Nothing like a bit of reflection to help you realise all that has come to pass over a year.
How would you summarise your 2016?
I’m still grappling with what 2016 was for me.
The grid above suggests it was bright, busy and filled with different creative pursuits.
I’ll take that.
Here are our best 16 art and craft projects from the year that was.

January kicked off with my 26 Days of Aussie Picture Books Campaign.
We made some Button Flowers inspired by Margaret Wild’s lovely book “Bogtrotter.”

Mr Day received a BBQ for his February birthday. It came swathed in the most amazing amount of packaging that kept us in the craft for days. You can find what we conjured up in this post on Simple Crafts for Toddlers.

Big call- but I think our Eric Carle-Inspired Tissue Paper Stars were possibly my favourite art project of the year.

2016 was the year that I discovered it was super easy to piñata everything. I share my secrets here.

I got creative with food with Simone from Play with Food in the lead-up to Easter. Check out our creative play with food ideas.

I scream, you scream….. a super easy How-To for an Ice Cream Garland.

I returned to work from Maternity Leave in April. One of the most rewarding things I did with my class was run a lunchtime weaving club. Check out what we made.

Gotta love an Olympic year! I staged some Recyclympics with my fellow craftlete, Handy with Scissors.
We also made these Carnival-Inspired Crowns that had us imagining we were in Rio.

2016 was the year I got over my sewing phobia. Here’s a zombie rabbit inspired by the hilarious “My Dead Bunny.”

Making paper beads out of old picture books is a perfect way to reuse books that you can’t bear to throw out.

If you’re a sentimental sap like me, use old baby clothes to make fabric flowers.

This cutting and pasting activity inspired by Matisse is super simple and low mess.

I was lucky enough to be sent a copy of Bar Rucci’s book “Art Workshop for Children.”
It is chock-a-block full of amazing process art ideas.

We also had lots of fun sampling the ideas out of Little Button Diary’s latest book.
The above is a marvelous creation using PVA glue and acrylics.

Collage is always a big hit at our place.

I live for Christmas craft. I think my favourite for the festive season was this DIY wreath. Although that’s like asking me to choose my favourite child….

What do you hope 2017 will bring?
If you’re wanting to tackle more creative projects at home with the kids, check out my time-saving tips and how to ensure that everything doesn’t turn brown when painting with toddlers.

Thank you so much for following along with our perfectly imperfect attempts at creative living.
Wishing you a happy, healthy and colourful 2017!