense of comfort."

Meanwhile, the princess costume reads: "This Halloween wheelchair costume is designed to look just like a princess carriage, with a purple-blue and grey colour scheme adorned with intricately detailed scrollwork — it even includes decorative covers for the wheelchair for a complete finish. A simple way to dress up most sizes of wheelchairs, it can easily be attached using the hook-and-loop closures for a secure fit."

If you'd like to purchase either of these awesome costumes, then why not shoot over to Target's official online store and grab them?

But imagine doing just while pushing not one or two, but three kids in a stroller all the way over the finish line.

Well, one hero of a mom - Cynthia Lauren Arnold - crushed the previous marathon record by over an hour - and all with the added weight of her three kids and a stroller.

The mom had performed well in the marathon in previous years, Runner's World reported, but this year she wanted to do something really special; to set the Guinness World Record for the fastest full marathon while pushing three kids at the Missoula Marathon.

Bare in mind, six-year-old Marguerite, three-year-old Simon and 21-month-old Asha and the stroller added about 185 lbs to the run.

The previous three-person stroller marathon record was a seemingly impossible 4:07, but Cynthia ended up blowing that time out of the water, and completed the full 26.2 miles in just 3:11.

And because she's just that much of a pro, Arnold even had time for a popsicle pitstop for kids.

"It’s supposed to be fun for the kids," she said. "I have a bunch of friends who are coming down from Polson. It’s really going to be fun, I think. We’ve been running together all spring with this in mind."

"Running with the stroller has so many benefits for running parents," the dedicated mom added. "Those of us who run know how much it is a part of our identity. You can’t just give that up if you become a parent. The stroller gives one the freedom to carry on a lifestyle with new ones in tow."

When she ran in preparation for the marathon, she normally went without her kids, the mom-of-three told Runner's World.

However, she did make sure to take them with her on occasion so that she would be somewhat accustomed to the additional weight - these runs were limited to just ten miles. Just before the race, however, she took the kids on one 17-mile long run.

While Arnold admits this will probably be the last competitive race she does with her kids, she does plan to compete entirely on her own next year.

And not that she needs it, but the best of luck to her!

Credit: Pexels

Tammy Davis, a woman from Georgia, ordered a Moana cake for her daughter's birthday weekend. But when bakers delivered the cake on the day of the party, the mother realized they had misheard her over the phone and drastically butchered her kid's favorite Disney character.

Instead of being decorated with the strong-willed Disney girl, the cake donned a large cannabis leaf with icing to match that read: "Happy 25th birthday Kensli." Luckily Kensli is a 25-year-old who loves Moana, instead of a small child who received the surprise.

On the cake, there was also a green My Little Pony with a matching leaf on its rear end. The horse had red eyes and was smoking something. We'll let you decide what it was.

Birthday girl Kensli Taylor Davis posted a photo of the cake on Facebook with words over the picture that read, "Y'all, my mama got me a Moana cake", before going on to explain how the bakers "thought she said marijuana."

But her big day was far from ruined. She ended her sentence with a string of crying laughing emojis. She included a caption that said:

"I haven’t had a chance to tell y’all about our experience this weekend with my birthday cake. So my mama called and ordered me a cake telling them how much I loved Moana. (Because really I do) Well needless to say these people thought she said marijuana. That ice cream cake was still good though."

Credit: Disney

And the internet thought it was hilarious. Since Kensli posted the photo last week, it has received 10,000 likes and 11,000 shares. Several comments find the miscommunication hilarious, and many people even tagged their friends, inviting them to celebrate similarly for their next special day.

Here's hoping this blunder inspired you as well.

This article originally appeared on VT.co

When little Skye and her family did finally meet Hayden Hatfield Ryals, her donor, an immediate connection was felt on both sides.

Credit: Hayden Hatfield Ryals

Back in April 2016, Ryals was told she was a match for the toddler, a year after joining the national registry of bone marrow donors.

"I was in awe and instantly, I knew this was my purpose and was ready to get the ball rolling to help this angel," she said explained.

Even on the day of surgery in July of 2016, Ryals knew very little about Skye and her family. It was only until the following year that the two sides were able to communicate via emails and letters.

"The first day I finally interacted with Skye and her family, it felt like I had known them my whole life," she told Parents.com. "The surging amount of love I already had for them only reinforced how strongly and quickly we connected with each other, even though we hadn’t even met."

It was around this time that Ryals sent the now-healthy bone marrow recipient a birthday present, part of which was a wedding invitation which suggested Skye had been chosen to be the flower girl at her wedding.

Credit: Hayden Hatfield Ryals

At the time, it didn't seem like a viable option as Skye still wasn't in the best of health, but by the time it got to the wedding, the now-three-year-old had been given the go-ahead by doctors as far as travelling by plane was concerned.

"I broke down and cried tears of pure joy all over again. This was HUGE to me. And when I reiterated that the flower girl offer still stood and they agreed, I was absolutely over the moon. I kept thinking, 'Things like this just don't happen, this is really kind baffling and amazing,'" Ryals recalled.

The pair finally met face-to-face shortly before the rehearsal and they clicked instantly.

"I could've cried an ocean of tears hearing those words in her sweet voice," Ryals said.

Credit: Hayden Hatfield Ryals

The pair then exchanged gifts: Skye got a beautiful rehearsal dinner dress from Ryals and Ryals was gifted a gold locket with a photo of the three-year-old and the words, "This heart beats with yours" inside.

"I fully consider them my family and would do anything in the world for them," the 25-year-old bride added. "It would take an eternity to fully explain how precious they are to me and how much I love them."

It takes a truly kind and selfless person to not only give a young child - whom you have no relation to whatsoever - a second chance at life but to let the child be a significant part of what should be one of the best days of your life.

We wish Skye, her family, and the Ryals all the health and happiness in the world.

I mean, weddings are a sentimental affair with plenty of tears being shed and poignant memories being shared so anything you do get your child on their wedding day has to be the epitome of heartwarming.

And that's exactly what one Redditor, who goes by Justgrant2009, got from his mom on his wedding day.

Credit: Reddit / Justgrant2009

Justgrant2009's mother had kept many of the items she found in his pockets when he was growing up back in the 80s and 90s - while she was doing the laundry.

"This lamp has everything my mom ever found in my pockets when doing laundry for me when I was little," he wrote. "She gave it to me at my wedding."

Credit: Reddit / Justgrant2009

"It started off with mostly sticks, rocks, and marbles," he explained further. "But over time it ended up having all sorts of items ranging from Pogs, a Gameboy game (Super Mario Land), a Magic School Bus McDonald's toy, yo-yos, and Laser Quest scorecards. There are also plenty of sticks, springs, rubber-bands, and twist-ties because I went through a phase where I remember telling my parents I was going to build a robot with just those items."

Credit: Reddit / Justgrant2009

"I will admit that there are a few items in there from my early 20s too, as like any lazy college student, I let my mom wash my clothes while staying at home from college between semesters. And clearly, my mom was still collecting my things."

Needless to say, a lot of people were touched by the post and wrote as much in the comments.

"My mom did something similar except instead of making my stuff into a wedding gift she threw it in the trash," one user wrote. "She was such a sweet lady."

Credit: Reddit / Justgrant2009

"That's awesome," wrote another. It truly is a great idea; your mom is very creative. And congratulations on getting married!"

What a tearjerker of a wedding gift - in the best possible way!

But some chores are decidedly duller than others. Ironing, for instance, is a particularly monotonous activity. So much so that many of us will throw on a creased shirt simply because we just can't be bothered to use an iron to painstakingly smooth out each and every wrinkle.

But what if you had a super easy and super quick alternative to ironing? If you hate doing the ironing or simply have little time to get it done, then you need to start using this ingenious time-saving hack to ensure your clothes are 100% wrinkle-free.

Credit: @JulieK via Twenty20

The hack, which involves a dryer and a couple of ice cubes, allows you to kill two birds with one stone by getting your clothes dry while simultaneously ridding them of any creases.

This is the perfect hack to use for whenever you need to get ready quickly and for an occasion on which you must dress to impress - for instance, for a date or an important job interview.

Just throw a few ice cubes (just about two or three) into the appliance in order to achieve a perfectly smooth and wrinkle-free outfit.

The technique works best if only a minimal amount of clothing and ice cubes are used. If you include too many items of clothing, ice cubes or heavy fabrics (jeans, for example), you will likely not get the desired outcome. Next, adjust the dryer to the highest heat in order to steam the wrinkles out. It's also best if you keep it to a full short cycle.

Basically, moms across the country - and well, all over the world, really - have been scanning their camera rolls and noticing that while there are plenty of adorable photos of their partners with the kids, there are hardly any featuring them with their children.

The thing is, when mothers - who are often the primary caregivers - are going about their day-t0-day life raising their kids, it generally doesn't occur to them to take any snaps.

There are usually more photos of the kids with their grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles when they come round for a visit or vice versa.

Credit: Pexels

And there also tends to be more photos of the kids with their fathers because mothers are typically more likely to take candids.

But just because you, as the children's mother, spend practically every minute of every day with your kids when they're little, it doesn't mean that each 'mundane' moment isn't a special one that you can cherish in the form of photography.

That's why father Clint Edwards is suggesting that fathers should take it upon themselves take more candids of the mother of their children with said children.

In a post on ScaryMommy.com, Edwards revealed why he regrets not taking more pictures of his wife (Mel) and their children:

"I didn’t take nearly as many pictures of my wife as she did of me. Then, periodically, she’d ask why we don’t have very many pictures of her with the kids that aren’t selfies, and instead of taking more pictures, I often end up keeping my mouth shut, when what I really should have been doing is taking pictures like a little ninja, hiding them away, and then showing them to her later so she could feel that same warmth I felt looking at that picture from the fire station. [...]

"Time’s flying by, and frankly, we all deserve pictures of ourselves with our children — even ones that aren’t selfies. [...]

"She deserves to look back and realize she wasn’t as out of shape as she thought, or wasn’t as mean as she remembers, or that the kids weren’t as frustrating and it might have seemed. She deserves to look back and smile and laugh and long for those little smiles and hands and feet."

Credit: Pexels

In addition, mom Allison Slater Tate wrote in detail about the topic in a blog post titled The Mom Stays In The Picture:

"I’m everywhere in their young lives, and yet I have very few pictures of me with them. Someday I won’t be here — and I don’t know if that someday is tomorrow or thirty or forty or fifty years from now — but I want them to have pictures of me. I want them to see the way I looked at them, see how much I loved them. I am not perfect to look at and I am not perfect to love, but I am perfectly their mother.

When I look at pictures of my own mother, I don’t look at cellulite or hair debacles. I just see her — her kind eyes, her open-mouthed, joyful smile, her familiar clothes. That’s the mother I remember. My mother’s body is the vessel that carries all the memories of my childhood. I always loved that her stomach was soft, her skin freckled, her fingers long. I didn’t care that she didn’t look like a model. She was my mama."

It doesn't take much to pull out your phone and snap a few pictures. What seems trivial now could mean the world in a few short years.

So, one mother from the UK decided to approach what she knew would be a demanding task by covering the entire floor of a room in her home with puppy pee pads while teaching her toddler how to use the toilet.

In a post to Facebook, Shona McLoughlin shared photos of the floor once she had plastered it with the pee pads.

Credit: Facebook / Shona McLoughlin

"DAY ONE. Am I doing it right?" she wrote in the post. "Sat here waiting for her to pee. Do I just keep sitting her on the potty and hope she gets it?"

"I’VE NO IDEA WHAT I’M DOING…" she added.

In the center of the room, she placed a small toilet for her daughter to use. "[The pads are] 'just in case' she misses…" McLoughlin clarified, noting, "Once she gets used to it I’ll move mini toilet into the bathroom."

The mom also explained that her daughter has fortunately not yet had an accident, adding that she's a "holder-inner" and that she still needs a lot of practice if she's to master the art of using a toilet.

Fellow parents couldn't get enough of the hilarious hack in the comments section.

"I’m dying," wrote one mom. "But I wish I’d thought of this!"

Other parents took to the comments to share their own tips for efficient potty training.

"Put a nappy inside the toilet, so she knows the nappy is there when she sits on it," one suggested.

So, does this hack seem like something you would try or does it seem a tad overzealous?

Everything from the venue to the bride and groom's wedding attire has to completely blow the audience - sorry, your friends and family - away. Otherwise, you might as well just get married in a worn pair of tracksuits with no more than a witness you pulled off the street in attendance.

Credit: Pexels / Jeremy Wong

An important feature of any wedding is the cake. Needless to say, it can't just be any old cake - it has to be the cake.

It needs to be both aesthetically pleasing and delicious.

Unfortunately, for those on a tight budget, wedding cakes can be pretty expensive.

Well, get this - the ginormous extravagant wedding cake below cost a couple just $50.

A photo of the gorgeous cake was shared to Instagram by a blogger called Jessica.

Jessica's brother and his bride put the cake together themselves using two separate cakes they bought from Costco.

"Y’all this DIY cake! It is no secret my bother is frugal...but this wedding took frugality to a whole new level," she wrote in the caption. "They bought two @costco cakes, cut them, stacked them, re-iced with buttercream icing, and covered with $10 @traderjoes flowers. Boom a $50 DIY Cake!"

"Displayed on the stand I built using stuff from @hobbylobby ...beautiful on a budget! The wedding was fun, but a sigh of relief we can get back to regularly scheduled projects around here."

"My sister-in-law’s brother-in-law, @chefjwarley was in town from England for the wedding and took their idea of the cheap wedding Costco cake and threw it all together in a couple of hours at the venue the day before the wedding! Go follow him! (Didn’t know he had an IG, or I would have tagged him!)."

If you're hoping to take advantage of this cost-saving tip for your own wedding - or any other occasion which demands a lavish cake - then you'll be pleased to know that Jessica will be posting step-by-step instructions as to how to put it together.

The inflatable device includes a hole for a baby bump, an indent for the face and chest, and a hip raiser and leg decline. One side of the float has a smaller-sized hole than the other, accommodating all women no matter how far along they are in their pregnancy.

Credit: Cozy Bump

The inflatable pillow allows women to lounge while getting massages, facilitates pregnancy exercises, and assists in getting a back tan by the pool. It also is OBGYN and chiropractor-approved - and has several other benefits.

The pillow helps to relieve back, shoulder, hip pain and pressure, while relaxing on the pillow in the optimal birthing position allegedly aids in reducing the need for c-sections and increases blood flow.

Credit: Cozy Bump

The Amazon description for the product reads:

"Helps relieve your back/shoulder pain - Our patented design allows gravity to kick in to decompress your spine & help relieve pain during pregnancy

Finally get rest, relieve stress - Studies show that better sleep can decrease stress

Helps reduce C-sections & painful labor - Research shows laying on the belly with raised hips & lowered legs helps move the baby to the optimal birthing position (head down) [sic]."

Credit: Cozy Bump

Cozy Bump's website details the benefits of similar pre-birthing practices:

"The Cozy Bump Swaddle is similar to the traditional Mexican and Guatemalan fabric called 'Rebozo'," they claim. "The Robozo has been used for thousands of years to help with back discomfort. The Cozy Bump is similar to the Rebozo in that it helps the belly from pulling on the back"

Credit: Cozy Bump

The Cozy Bump includes a baby swaddle, an inflate valve and a deflate opening, but make sure to bring your own pump!

Cozy Bump also sells a gift set on their website, which includes a massage ball roller, an inflator, and pregnancy tape.

Say goodbye to uncomfortable stomach sleeping!

This article originally appeared on VT.co