Kids? room shouldn?t be dull and gray! A real room for your children should be full of colors, places where they can express creativity, and also a place where they can have a nice rest. If you think that you are missing something like that in your kids? room ? don?t worry! I gathered five super fun, easy, and most importantly, frugal kids? room décor ideas you can try out as well! To make all that you only need a little bit of creativity and just a little bit of money!

Get kids? furniture from thrift stores and make it yours

Buying brand new kids? furniture is not as practical as you might think. Yes, your child can enjoy comfortable furniture, but soon he will grow up and won?t fit into them! So why invest in something so expensive, yet so short needed? Better hit thrift stores and shop for children furniture there! Prices will be a few times smaller, and you will get a chance to make something unique!

Get some special furniture paint in various colors and let your (and even your kid?s!) imagination go wild! Paint one leg of the table in red, and another one in blue and make some cute little and colorful furniture nobody else has. If you purchased a wardrobe ? use a different paint for each drawer or door of it. Kids will love helping you out, and you will not only save money buying thrift store furniture but have something really unique as well.

Make an arts center with chalkboard paint

All kids love to draw, but sometimes we just don?t have so much space for them to express their creativity! So maybe choose one wall in children?s room and? paint it with special chalkboard paint!

Kids will love it for sure because they can draw on that as much as they want, and you will be able to clean all that very easily as well if you want it! And since you are going to paint only one wall in a room, you really won?t overpay and have an excellent arts center for many years.

Bring more light to the room

Some kids are afraid of the dark, and some kids just need more light in the place they are as well. So you, as a good parent can make sure that both types of such kids get that they need the most ? light!

Even the smallest light sources like night lamps or little glowing stars on the ceiling will make any room loved by children and bright enough! Also, don?t forget that many children read a lot then they just learned how to do it, so be sure to equip the room with appropriate reading light as well.

Frame kids? artwork

Again ? it is all about the kids? creativity and their art. I personally can?t imagine the better way to decorate a kid?s room than with children?s artwork! And all you need to have in this case is a few frames in various sizes and shapes. You can also paint it in different colors to make it more fun and enjoy something cute, fun, and personal. The best part is that you can change the artwork as much as you want, making the room look different each time your child paints something new.

The only thing you should consider is you whether or not you wish to have a glass or plastic frame. Some of them might break, so think about where you are going to put the artwork as well.

Print your favorite quotes in color and frame it

Sometimes all you can need is a little bit of paper, printer and your most favorite quotes ever! If you print a few quotes you just love with each letter in a different color and then frame it in child?s room, you will have a fun art piece for sure! Or you can get one big canvas and then glue big letter on it making even bigger and funnier room décor element as well.

For the end

Great ideas, am I right? But right now let?s talk a little bit about the money stuff. Since not everything can be bought at thrift stores, we kind of have to visit other places to shop. And that might mean bigger spendings. No need to worry! Along with these JCPenney promo codes,  you will be able to shop at this store easily and without any struggle. These discounts will let your creativity go even wilder and make your kids? room even more special and one of a kind. So, definitely, make a stop there and don?t forget these coupons as well.

Category: Uncategorized

here in the manual

Throughout the whole of January, I have a very special 31 Days of Love series running. It is a series of Valentine?s Day Craft guest posts ? or ?LOVE? Craft posts. Though ostentatiously these crafts are for Valentine?s Day, I think you can make them all your round to show that you ?love someone? or ?just because?? today we have a gorgeous DIY Melted Crayon Art canvas. I think the Crayon Heart turned out simply STUNNING, don?t you think?! You can follow the whole 31 Days of Love Series (or take a peak at last years ideas too!).

I?m Emma and I blog at Adventures of Adam. I write about the play adventures of my three year old son. We focus on sensory bins, Busy Bags and Tuff Spot play. You can find us on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.  

Creating a melted wax crayon canvas has been on my must-do-craft list for some time. When I found out Red Ted Art was hosting their 31 Days Of Love series I had the perfect excuse to make a Melted Crayon Heart Canvas.

DIY Melted Crayon Heart Canvas Supplies needed:

(affiliate links added for convenience)

* Two 18?x14? stretched canvases (US / UK)

* Hot glue gun and additional glue gun sticks

* 5 boxes of Crayola Wax Crayons (US/ UK)

* Contact paper

* Hair dryer

* Newspaper or old towels to protect the surrounding area

How to make a DIY Melted Crayon Heart Canvas:

1. Empty the five packets of Crayola Wax Crayons and sort the crayons into colour groups. Discard the brown, white and black crayons.

2. Draw a heart onto contact paper, cut it in half and stick each half to the canvas.

3. Position the wax crayons around the contact paper heart in their colour groups with the pointed end facing inwards. On one canvas I used the blue, green and yellow wax crayons and on the other canvas I used the purple, red, pink and orange shades. Each canvas has 43 wax crayons.

4. Use a hot glue gun to spread a thin layer of glue along each wax crayon. Gently push the crayon in place on the canvas, ensuring the Crayola label is on top. You only have a few seconds to apply the glue, place the crayon onto the canvas and position it correctly before the glue sets. If you do make a mistake it is possible to pull the crayon off, then carefully peel away the dried glue and try again. Repeat the process until all the crayons are attached to the canvas.

5. Cover your working area with newspaper or old towels. Melting the wax crayons can be quite messy.

6. Position the canvas so that when the hair dryer heats the crayons the wax drips down. I rotated the canvas every few crayons. Continually move the hair dryer up and down a group of three crayons until the wax starts to drip. The hair dryer can be used to spread the dripping wax across the canvas.

7. When I had finished melting the wax crayons on the outside of the heart there were too many stray pieces of melted wax across the inside of the heart. I made the decision to continue to melt the wax on the inside of the heart.

8. Display your Melted Crayon Heart Canvas. The two canvases could be positioned together to make the complete heart or slightly apart to showcase the two halves.

If you enjoyed our DIY Melted Crayon Heart Canvas please check out my other ideas at Adventures of Adam.

   
Humpty Dumpty Egg Splat Painting

Light Up Tree Canvas

Penguin Story Stones

During a difficult pregnancy suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) Emma vowed to make every day an adventure once she had recovered. Adventures of Adam is the outcome of completing a 100 day play challenge with her toddler as part of that promise. Emma has a section dedicated to HG friendly play activities so that Mums can still be part of their children?s play whilst they are ill.

Follow Emma on Facebook, Twitter,  Pinterest and Instagram.

Looking for more Valentine?s Day Decorating ideas?! Take a look at these 25+ wonderful ones!

We also have  25 Valentine?s Day Treats

And Valentine?s Day Cards Kids Can Make: 14 Valentine?s Day Cards for kids to make

Tags: 31 Days of Love, Crayon Art, crayons, DIY Melted Crayon Art, Gifts, gifts kids can make, heart, hearts, love, valentine’s day, Valentines, Valentines Decorations, wall art

Category: Art with Kids, Gifts, Gifts That Kids Can Make, Guest Post, How To’s, Kids Craft, Valentines

another blog with news

So, with my usual ?all or nothing? hat firmly in place for the approaching New Year, there?s going to be some obvious changes around here, and I hope you?ll bear with me.

Firstly, as with previous years, I am undertaking the Dry January challenge; giving up booze entirely for the month of January. Those of you who follow me on Twitter and Instagram will be aware that I am susceptible to the odd tipple, usually gin, and have often mulled over giving it all up. Here?s a snapshot from my Twitter feed, and it was a bit grim how much of this there was to choose from:

  
My Nan, who I love dearly, has been teetotal for decades. I joined her in the Shloer this Christmas, but soon fell off the wagon and was home-infusing cherry-roasted gins and buttery pear vodkas for friends for presents, and imbibing it myself. It?s no secret to anyone with a working set of eyes that I drink more than most, habits I picked up living in the City when a boozy work lunch was the norm and we rolled on through to the small hours. 

I received nine kinds of gin for Christmas, a gin encyclopedia, and a book on its history. More than one friend has sarcastically (or gently?) suggested that I seek out my local Alcoholics Anonymous. I?ve decided not to, for now, but will be putting away the booze for January and hopefully learning to fall asleep of an evening without a few hefty swigs of Mothers Ruin or most of an entire bottle of wine. I don?t even know why I?m putting all this out here, but I suppose this blog has always run on brutal honesty and curse words, so here we are. My head is a bit broken. That?s no secret. I?m functioning, and that?s the worst thing about it. Functioning means you can convince yourself there isn?t a problem. Functioning is, sadly, sometimes just that. And so no more. I can hold my hands up and say I mucked up. I made mistakes, I will undoubtedly make more, but for now, I am worried about how much I drink, so when the clock strikes midnight tonight, I?m stopping. Not so much a New Years Resolution as a love letter to my liver. I don?t want to just function any more. I want to thrive. Mm, vinegar and tonic over ice. Fresh juices. Balsamic vinegar and lemonade apparently tastes like Pimms. Bring it on. Less of this, although I will blog the recipe as so many have asked for it.

  

Secondly, I am going vegan for January. This shouldn?t be too difficult, as I write vegan recipes anyway, and most of the recipes in A Girl Called Jack either are vegan or can easily be scrawled in to make them vegan. As a Christmas present for a young new friend, I sat down with a marker pen and meticulously edited all but two of the 100 recipes in my first book to make them vegan-friendly, in an effort to help her learn to cook according to her diet and lifestyle. It was simpler than I thought, and seeing it on Instagram, several people suggested that I publish it as a new edition of the book. I like the suggestion, and it is on my To Do list, but as we all know, publishing is an unwieldy beast and it takes more than nice ideas and enthusiasm to get books onto bookshelves.

   
   
  
Thirdly, my training for the marathon will begin. Sober, vegan, and with a Fitbit donated to me by a gorgeous friend (the type that sits in your training vest so less a Fitbit than a Titbit?) I will be boring you all with my updates, as a few health issues may mar my training and I may need all the advice and help I can get. I?m running for Stonewall, I may have been drunk when I signed up (see point 1 about going sober), but the intentions are there and I will cross that finish line either cheering or on a stretcher, but I will cross it all the same. A fundraising link will follow when the Kickstarter is done and dusted.

And finally, the Kickstarter for my third book, Cooking On A Bootstrap (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/780456006/cooking-on-a-bootstrap-by-jack-monroe) is still going, and a phenomenal amount of copies ordered ? for yourselves, for schools, for libraries, for people on benefits and income support and disability living allowance and pensions, for friends, offspring, students. I could never have imagined it would get as big as it has, and as it is a pledge-to-order model, those of you who haven?t pledged can still order it. It will currently only be available through this Kickstarter so if you want it, you need to pledge for it!

And so that?s all the important updates about the month to come. I wish you all the very best for this evening, wherever you are and however you are celebrating, whether that?s with fireworks and kisses or whether that?s under the duvet grumbling about the fireworks and kisses, have a Happy New Year. And if you can?t have a happy one, just have one. Just get through. Just hold tight, and look after yourself, and lots of love.

If you find yourself needing them, the Samaritans are free to call on 116 123. Don?t suffer New Year in silence. This may warrant its own blog post but I?ll leave it here too.

Jack Monroe. You can follow me on Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr at @MxJackMonroe.

Glasgow Film Festival is delighted to announce its choice of films for the 2016 Opening and Closing Galas. The festival, which is supported by Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, Creative Scotland, the BFI and EventScotland, has chosen Hail, Caesar!, the UK premiere of the hugely-anticipated newest film from the Coen Brothers, starring George Clooney, Scarlett Johansson and Tilda Swinton, for the 2016 Opening Gala, fresh from its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival. The UK premiere of Anomalisa (read our review), Charlie Kaufmann?s utterly unique stop-motion animation, which won the Grand Special Jury Prize 2015 at Venice Film Festival, will close the festival. Both films will go on sale to the public on Monday 18 January. The full festival programme will be announced on Wednesday 20 January and go on sale on Monday 25 January. Guests attending screenings will be confirmed ahead of the festival.

Allison Gardner, Festival Co-Director, said ?We like to open the festival with something special to build audience excitement for the fortnight of films to come, and Hail, Caesar! is as big and beautiful a film as you can get. We are absolutely delighted to be screening the Coens? wonderful, all-star salute to Old Hollywood, and especially privileged to be hosting the film?s UK premiere. A rollicking good time to be had by everyone!?

Allan Hunter, Festival Co-Director, said ?Charlie Kaufman has a rare ability to blow your mind and warm your heart at the same time. Anomalisa is a one of kind experience that finds incredible depths of human emotion in the plight of its stop-motion animated characters. I am so thrilled that we will be closing with the UK premiere of one of the year?s most unforgettable films.?

OPENING GALA: Hail, Caesar! **UK PREMIERE**

Wednesday 17 February (7pm, second screening 10.15pm) | GFT

 Hail, Caesar! takes place during the latter years of Hollywood?s Golden Age, during the studio system?s heyday, and features an all-star cast including Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Alden Ehrenreich, Ralph Fiennes, Jonah Hill, Scarlett Johansson,Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton and Channing Tatum. The comedy follows a single day in the life of a studio fixer who is presented with plenty of problems to fix. Renowned directors Joel and Ethan Coen have been a prominent fixture in international cinema for more than 30 years. After their sensational debut Blood Simple (1984), the Coen brothers have enjoyed international successes with audiences and critics alike for films such as Fargo (1996, Academy Award® for Best Original Screenplay), No Country for Old Men (2007, three Academy Awards® in the categories Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film and Best Director), Burn After Reading (2008), A Serious Man (2009) and Inside Llewyn Davis (2013).?Hail, Caesar! is produced by Joel and Ethan Coen, and Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, through Mike Zoss Productions and Working Title Films. The film is released by Universal Pictures worldwide and will open in UK cinemas on 4 March 2016.

 

CLOSING GALA: Anomalisa **UK PREMIERE**

Sunday 28 February (7pm) | GFT

?The total achievement feels immense.? ***** THE GUARDIAN

?Predictably strange but soaringly profound.? ***** THE TELEGRAPH

This latest mesmerising masterwork from the beautiful mind of Charlie Kaufman is a one-of-a-kind romance. Michael Stone (voiced by David Thewlis) is a customer services guru with a thriving career that takes him all over the country. However, everyone and everything seems the same to him: almost all the other characters are voiced by Tom Noonan ? the hotel receptionist, an ex-girlfriend, even Michael?s wife and son. On a speaking tour in Cincinnati, Michael checks into the Hotel Fregoli and meets Lisa (Jennifer Jason Leigh). Lisa has a voice of her own. Lisa is extraordinary, and Michael knows it from the moment he sees her ? love is definitely in the air, but nothing is straightforward.  Topping many of 2015?s films of the year lists after a rapturous reception at Venice Film Festival, where it won the Grand Special Jury Prize, Anomalisa offers a plaintive exploration of all the little things that make us human. It is funny, charming, surprisingly erotic, deeply moving and completely, wonderfully irresistible. Distributed by Curzon, Anomalisa opens in UK cinemas on 11 March 2016.

this guide

With Christmas over and the rest of the winter still to come, we need to cheer ourselves up. What better way than to dream of a holiday somewhere warm and relaxing. This month?s round up is all about the Caribbean. If you hadn?t considered travelling that far for a bit of sun, sea and sand, have a read of the following posts: these families will give you some food for thought.

Jamaica

Sally (Who?s The Mummy?) travelled with her 10-year-old daughter Flea and praised the watersports facilities in Beaches Ocho Rios, and in particular the scuba-diving opportunities for Flea. Here?s what she has to say about the resort and the ?luxury included? ethos: Things to do at Beaches Ocho Rios.

Jamaica with a baby? Becky from The Mummy Adventure took her youngest child, Finn, as her travel companion and found the layout of Beaches Negril perfect for little ones. Reassured by the excellent crèche facilities, Becky and her babe in arms had a wonderfully chilled time at Beaches ? Negril.

With my baby now at university, I was accompanied by my husband, Dougie, who was perfectly happy trying out family-friendly activities. Breakfast with the Sesame Street characters? No problem. Having another go on the water slides? Yes, please! Unable to decide which resort we preferred, here?s a comparison: Taking a closer look at Beaches Ocho Rios and Beaches Negril.

Helen (Actually Mummy) and her family spent a week in Negril and made the most of the sports, excursions and swimming pools. The holiday was a huge success. Helen writes on her blog about the relaxing flights, fantastic food and excellent accommodation but here are her thoughts about what makes the resort ideal for children: The 7 best things for kids in Beaches Negril.

St Lucia

St Lucia was the destination for Jen (Jenography) and, with a teen and tween in tow, the sporting activities were a big hit. Unsure about whether an all-inclusive resort would suit her family, Jen was very pleasantly surprised and scored the holiday a perfect 5/5. St James?s Club Morgan Bay, St Lucia

Antigua

Cathy (Mummytravels) took her three-year-old daughter to Antigua and praised the shallow, sheltered bay where the Verandah Resort and Spa was situated. There is a wealth of information on Cathy?s blog about the resort but here are some useful things to remember about travelling with a toddler: Antigua: Travel lessons learned. 

If you?d like to know a little more about Antigua itself and its people, Susanna (A Modern Mother) has some fascinating insights, together with some excellent pieces of advice, many of which pertain to other Caribbean islands too: Antigua with kids: 16 important things to know before you go. 

Jen, Susanna and Cathy have highlighted the best bits of their Caribbean vacations here on BritMums: 14 ideas for kids in the Caribbean. 

All of the parent bloggers travelled to the Caribbean islands in October and all agreed that it was a great time to visit. Despite the forecast predicting daily rain, it was either very intermittent or non-existent. October half-term in the UK is off-season for these resorts so often there are good deals on offer.

For February?s travel round-up there won?t be a theme so I would love to share your blog posts about any recent trips in the UK or further afield. Get in touch via my blog or on Twitter @mumsgoneto.

See the home page

Life for the Kendalls has been burdened by grief and claustrophobia. Faced with caring for one child with special needs and another with PTSD, the family struggles for a sense of stability at home in their Staten Island, NY hamlet. When a secret from the past is revealed, it threatens to tear them apart.

Directed by Mark Kemble, the film stars Theo Rossi, Karen Allen, Michael Harney, Johnny Whitworth, Ashley Williams, Calvin Dutton, and Iris Gilad.

more computer news

Click here to go directly to the

A fantastic video essay from Every Frame A Painting?s Tony Zhou. It takes a close look at the ensemble staging in 2003?s Memories of Murder.

How do you emphasize to the audience that something is important? Well, you could always cut to a close-up, but how about something subtler? Today I consider ensemble staging ? a style of filmmaking that directs the audience exactly where to look, without ever seeming to do so at all

Panorama News

A new year begins with a wealth of possibilities for the season ahead. Here are ten of the biggest talking points on and off the track ahead of the 2016 F1 championship.

Can Mercedes? rivals close the gap this time?

Those who were eager to see Mercedes getting a tougher time from their rivals 12 months ago will be even more anxious to see the field close up this time. Despite Ferrari raising their game last year, the fading threat from Renault meant the three-pointed star managed to increase their points haul from 2014 to 2015.

Conventional wisdom suggests Mercedes will find it harder to find more pace having already exploited the opportunities available under the current rules more thoroughly than any of their rivals. But of course the same theory applied 12 months ago, and it didn?t work out that way.

Nonetheless Renault believe their late-season development work will put them on the right path for the year ahead, Honda expect they can make significant gains by correcting fundamental shortcomings with their 2015 power unit, and Ferrari will be better placed to give Sebastian Vettel ? Mercedes? closest rival last year ? a car which is more finely tuned to his requirements.

And even if none of that comes to pass, the final three races of last season indicated Nico Rosberg may be in a position to give Lewis Hamilton a much harder fight.

How will the new Renault go ? and look?

Will Renault revive their classic colours?After four years competing only as an engine manufacturer, Renault has thrown its weight behind a full factory programme, as it ran from 2002 to 2011 and 1977 to 1985.

Their most recent spell as a full constructor yielded two constructors? championships, saw Fernando Alonso take two drivers? titles, and produced 20 grand prix victories. Wisely, those in charge of today?s team have acknowledged that kind of success is not going to happen again soon.

What can be expected of them in the meantime? The Enstone squad is a lean but well-equipped operation which will benefit from the cash injection. The power unit is a weak link but not a completely unknown quantity as Lotus used Renault hardware most recently in 2014. The benchmark, however, is the similarly-equipped Red Bull squad who will be keen to prove they can achieve more with the Renault engine than the factory squad can.

Then there?s the small matter of the livery. A revival of the vivid Renault yellow of the original team, which reappeared in 2010, would add a much-needed splash of colour to F1?s grey grid.

Time for a line-up shake-up?

It?s hard to remember the last time an off-season passed with so little movement between the teams. Almost every driver has stayed put ahead of the new season, with Romain Grosjean?s switch to Haas the only change announced so far.

However early signs indicate that may be about to change. Hamilton and Vettel could both find themselves with new team mates for 2017 as Mercedes and Ferrari will decide whether to retain or replace the drivers alongside them. While Rosberg may land at another team Raikkonen?s stated preference to be in a competitive car could spell and end for his career.

A change at either of F1?s top teams could set off a chain reaction of moves further down the field. Potential candidates for departure include Felipe Massa and either of the McLaren drivers, particularly if Honda fail to make the necessary gains?

Can Honda build a competitive power unit?

Honda must deliver for McLaren in 2016McLaren were in the doldrums last year and the reason was painfully apparent. In twisty sectors the MP4-30 posted reasonable times but as soon as it hit a straight it was was devoured by almost every other car on the track.

At Suzuka its drivers were being overtaken on the approach to 130R where their rivals didn?t even have the assistance of DRS. That spelled out the team?s problem just as clearly as Alonso calling Honda?s power unit a ?GP2 engine?.

McLaren and Honda believe the compromises forced on the engine to meet the team?s aerodynamic goals are worth making and the design will bear fruit once basic problems with the engine?s configuration, which could not be addressed during last season, have been fixed. If that proves to have been the case and they regain the missing two seconds, they could immediately be at the sharp end of the midfield or better.

If it turns out they got it wrong, it will surely be time for one side of the equation to change.

How will F1?s first new team for six years perform?

Twelve months ago it seemed there might be just 18 cars on the grid for the upcoming season. However the 11th-hour rescue of Manor and the impending arrival of Haas means there should be 22 cars on the grid at Melbourne on March 20th.

The deep collaboration between Haas and Ferrari prompted questions from Mercedes to the FIA over the extent to which teams could co-operate on areas such as aerodynamic development. By leaning heavily on Ferrari, Haas have given themselves the best possible chance of hitting the ground running in March.

However last year?s tail-enders Manor are poised to leap forward as they switch from year-old Ferrari power units to what will no doubt remain the class-leading Mercedes. And with the vital FOM prize fund only being awarded to the top ten teams, both will be anxious to avoid ending the year 11th and last.

Will Force India and Sauber?s EU complaint be resolved?

Sauber and Force India want a ?fairer? F1After years of speculation that Formula One could face a challenge from the European Union, in September last year the news broke that Force India and Sauber had indeed set legal proceedings in motion. It is now in the hands of EU Competition Commissioner Margarethe Vestager to judge whether those running Formula One have rigged the game against the smaller teams via financial and political means.

The quickest resolution to this would be if the EU were to rule no such abuse is taking place. This would be an ideal result for Bernie Ecclestone, but as yet there?s indication which way things will fall. Vestager certainly has no qualms about taking on bigger fish than Formula One Management ? last year she pushed forward an antitrust case against Google.

F1 has been here before, of course. In May 1997 European Truck Racing broadcaster Wolfgang Eisele lodged a complaint with the European Commission regarding Ecclestone and the FIA?s control of motor racing television rights. It took four years for the parties to reach a settlement, and led to the division between FOM?s commercial responsibilities and the FIA?s regulatory which continues to this day.

A significant difference this time is the complaint has been brought not by an outsider but two F1 competitors, which adds another political dimension to what could be another long and drawn out legal tussle.

Is Max Verstappen the real deal?

Verstappen stunned with his passes last yearThe Max Verstappen hype reached fever pitch late last year as F1?s youngest ever driver executed some dazzling passes and claimed a pair of fourth place finishes.

He?s even been tipped by some as a potential replacement for Raikkonen at Ferrari next year ? though the grand old team of F1 seldom recruit drivers with as little as two years? F1 race experience, much less ones who are still teenagers.

It remains to be seen whether last year?s Ferrari power unit will be a more competitive proposition than this year?s Renault. It should at least offer a step forward in reliability for both Verstappen and his quietly impressive team mate Carlos Sainz Jnr. With only one rookie driver confirmed in the field so far, Verstappen has an opportunity to cement his position as F1?s hottest new talent.

How strong a hand will Ferrari play?

Ferrari must maximise its return from F1With new direction at the top from Sergio Marchionne, a new F1 team leader in Maurizio Arrivabene and with an eye fixed on the financial bottom line following its flotation on the New York Stock Exchange, Ferrari enters 2016 seeking to use its considerable political strength to shape the future direction of F1.

The latter months have seen the team use its veto to block a reduction in power unit prices, declare its readiness (not for the first time) to leave F1 if it is unsatisfied, and even tell Bernie Ecclestone he must prepare to hand over the reins of power.

On the track the team is seeking its first championship success in eight years. Off the track it is even better armed and prepared for the kind of fight it usually wins.

Will a 21-race calendar finally happen?

F1 is set to race in AzerbaijanA 21-round schedule was promised last year but with the German Grand Prix falling through and the Korean Grand Prix never a realistic proposition the championship ended up consisting of 19 events.

The chances all 21 races will go ahead this year are better, though still uncertain. Particular concern surrounds the United States Grand Prix, which has struggled to pay its bills to Ecclestone as the government has reduced its financial support. A similar situation has recently emerged concerning the Spanish Grand Prix, though the Circuit de Catalunya?s race is not thought to be in immediate threat.

The newest addition to the calendar, the European Grand Prix in Azerbaijan?s capital Baku, will be subject to the usual track inspections prior to its first appearance in the championship. While the country?s corruption problems and human rights abuses have not deterred F1 from heading there, the sudden devaluation of its currency in late December ? the manat lost 32% of its value against the US dollar due to falling oil prices ? could present problems.

Can F1 halt its popularity slide?

Formula One?s steadily falling television viewing figures have been widely reported for years, and a stagnant championship contest in 2015 did little to help matters.

There are isolated success stories ? audiences in the USA have steadily grown since NBCSN took over the broadcast. And FOM?s belated move to embrace social media last year may help in find new fans.

But the overall downward trend in F1?s viewing figures is a growing concern for all. It?s telling that Mercedes have even suggested they could change how they manage their two drivers in order to promote more racing between them if they remain as far ahead ahead in 2016.

Over to you

How do you think these questions will be answered? What else are you eager to learn about the year ahead?

And how were last year?s questions answered 12 months later?

2016 F1 season

Browse all 2016 F1 season articles

News from the Web

We continue on our 31 Days of Love series! Today we have a wonderful Fingerprint Keepsake for toddlers to make ? adorable Heart Canvases (you may also LOVE these Heart Footprint Keepsakes). Make these for friends and family at any time of the year or especially for Valentine?s Day.  For those not familiar with the series, I take January as an opportunity to highlight and show case some of my brilliant blogging and arty peers from around the web. Each day I invite a new Guest Blogger to share a gorgeous Valentine?s Day Craft for Kids ? as well as a little bit about themselves and their blog. You can keep track over the last crafts, as well as browse the Guest Posts from the last two years via 31 Days of Love, but I also try and group them into Valentine?s Day Decorations, Valentine?s Day Cards, Valentine?s Day Treats and Valentine?s Day Gifts for you browse, depending on what you are after! 

Thanks so much Maggy for inviting me to join your ?31 days of love series?.

Hello, I?m Louise and I usually blog at ?Messy little Monster?.  Please do pop over to see all the crafts, activities, and adventures I get up to with my little monster Harry (4) and his sister Daisy (16 months). You can also find us on facebook, pinterest, instagram or twitter.

I LOVE Valentines crafts and I especially love keepsakes that involve tiny fingers, hands or feet.  Do take a look at the thumbprint heart magnets I shared here last year and at our Fingerprint Heart Keyrings.

Fingerprint Keepsake Heart Mini Canvas

Today I am going to share with you a cute and very easy fingerprint heart craft.  I have found a perfect little poem to go with it too!

 

Fingerprint Keepsake Canvas ? You will need:

• Mini canvas and easel (You can get these cheaply instore or buy online UK link/ US link)
• Paint (we used acrylic)
• Sticky back plastic/ contact paper
• A heart shaped cutter to draw around

You may also want to print out this cute little poem to stick on the bottom of your canvas. (We also used this poem for these fingerprint hearts)

 How to make a keepsake fingerprint heart mini canvas

• Cut a piece of sticky back plastic to the size of your mini canvas.
• Cut a heart shape out of the middle of the sticky back plastic (TIP: Draw around a heart shaped biscuit cutter)
• Press the sticky back plastic onto the canvas. Make sure you press down hard around the edge of the heart shape.

• Dip your finger in paint and fill the cut out heart shape with fingerprints.

• Remove the sticky backed plastic. You will be left with a neat heart of fingerprints.
• Optional- Print off and stick the poem on the bottom of the canvas.

We chose to use 3 colours for each heart.  Harry decided to use light blue, dark blue and pink paint for his heart. I gave Daisy red, pink and white paint.  I put a small blob of each colour paint onto a paper plate for the children to dip their fingers in.  Harry carefully dipped his fingers into the paint and onto his canvas while Daisy seemed to enjoy mixing her colours together.

I hope you have fun creating your fingerprint keepsake. Which colours will you choose?

Here are a few more heart crafts from ?Messy Little Monster? that you might enjoy!

  

DIY Heart Mug

Edible art: Heart toast

Handprint keepsake poem (free printable)

Tags: toddlers, Valentines, love, valentine’s day, fingerprints, keepsakes, preschoolers, gifts kids can make, Valentines Gifts, 31 Days of Love, Valentines Decorations, valentines day gifts

Category: Kids Craft, Valentines, Art with Kids

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