“The General Assembly declares 4 to 10 October World Space Week to celebrate each year at the international level the contributions of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition”

UN General Assembly resolution, 6 December 1999

World Space Week is an international celebration of all things SPACE. It is the largest space event on Earth with a proud claim to more than 5,000 events celebrated in over 80 countries across the World! It even has its own dedicated website: https://www.worldspaceweek.org/ and a board of directors that help to ensure that there is a whole heap of resources available to help make the most of this extraordinary, cosmic event.

World Space Week encourages and supports ANYONE to create space education and outreach events.

With so many organisations, educators and families getting involved, it is an amazing opportunity to come together as a community of interested individuals to arrange and participate in such a large scale event. There's no strict rules about what you should be doing, as long as its space themed then its a celebration.

Check with your local council and clubs if there is an event near you. Many places of interest, such as parks, woodlands, museums, theme parks and public spaces with visitor centers etc often run events, especially for children and families so its worth looking around for any events that they may be holding. Everyone can get involved, schools, clubs and organisations, but if you can't find an activity that is happening near you, why not plan your own?

Any space related activity will do, from a drawing activity to big group quiz. You can create your own crosswords or write a story about your trip to the Moon! Build a space den, create an experiment, eat some space food... There are so many free resources available on the internet... all you have to do is explore the possibilities!

Well, as I am sure you may have guessed, we did not want to be left out of the Space Party!

So, we got our heads together and decided to do a Glowtopia Space Week event. Now, we had every intention of building a rocket, but honestly, we just didn't have enough cardboard to build a vessel we could all fit inside! We thought about trying to make our own miniature moon, creating a model solar system or even a life size planetarium... but in the end, the little people at Glowtopia outvoted us all.... and so fancy dress day it was!

And yes, you guessed it... if Glowtopia are doing a Space Week fancy dress day, it's going to be glowing!

Well, we were already off to a flying start with our Alien Eyes Headbands! We couldn't exactly have a space themed dress up and leave those out of the equation. I thought it would be a great idea to make the kiddies' heads the alien, and then have their bodies as the space...  The kids decided they HAD to have the Light Up Crazy Hair (it seems all aliens have a squiggly, coloured, tentacle type things spilling from their head!) that was easy...

Obviously it wasn't enough lights! We picked up some metallic star, planet and alien stickers, and the kids had great fun sticking them all over their black tops and trousers, but to make sure they really stood out, we had to get some "dazzling" stars on there too... So, we went and got our LED micro lights and wrapped them around them T-Shirts. If you do this at home, please be careful! DO NOT wrap the light strings anywhere near the neck area, we wrapped ours in an X around the front and back going over the shoulder and under the arms so as not to move around and get caught up. DO NOT leave children unattended while wearing the string lights!

Now that we had finished with our space outfit, Alien eyes and Alien hair, it was just the facepaint left to go. We copied the eyes from the headbands on the eyes of the kids, making wide white circles on the whole eye area, and with their eyes closed we painted coordinating coloured pupils and iris to match. We painted an alien body shaped design over half of the face in colours that matched the headbands, gave a few space spots to the aliens, and painted little white alien claw feet (a bit like a crab).

Nope.... still not enough! So we added some highlights with our UV Neon face paint and used our new chunky glitters to add a bit of detail to the faces and just like that, with the speed of light (well not quite) we have 3 mega little martians ready to celebrate World Space Week!

We really hope you join in the fun this World Space Week.... and beyond!

Whatever you do, wherever you go, take that giant leap for mankind and always reach for the stars!

In case you missed it, early 2019 fashion trends saw a massive revival of the 1980s Neon fashion statement with high street clothing retailers adding bright bold accessories and clothing lines to liven up the winter days and long nights. Of all the 80s fashion trends, it is undoubtedly the neon craze which left an unrivaled imprint on us back in the day, and throughout the decades as seen in all our 80s style cos play and themed dress ups. It has remained a staple statement for all rave wear, hen parties and charity dress ups and has continued to make an appearance in sportswear ever since, but this year it has made a come back on the catwalk and on the streets and doesn’t seem to be waning anytime soon.

So, we wanted to get a head as we move into Autumn with our brand new neon range of clothing accessories – and what better way to launch the range then with some top tips on how to wear neon to rock your look with a fresh new vibe.

However you decide to get your neon on this Autumn/Fall, we hope you find our tips helpful to ensure your look radiates wherever you are.

For most of us, we are almost approaching the half way point of the long School Summer Holiday break. Many of us would have packed our bags and had our Summer vacation as soon as the children break up from school, and the rest of us are either still waiting for the big holiday or trying to keep sane while saving the pennies for a holiday later in the year or beyond. Whatever your situation, as we get half way through there's always that burden of running out of ideas to keep the kids occupied, or finding the cost of taking time off work, childcare and keeping them entertained is starting to eat away at the funds and our rationality.

Here at Glowtopia, we have put together some fun, free and cost effective tips and tricks to get you through the second half of the holidays. We couldn't help to add a glowing twist to some of the ideas, because.... well that's just what we do.... and we figured that if you are working in the day, it will give you some ideas of things to do when it starts to get dark.

I strongly recommend you print out a planner for the holidays and stick it to the fridge or pin it on the notice board for all the family to see. It takes so much pressure off the holidays if everyone can see what days things are planned and what days are "pyjama days", "chill days" or "home days". If the kids are in holiday clubs or you have to work, put those dates on there too, as well as the fun stuff. It helps everyone to adjust to the lack of routine and it will give focus for counting down to all the days out you do have planned.

That said, you can take it a little further.... Whether you are taking the kids and the dog for a walk, or you're packing up for a week's camping, take a little time out to plan ways to make it a bit special. Obviously, if its a holiday, the level of planning is going to resemble a military operation, but if you're just taking the kids to the park, put it on the planner and discuss with them before you go on ways to make it more of an adventure. Can you meet up with friends? Can you bring things with you? Maybe organise a couple of activities such as a bug hunt, treasure hunt, or simple family games like "What's the time, Mr Wolf". You'll be amazed at how much fun you can have if everyone contributes to the ideas and builds a little anticipation for fun, family bonding before you go. It also actually helps to teach children some important life skills such as prioritising, making arrangments, time-keeping and if you're planning as part of a group, it also teaches them how to compromise!

Yep - I am serious!

Aside from the fact that teaching the little people that the bank of mum and dad isn't an infinite pot of money and there is a limit to the days out and expenses that one can afford over the Summer, it is actually quite good for small people in other ways too. If managed well, when children get bored it can open the mind to opportunities to fill that empty time with something creative and imaginative. So first up, make your family a boredom jar - it really couldn't be any easier.

All you need is an empty jar, any jar or container will do, and sit down with the family to make a list of some jobs and activities. I used lolly sticks from a craft store when I made my first boredom jar as it was easier for little hands to pull out a stick, but now we write our tasks on a piece of paper, fold them and pop them inside the jar. Our boredom busters include activities for indoors and outdoors - from lego challenges, story writing and singing.... but also chores and jobs like cleaning their room, sweeping the floor and feeding the fish. If you click on the pictures below, you'll find links to our favourite templates on Pinterest!

And whilst I fully sympathise with the parental pains that accompanies those endless cries of "I'm bored!" there is plenty of evidence that being bored has its benefits for children (check out this article). Being bored will actively trigger the imagination to try and fill that empty space in time. So even though it may sound as though the siblings are going to argue for an eternity, or the tantrums and whining may feel like it's spiraling to a new level, their creativity and imagination will (eventually) kick in and will teach them a bit about resourcefulness and how to entertain themselves - a really important ability for growing minds and for fostering a healthy attitude to different situations.

All kids love building dens, and with so many possibilities, its such a versatile activity for all the family.

You can plan a trip to the woods, many of which like the National Trust Parks run den building sessions, or you can search online for den building tips before you go. If there's an abundance of large sticks and branches you can build a den that you can get in yourself, but if you can only find little sticks and twigs, build a hedgehog house instead.

If you're stuck indoors on a rainy day you can create a den in a bedroom or even on the sofa using blankets, sheets and pillows. Give your den a theme such as a reading den, games den or movie den, or if you're feeling really adventurous, make it a sleepover den and bring a friend. It's a great family bonding activity for afternoons and evenings if you have had to work during the day and want to spend some quality time with the kids.

If you have the supplies, you can always make a den in the garden. A tent would work well, but don't let it stop you if you don't have one. You can use tarpaulin, blankets (if you don't mind them getting damp overnight), play tents or really get to grips with the DIY and build one from scratch like this tutorial from the Eden Project.

And if we're talking dens, well the best time to get the most out of your garden or indoor den is when it starts to get dark... and the best thing for dens in the dark has got to be some glowing stuff! It doesn't matter what stuff, but as long it glows you will keep the kids occupied for hours.

Our ultimate favourite den must have has got to be our Interactive Glow Pillows - if any home accessory was made for camping, dens and sleepovers it has to be this!! All dens need a comfy pillow, but with a dual purpose, glowing aspect that you can create your own games and designs on, you won't regret treating the kids. Play tic tac toe, draw pictures and write secret messages that will glow and fade so you can start again.

If you have any glow sticks floating around, you can use these to make an ambient light source that you can hang inside the den. If you're using a tent, tie some to the guide lines so they can be easily seen. You can also stake a few sticks around the outside so it can be easily seen. They are lovely when you pop one in an empty jar to make a decoration for the den. You can use LED string lights to drape around the outside and hang inside the tent to add some gorgeous illuminated decorations too! We also love colour changing LED lamps - they also release a beautiful, calming ambient light which changes colour automatically. They make perfect night lights so they are ideal for sleepovers in a den, but if you wanted to it to feel a bit more traditional and old fashioned, you could use LED candles instead, they do look beautiful!

We all know the British weather has its ups and downs, but one of the best things to do with the kids is go to outside. Whether it will be sitting in the garden, taking a stroll, or getting to the beach, it really is important. Check out your local on What's On Guide, local newspaper and those little family magazines that usually turn up on your doorstep or in your child's school bag near the end of term.

There are generally lots of free activities you can join in with in your local community. There may be local fun days, council funded events such as firework displays and Summer sports for all events. You can find volunteer groups that will go on conservation activities such as litter picking or park and pond care, which is an excellent opportunity for educating children in a community spirited and fun way. If you search the internet you'll certainly find free, downloadable bug hunt packs, bird watching tick sheets, foraging and exploring ideas and outdoor crafts, but if getting about is a problem, there are garden activities you can do together, whether that be adapting the park ideas on a smaller scale, playing games, having a picnic, creating a vegetable patch or even some messy play and a paddling pool. The main thing is getting outdoors in the fresh air and giving the little people a break from TV screens and devices. It's good for the health and the mind, and you'll be thankful when the kids go back to school that you spent that time with them. We love Glow in the Dark games and there's lots of ideas where you can adapt your favourite games and add a glowing spin such as Glow in the Dark Hoopla (using glow stick), Light Up Tennis (using LED balls), Glow Ker-Plunk, Glow Bowling and many more! (Check out Pinterest for inspiration)

We never forget our best holidays, and the Summer Holidays are so long there's always so much excitement, but when we get back to the normal school routines those memories can quickly fade. So this Summer, make a conscious effort to talk about the holidays and things you have done. Ask the children to keep a diary and to write about the best things they have done and why. Not only will this give them something to look back on and makes a special keepsake in their childhood memory boxes, but its also a good, practical way to keep their minds active and continue the writing practices that they do at school so they can hit the new school year running. Take lots of photos and collect lots of little keepsakes and treasures from your adventures, and then on those rainy days you can print the pictures and make family collages and a photo montage of the holiday, and make a memory box to store all the little valuables.

So whether you are going abroad, having a staycation, or enjoying the comfort of your home surroundings this Summer, fill it with as much fun and family time as you can, and make those special memories that you will always look back on in years to come with a smile.

Happy Holidays to you all, from all of us here at Glowtopia!

Party with PRIDE and radiate in RAINBOW

Check out our radical range of rainbow coloured adornments. From get up gear to awesome accessories, bold body paints to wonderous wands - be proud and loud with Glowtopia!

Our radiant rainbow coloured accessory pack contains the ultimate essentials you need to celebrate with chromatic charisma!

Only £9.99 (saving over 30%)

Brand new and just for Pride we have stocked this funky fedora to bring the rainbow to the rally.
From £2.60

We want to share the glow this Summer, and what better way than to run a little freebie giveaway just in time for the school Summer holidays and some pretty big festivals and camping adventures!

Our Festival Glow Pack is an ideal package for the August bank holiday, Summer Camp, Kids' Clubs and of course.... Festivals! But even if you're having a "Staycation" this Summer, this party pack is still a great bit of fun for adults and kids - why not build a den or camp in the garden and enjoy glowing family fun at home.

It's super simple to be in with a chance of winning...

1. Like Our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/glowtopia/

2. SHARE this competition post on our facebook page

3. TAG 3 friends

Pack contains:

• 10x 12″ Mega Glow Batons
• 4x Glow Caps
• 4x Glow Glasses Connectors (each use 2x Glow Bracelets)
• 100x Glow Bracelets
• 2x UV Paint Sticks

On 23rd July 2019 at midday we will select one winner at random and announce it on our page. The winner will be tagged in the post and we will send you a direct message to get your delivery details. We will even cover the cost of postage and packaging!

GOOD LUCK!!
From everyone at team Glowtopia!

Gay Pride is a world-wide celebration of colour with street marches, dancing, rainbow coloured outfits, and a whole load of fun in honour of social and self acceptance, the LGBT achievements, the evolution of legal rights and of course... a show of PRIDE! What started out as a demonstration of human rights almost 50 years ago, has grown and gained momentum all across the western world with many Gay Pride Parades now promoted as a tourist event. These parades such as Brighton and London City attract over 300,000 people each year, and can proudly boast that they boost the local economy as well as supporting many charities and trusts. With this many people in attendance Pride Parades have evolved from a Parade into a Festival with a Carnival-like atmosphere, often including Concerts, Beer stands, Food traders, Barbeques, Sports and Games, with activities for families and a welcoming vibe of inclusion for everyone.

But behind all the glitter and extravagance there is a historical significance to the parade.

The 1960s were not welcoming times for LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender). It was illegal to display ‘homosexuality’ in public, for people of the same sex to dance together and people were forbidden from selling alcohol to gay people.

A Bar in New York City had set itself up as a place for LGBT people to go and completely be themselves without the risk of being arrested! However because the Bar was operating without a liqueur license, in 1969 it was raided by the New York City police. One lady was hit over the head by a police officer, resulting in a gathering crowd which grew larger until eventually it turned into a full blown riot, in which 13 people were arrested.

Police officers came from all over the city to help control the riot, they managed to disperse the crowd and control the situation. However this wasn’t the end, merely the beginning. The following six days, demonstrations continued to take place outside the Bar, with thousands of people showing up to express their solidarity.

This was a breaking point for the LGBT community, a group of activists pleaded to the Easter Regional Conference of Homophile Organizations (ERCHO) in Philadelphia to allow them to hold a march to commemorate the one year anniversary of the raid. The proposal was for an annual march with no dress code or age restrictions. The plea had been accepted, and the activists began planning their march.

Word spread, and San Francisco decided to commemorate the riot, by holding their own march in which 30 people attended. Since then, word has spread worldwide, with not only major cities, but towns now holding their own march. The march has now turned from a walk through the streets to a full blown festival; Pride festival, celebrating, raising awareness and campaigning for the freedom to allow the LGBT community to live their lives on a genuinely equal footing.

In 2016, 1 million people took to the streets of San Francisco to attend the Pride Festival.

For a full summary of the History of Gay Pride have a read; How Activists Plotted the First Gay Pride Parades.

Gay Pride Festivals across the UK begin as early as February, with the majority of parades taking place between June and August, and continuing until the end of September. We have the biggest Pride Festival in Dorset next weekend 12th - 14th July in Bournemouth! https://bournefree.co.uk/

So what are you waiting for? Cover yourself in body paint, grab some rainbow Pride Accessories and get yourself down to your next local Gay Pride Festival!

To find out how you can get involved with your local Gay Pride Festival; head on over to Pink UK.

To find out more about this year's San Francisco festival read the San Francisco Chronicle's review here. 

Check out this footage:

https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/video/4115449-san-francisco-pride-parade-2019-segment-17/

We’ve also created a Pinterest Board to give you some inspiration and ideas on how you can get your bright and colourful Pride Glow this year!

Your feedback is super important to us, so when you tell us something, we are all ears!

Our lovely customers asked for our party bag fillers to be all in one place to make it easier to browse, and so a few newsletters ago we shared the link to our new Party Bag Fillers category. You were right! Our little loot items have been flying out the warehouse ever since, so as another thank you, we want to give you money off any party bag fillers you purchase for the rest of 2019!!

Planning a party always begins with endless lists of what you want... from food options to playlists and everything in between. One thing is for sure, whatever party you're planning: wedding reception; engagement or anniversary celebration; hen do; stag do; big birthday bash; for adults or children; you will want to have as many photos as possible to remember it.

Some years ago, at every wedding and big celebration you could find a disposable camera on every table with a request to the guests to snap away. Things have progressed since, and now at many parties you'll have the opportunity to take advantage of a photo booth service, with many suppliers offering a wide range of package options to suit your event. And whilst I've seen many different types of booths for weddings and birthdays from walk in photo machines with digital backgrounds and automatic photo settings to lavishly set up backdrops with an on-hand photographer, I haven't actually seen any with the added wow factor of light up accessories. Well... not until I planned a party myself that is....

Once you've decided on your photo booth or self station, whether you've picked a package or designed your own, you'll need to think about what your props are going to be. The only light up props I've seen at a party photo booth were the ones I brought with me, so I'm sure you'll be setting a new trend and wowing your guests if you include some flashing novelties for them to dress up in. That's not to say you should over do the lights, a good selection of accessories to wear and hold, LED and not, are going to make a lasting impression and provide a whole load of fun for you and your guests. Variety is everything, so you will want to offer quite a few options; the more variety you offer, the more unique combinations your photos will have.

Consider whether you are looking to theme your party booth, for example: vintage, gangster and molls, neon and rave etc, or whether you want to have a random and eclectic mix of silly and sensible that people can just dig in and get snapping. Like I've recommended in other posts, check out Pinterest to see what other people are doing to get some inspiration. If you decide to go with a rented booth, you can just skip on down to my top suggestions for accessories. If you're going down the DIY route, keep reading...

For a DIY Photo booth, you do not need to spend a fortune. The most important thing is having a camera, ipad etc with a timer feature and preferably a tripod or stand so that everyone who wants to be in the picture can be, without leaving one person out to press the button or asking the nearest person to take your picture for you. If you hop on over for a quick look at our Pinterest saved board: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/GlowtopiaUK/glowtopias-favourite-photo-booth-posts/ we have saved our favourite ideas, instructables, tips and tricks for creating your own photo booths and selfie stations, so you'll find plenty of ideas to help from Polaroids to iPads to traditional cameras.

The backdrop for your booth can be as extravagant or as simple as you want. Some of the prettiest effects I have seen are simple voile curtain panels with fairy lights - from simple micro lights to twinkling, coloured or shaped string lights; and they look absolutely stunning set up outside in a gazebo or even just hanging from a large tree, so you don't have to stick to an indoor booth. You could make some paper or artificial flower decorations such as garlands, wreaths and pom poms, position the booth around a door or window which you can dress with string lights, flowers or other themed props. For vintage parties you could add a beautiful chair, some large vintage picture frames which you can pick up for a bargain in a charity shop or boot sale, and present your props from a vintage suitcase.  If you're going for a real party vibe, go for neon backdrops and bright and colourful lights and props. The cheapest and funkiest idea we've seen is picking up different coloured plastic table cloths and using them to make a rainbow backdrop, but we also love UV paint splats on black paper or vinyl rolls, neon poster prints, neon signs and frames painted in UV and neon colours.

We recommend you check out this amazing blog : https://junebugweddings.com/wedding-blog/7-tips-creating-seriously-fun-diy-photo-booth/ for the best tips complete with lots of photos to inspire you.

Happy snapping for your big party photo opportunities, whatever you decide to do. We hope you have lots of fun and make lots of lasting memories.

Glow Sticks are literally gathering whirlwind momentum at weddings right now. It is big business in the U.S and now it has landed on British soil. This popular craze is largely thanks to the super value of large quantities of glow sticks, the versatility of the product, and the simple fact that they are lots of fun for adults and children - who doesn't love to crack a glow stick? There are so many ways you can incorporate Glow Sticks into the special day, from wedding favours to waving send offs, but whatever you want to with your glow sticks, we think these magical little light sticks deserve their very own space to glow.... "The Glow Stick Bar".

There are so many ideas floating around on the internet, and the best of them can be found on Pinterest. If you decide to do a little bit of research into the idea, take a look at our Pinterest Boards, and check out our favourite Pins in the Illuminated Weddings Board https://www.pinterest.co.uk/GlowtopiaUK/boards/. In the meantime, we have put together this blog to give you a bit of inspiration and provide you with some free downloads so you can make the most of your Glow Sticks for a truly wonderous wedding.

Whether you go for Glow Stick favours or a Glow Stick Bar, you can give your glow sticks the personal touch with your own special message or dedication uniquely designed and printed for you. Here at Glowtopia, we will work with you to create your own custom made template, and we can either heat press or use our special transfer printing to each glow stick. Not only will your glow sticks be unique to you, but they make a special momento for your wedding memory box, and your guest will be affectionately impressed at the detail and sentiment.

You can find out more about our personalised glow sticks here, or take a quick look here at all our branded products. We recommend the 6 inch Premium Glow Sticks, 12 inch Premium Mega Glow Glow Sticks and our Premium Glow Stick Candles for personalisations - and remember, we will design your message for you, and can match with most themes and typefaces to compliment the rest of your wedding stationary.

Our final Glow Stick wedding wonder is the simply stunning send off. Its a wonderful way to wave the wedding party along as they embark on their new life together.... and it looks absolutely amazing in the photos! Don't take our word for it, hop on over to our Pinterest Illuminated Wedding Board and see for yourself.

Probably the most simplest but most effective of all the glow stick ideas - all you need is enough Glow Stick Necklaces for your guests, we supply these in a range of colour options in tubes of 50, a large vase strategically placed near to where the happy couple will be leaving the venue, a 10x8 frame and a print out of our send off template!

1. DO NOT SNAP AND ACTIVATE THE STICKS IN ADVANCE! Half the fun of glow sticks is in the snap, and you will want the glow to last as long as possible so however you intend to use or display your glow sticks, leave that bit for the guests.
2. When cutting the slits in 8 inch glow stick labels, for best results use a scalpel or craft blade. If you don't have one available, lightly fold the label in half on the vertical, and make a small snip at the fold with scissors.

2019 is the year of the Pig, the twelfth and last sign of the Chinese Zodiac. Legend has it, that the Pig arrived late to the Jade Emperor's Party because he overslept, and therefore was placed last in the Zodiac.

The Year of the Pig begins on the 5th January 2019 and marks the start of the Chinese Spring Festival which ends on February 19th. The Pig is a symbol of wealth and fortune (those chubby little faces give it away), and those born in the year of the Pig are said to be warm-hearted, good-tempered, loyal and honest... albeit a bit lazy at times! Your lucky colours are gold and yellow and your lucky numbers are 2, 5 and 8. But be aware, your unlucky colours are red, blue and green.

Whether you're born in the year of the Pig, or you are planning to hold your own festivities to mark the start of the Chinese New Year Spring Festival, have a quick read through of our ideas of things to make, do, show and glow. So if you were waiting for an excuse to make some crafty stuff (with or without the little people), or want an excuse to go crazy with the take away at your local Chinese, and a party seems like the one then read on!

This one is super easy and a perfect craft for kids. With a little grown up detailing and embellishment they can also look pretty cool for grown up dinner parties too.

All you need is some card or paper, scissors and either glue, sticky tape or even a stapler... that's it! To add some GLOW power, you'll also need either glow sticks or an LED tea light. Obviously being the year of the Pig, you'll want to bring some luck into the makings, so either get some yellow or gold paper or card, or decorate a white or black sheet with yellow paints, pens, embellishments - we love gold marker pens and fine liners to make chinese letterings, but for a real splurge go for gold origami papers or craft / scrapbook papers, both available in a wide variety of plain or patterned designs, textures and finishes.

With your chosen paper and scissors at the ready, cut a 1/2 strip from the short end of the paper for the handle.

Fold the paper in half along the long edge - you want to have a horizontal fold line in the middle of the lantern once it is put together - and keeping the scissors at the folded edge cut along the folded paper towards the open edges, evenly spaced and leaving approximately 1/2 inch uncut at either end. How you space the splits depends on the look you want and the size of the paper - the more slits the more light shines through, but they will be less sturdy. Use a pen and a ruler if you want it to be symmetrical.

Open the piece of paper, and apply some glue or tape to one of the short edges where the slits end, curl the paper around and join to the opposite short edge. If using a stapler simply staple at the top and bottom after making the curl.

Attach the handle by placing one end of the strip inside the top of lantern, curling it over, and attaching it to the other side of the top of the lantern - again using glue, sticky tape or staples.

And that's it, a super simple lantern.

For a standing lantern, use an LED tea light and place the lantern over it - please do not use real candles, they are a fire risk!
If you are hanging the lanterns and still want the glow, all you need is some 4 inch or 6 inch glow sticks. Cut the included lanyard to size, make a hole where each handle is attached to the lantern, and thread the lanyard through the holes. Cut the length and tie with a knot to keep it in place. If you were already using a stapler or sticky tape, you could also attach the lanyard thread with these.

Another quick and easy decoration for the home or garden and suitable for both adults and children are coloured tea light holders. They are cost effective and make really pretty table centrepieces and ornamental decorations for lots of events.

The simplest version is the Paper Bag Lantern - Super popular for outdoor events and weddings and all you need are paper bags and LED tea lights or glow sticks. If you want to get an extra Chinese New Year spin on them you only need a few simple craft supplies to transform them.

For kids, we quite like the idea of using pink paper bags like loot/party bags in pink, and drawing (or if you are super committed, try cutting out) a pig design. Alternatively, buy yellow paper bags and write the Chinese symbols for "Happy New Year" or "Pig" in black felt tip pen. If you are happy to stick with the plain white paper bags, you can decorate them with paints, tissue paper, pens and decorative punches, or leave them plain and pop in a pink or yellow glow stick instead.

Next you can cut out simple star shapes from card or paper - again we like yellow the best, and using a bit of double sided sticky tape, attach the stars to glitter LED tea lights to make a super quick but effective tea light decoration.

Lastly, if you want to put a little bit more time into the crafting, get yourself some yellow or gold tissue paper, PVA glue and up-cycle some jam jars. Tear the tissue paper into rough square pieces and glue to the inside of the clean jars. Pop in your LED tea light or glow stick and you have a pretty lucky coloured tea light holder. We like to add a bit more sparkle and detail to our tea light jars, so we added a gold glitter glue detail to the rim and added the Chinese symbol for Pig to the outside.

We love crafting up ideas for unique ways to use our Glow Sticks and Glow Stick Novelties, and we are especially pleased with our Piggy Power Glow Stick Glasses.

This is a really simple craft idea for kids that they will absolute love! All you need is a pair of Pink Glow Stick Glasses, pink paper or card, black marker pen and sticky tape.

Using your sticky tape as a template, draw a circle on the pink paper or card. Cut out the circle and draw two oval shapes in black pen. Activate the glow sticks and assemble the glasses. Finally, using the sticky tape, attach the paper snout to the glasses, and you have a pigging perfect pair of piggy glowing glasses!!

No Chinese New Year celebrations would be complete without a little bit of Origami. So we got our heads together to try and think of some ways we can make an Origami Piggy glow.... and well we are pretty impressed with our resulting Origami Piggy Glow Stick Wand! But if wafting wands isn't really on your agenda this Chinese New Year, fear not, we think these are pretty spectacular when used for flower pics and balloon sticks.... or forget the holding stick and pop a glow stick in the body and use it as a little light decoration.

Depending on your creativity, skill and age level, there are a lots of different designs you can go for. We loved this free standing pig posted by wikihow; the steps include photos and videos, its not too complicated and it looks awesome!

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-an-Origami-Pig 

Once you've made your Origami pig, all you need is a glow stick of your choice and attach it into the underside opening with sticky tape - you can use 12 inch Premium Mega Glow Sticks for a sturdy, long lasting superior glow, or if you're on a budget or making these for a class of children, our 8 inch Glow Stick Bracelets are a great cost effective alternative. To make the Origami Pig Light, we just used a 6 inch Premium Glow Stick, but you could use our 4 inch Glow Sticks instead depending on the size of your finished folded pig.

The last idea we had make for great decorations for the kids.

We took our ILooms Pink LED Balloons and our Premium Neon Pink UV Balloons to make these ultra cool illuminated balloons.

Its so easy.... just inflate the balloons and draw on a cute pig face, pig chinese lettering or whatever pig designs you can imagine. That's it!

We hope you have enjoyed this Blog, and most importantly we hope that you enjoy the celebrations.

Happy Chinese New Year from the team at Glowtopia!