Jen Walshaw | Mum In The Madhouse

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Author name: Jen Walshaw

Mum-in-charge Jen Walshaw runs the UK’s top parenting blog Mum in the Madhouse, and she describes herself as a “fat, feisty and over 50” Northerner. Based in North Yorkshire, she’s mum to young adults and a big believer that family life is messy, creative and fun. In 2009 a double mastectomy gave her the nudge to start blogging; with two boys under three she needed an outlet and a digital scrapbook to capture their chaos.Jen’s posts are a mix of crafts, kid‑friendly recipes and honest parenting, peppered with northern humour. She’s happiest when up to her elbows in tea, fabric and pizza dough – sewing and making homemade gifts – before sneaking off to write about it. As a proud Northerner she warns PRs that a “quick pop down to London” isn’t quick at all. Her blog has earned her a stack of accolades, including the Cision #1 Mummy Blogger title in 2024  and consistently topping Vuelio and Tots100 parenting‑blog charts. Whether she’s advocating for diversity and body neutrality or sharing tales of parenting teens, Jen keeps things chatty, real and refreshingly down‑to‑earth.

Five fab printables for scrap fabric paper dolls, inspired by the vintage paper dolls. A fantastic DIY kids craft to recycle and reuse scrap fabric. Scrap fabric paper dolls are such a fun DIY craft for children and a great way to practice scissor skills. Kids can also colouring them in or even dress them with scrapbooking paper.

DIY Scrap Fabric Paper Dolls – Fun Craft for Kids

22 Comments / Age 2-5, Age 5-7, art, childrens craft, crafts, Free Printables, Process Art, Teen / By

Scrap Fabric Paper Dolls These scrap fabric paper dolls are inspired by the paper dolls that I used to play with when I was a child.  Do you remember them, the books for dolls and paper clothes that you used to colour and play with for hours and hours?  I have teamed up with the

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Pork Loin and Sweet Potato Fries – Easy Cooking with Kids

14 Comments / cooking, cooking with children, Mains, receipe / By

Wednesday nights are our kryptonite.  Both boys have to be at after school clubs and have other commitments, so dinner needs to be fast, filling and family friendly.   Plus I go food shopping on a Thursday, so by Wednesday, we tend to be eating from the freezer and when McCain challenged us to make

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A DIY clay recipe and beautiful DIY Clay Easter bunting a great kids DIY craft for Easter. This DIY clay recipe has only two ingredients and you can colour on it with markers and felt tips. It has to be seen to be believed.

DIY Clay Easter Bunting – Fun and Easy Kids Craft Tutoria

11 Comments / Age 2-5, Age 5-7, art, childrens craft, crafts, Easter, Easter Crafts, Tween / By

This DIY Clay Easter bunting is so simple to make using just two ingredients and makes perfect DIY clay decorations.  We have turned ours into easter bunting.  I love this two ingredient DIY clay recipe as you can draw on it with felt tips or sharpies making it great for kids of all ages.

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DIY Rainbow Rainmaker – Easy Cardboard Tube Craft for Kids

22 Comments / Age 2-5, Age 5-7, art, childrens craft, crafts, Spring, Spring, Tween, Upcycling / By

We love crafts that can be made from recyclables and this rainbow rainmaker is a great cardboard tube craft, plus is a great home made musical instrument.  There are lots of ways to adapt this project depending on the age of your kids, however, we decided to use some of my massive stash of washi tape

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