I’m so happy to introduce you today to Niamh as our next Maker Mom! Niamh hails all the way from New Zealand and has one of the most colorful and creative blogs I know, Simply Earnest. There, you’ll find beautiful, simple and modern ideas to do with littles that Niamh shares with her toddler daughter. In addition to fun crafts, you’ll see snippets of celebration projects, recipes and Niamh’s daily life with family – all so welcoming, inviting and filled with color!
Thank you so much for stopping by Niamh!
Please tell us a bit about yourself and your blog.
I am Niamh (said like “Neeve”) Osborne. I live in New Zealand with my husband and almost two year old daughter. I blog over at Simply Earnest about our daily life, fun activities and projects for kids, DIY projects for the home, healthy and kid friendly recipes and blogging. I have been blogging for over a year now and absolutely love it!
I am a big fan of anything handmade, picnics, Chai lattes, colour, and anyone brave enough to do something outside the box.
What are your tips on getting creative with kids?
Allow kids to be creative at their own pace and in their own way. I’ve also found that my daughter needs to try something a couple of times before she really gets into it.
Where do you draw your creative inspiration?
Most of my projects and activities on my blog are inspired by daily life. However I draw my creative inspiration largely from the blogs and people I follow daily on Instagram and Bloglovin’.
What are a few favorite activities you’ve done with your kid(s)?
Lucy loved this pom pom sticky window activity I set up for her last year.
These duct tape handbags were a ton of fun and they are still a favourite play item in our house!
I loved creating this play office space for Lucy and she loves sitting down at her desk and typing out an “email”.
If you were stuck on a desert island with the kid(s), what crafting materials would you absolutely need to have?
Paper, glue and crayons. We could make anything from paper pulp pendants to crayon transfers!
And because we love books and are always looking for good recommendations, what are some of your favorite children’s books?
- The Toddlers Busy Book written by Trish Kuffner
- The Artful Parent: Simple Ways to Fill Your Family’s Life with Art and Creativity–Includes over 60 Art Projects for Children Ages 1 to 8, written by Jean Van’t Hul
Last, who are some of your favorite bloggers or maker moms who inspire you?
There are so many bloggers who inspire me. I am especially drawn to the bloggers who are also moms. Being a first time mama, I love reading through other maker moms blog archives for inspiration and ideas for what types of activities and projects to make or set up for my daughter. Handmade Charlotte, Mer Mag, Babble Dabble Do, MollyMoo, Meri Cherry, My Cakies, Smile and Wave and Making Nice in the Midwest are all daily reads for me!
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your creative tips for kids Niamh! That duct tape bag is awesome and such a clever way to use duct tape. And I totally get having to set up office space for kids. Mine are always interested in my emails and you’ve set up such a beautiful spot for your daughter. I read on your blog that you’ll be taking a short break from blogging, but hopefully not for long since we love your projects! At least the archives are still there to dig into past creative ideas 🙂 Thanks again for sharing your blog with us!
To get Niamh’s latest creative projects, make sure to follow her on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.
P.S. If you’d like to be featured as a Maker Mom, please drop us a note here!
Agnes Hsu is a mom of three and has been inspiring parents and kids to get creative with easy activities and family friendly recipes for over 10 years. She shares her love for creative play and kids food to her 2MM+ followers online. Agnes' commitment to playful learning and kindness has not only raised funds for charity but also earned features in prestigious nationwide publications.