3D Rainbow Cloud

Jessica and family, from Altrincham, made this wonderful 3D rainbow cloud to hang up for others to see. We love it! Read on to find out more…

How did you do it?

Inspired by the rainbows posted in windows and houses up and down the UK – something to make children and adults alike smile, we decided to make our very own hanging 3D Rainbow cloud. We have hung the rainbow clouds from our front door for passers-by to admire.

What do you need to make this?

• Cloud – white card and black marker
• Rainbow – Coloured card or coloured paper
• Glue
• Sellotape
• String.

Instructions:

Step 1 – Place 4 pieces of white card together and draw a cloud shape
Step 2 – Draw with black marker 2 eyes and a smile (we did both sides)
Step 3 – Carefully cut out the cloud and stick all 4 pieces of card together
Step 4 – Carefully make 2 small holes in the top of the cloud and thread some string through (this will enable you to tie to where ever you want to hang your creation)
Step 5 – Cut thin pieces of coloured card/paper into strips
Step 6 – Make your colour paper chains
Step 7 – Stick these to your cloud
Finished 🙂

Any tips for others?

We found card chains took longer for the glue to set, whereas the colour paper chains set within seconds.

Tell us all a little bit about yourselves…

My name is Jessica. I am a mum of 2 girls Amelia-Rose who is 7 (8 later in May – Birthday in lockdown) and Araea who is 3 (4 in June – potential birthday in lockdown). We all live with Daddy – Dean, in Altrincham, Cheshire UK. We love the outdoors, nature and anything crafty.

How do you deal with being in the house a lot?

Being in lockdown for now coming up to our 8th week is not a walk in the park. We have good days and we have bad days. Both myself and my partner started jobs recently. My partner had only been in his office around 4 weeks and I have yet to be in my office as started remotely. So having the pressures of new jobs, roles and for me a new industry is tough. Thrown into the mix are then the pressures of trying to keep up with the jones who constantly on social media seem to have all there s**t together.

Having 2 children who are still both very reliant upon guidance, support and assistance with any kind of learning with 2 very different learning ages, whilst working and being ‘chef’ and ‘entertainer’ is near impossible. However my eldest ‘s school have been amazing and are very much of the opinion: do as much or as little as you like as the work will have to be caught up on.

We as parents are not teachers. We cannot show or teach them in a way they would at school. Their home is their safe space their sanctuary, their place for relaxation and fun and not pressures of working in a different environment in a different way. Therefore our priority is the health, safety, happiness and emotional well being. So we have in between working filled our time with crafts, baking, fun, and we are fortunate enough to have some lovely walks and green areas around us and have enjoyed our daily exercise in these spaces.

So, whilst tough, challenging, and at times very stressful (2 sisters don’t always get along and there are times filled with fighting, bickering, winding each other up she did this she did that), on the whole, we have been enjoying the quality time we wouldn’t usually get and trying to make the sad times of missing family, friends and loved ones into something special.

Any tips for other parents?

• Don’t pay too much attention to social media, take the positives and shield the negative.
• Don’t beat yourself up – you’re doing the best you can.
• Remember we are all in this together and your safety and wellbeing are much more important and the other things can wait….. for now…..
• Make plans, maybe a book of things you will all do together once we are able, whether that is plans with family, friends, days out, days in, holidays, or just popping to the shops as a family or a trip to the park. – Make something to look forward to.

Has Housebound With Kids helped?

Housebound with kids is full of positive posts, ideas, suggestions and happiness and this, in the current climate, is what we all need. When you are having those stressful or sad moments it lifts you out of those times and takes you away from the negativity.