Stabilo Fibre Tip Pens and Coloured Pencils

Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

We all know how tough it can be to keep the kids entertained during the school holidays. You get a few weeks of lovely sunshine in the run-up, then as soon as school’s out -down comes the rain! And as much as I’d love to pack our days with trips to the cinema, bowling alley or soft play, let’s face it, it soon gets expensive so it’s not an option for most parents.

That’s why I’m such a big fan of keeping it simple. You really can’t beat a good old-fashioned colouring session to keep little hands (and minds!) busy. Felt tips and colouring pencils might not sound like much, but they’re absolute lifesavers in our house – and STABILO have a brilliant range that makes colouring and craft sessions a lot of fun.

The STABILO Cappi felt tip range have clever caps so you can thread them together and fasten the set to a bag or a carabiner which is perfect for keeping them all in one place, especially when you’re out and about. It also means no lost lids too! The triangular shape is comfy for small hands to grip, and they come in packs of 12 or 24 vibrant colours.

If you’ve got younger kids who tend to press a bit too hard, the STABILO Trio Scribbi is a game-changer. These pens are practically indestructible thanks to their spring-loaded tip. Press down too hard and the tip just bounces back – no more ruined pens! Plus, the water-based ink is washable (thank goodness), and they come in 14 bright colours.

Then there’s the STABILO Woody 3-in-1 – a chunky pencil that works as a colouring pencil, wax crayon, and even a watercolour for the more adventurous, simply add a splash of water and with a small paintbrush the little ones will soon be creating  masterpieces for your walls. They’re also great for craft projects as they can be used on windows, lunchboxes, mirrors, and blackboards too. The colour wipes off easily with water, and the thick lead lasts for ages – eight times longer than a regular pencil! Available in 24 shades, these have been a big hit with our little ones.

As well as drawing we’ve been making homemade cards for birthdays and using colouring books too. There’s also loads of free printable sheets online too if you want something different.

So next time the kids say those dreaded words – “I’m bored!” – hand them a rainbow of STABILO colours and let their imagination do the rest. They’re affordable, portable and most importantly fun!!

Stabilo Pens

Disclaimer: we received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

When it comes to stocking fillers, pens are a fantastic choice for both children and adults alike. Whether for school, work, or creative projects, STABILO offer such a wide variety of pens that it’s easy to find a set for everyone.

The STABILO Trio DECO Metallic pens are a great choice for children or crafters, with eight shimmering metallic colours, these pens are perfect for creating dazzling Christmas masterpieces, especially on dark paper. Their bold, vivid colours and metallic shine make them ideal for a variety of art projects, from cards to festive decorations. Designed with children in mind, the ergonomic triangular grip makes them easy for little hands to hold.

RRP £7.81

For those who enjoy precise drawing and sketching, the STABILO Fineliner in pastel colours are a good choice. With eight soft shades, these pens are ideal for writing, drawing, and sketching. The 0.4mm tip ensures clean, precise lines, making them a favourite among those who love to do detailed drawings.

RRP £4.74

The STABILO Boss Original highlighters in bright, vibrant colours will keep notes and important information easy to spot, making them incredibly useful for both students and professionals. Their special anti drying technology means you can leave the cap off for up to four hours without the ink drying out. With a wedge tip that allows for both 2mm underlining and 5mm highlighting these pens are nice and versatile. They are refillable too, helping to reduce plastic waste.

RRP £3.99

In addition to being great stocking fillers why not pair them with a colouring book or coloured paper for a creative Secret Santa gift, perfect for a budding artist?

STABILO pens and pencils

Disclaimer: we received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Have you started shopping for Christmas yet? These STABILO pens and pencils make great stocking fillers or why not add a colouring book to make a lovely gift for an artistic friend or relative?   

With STABILO’S instantly recognisable striped pattern on the pens the metallic STABILO Pen 68 is perfect for creating masterpieces.  With a firm tip the pens make crisp, smooth lines, and move effortlessly over the paper. The metallic colours are striking, and the pens are perfect for writing, doodling or colouring and look amazing on black card.

RRP from £14.33

Children will love the STABILO Trio DECO metallic pens, with 8 sparkling colours they liven up any picture. The colours are bold and strong with a metallic shine and are great for art projects or colouring.

The pens have an ergonomic triangular grip making them easy to hold in little hands.

RRP from £9.37

The STABILO aqua colour pencils are lovely to use and the colours are bright and vibrant. Soft with a rich pigmentation the pencils glide smoothly across the paper and when blended with a wet brush give an incredible wash effect. They are the perfect introduction to watercolours as they are much easier to use than paint and ideal for detailed work.

The pencils are the same colour as the barrel making it easy to find the one you need, and I also found they sharpen nicely too.

RRP from £6.71

These STABILO pens and pencils would make a lovely Christmas gift for any budding artist  – both young and old.

Curlicue Gift Wrap

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review but all thoughts and opinions are our own.

I love receiving a beautifully wrapped gift, especially one that has been wrapped in a creative way with lots of ribbons and extra decorations. It also pains me to rip the paper so I always take care unwrapping it and have been known to reuse the paper and ribbons if they are especially nice!

I always put a lot of thought into my gift wrapping, the right gift wrap depends on a number of things including the recipient’s taste as well as the occasion the gift is for. I am also very conscious of waste, most gift wrap can’t be recycled as it has a plastic coating, foil or glitter on it, so I am always on the lookout for more sustainable options that still have the WOW factor with them.

I was therefore really pleased to be given the opportunity to work with Curlicue who make beautiful eco-friendly sustainable gift wrap and accessories. All Curlicue products are plastic-free, vegan and made in the UK and the fun designs are created by independent artists and illustrators.

The company was founded by Hema Stewart who was frustrated by the lack of eco friendly gift wrapping products available and set about creating her own. It took 3 years to create affordable wrapping paper made from 100% recycled paper and printed with vegetable inks that could be recycled with household recycling and Curlicue was launched in 2019. All the products are made in the UK, meaning they have a lower carbon footprint and the company support British businesses by sourcing all partner products from UK manufacturers.

Now the children are back at school there’s lots of party invites arriving and I have been enjoying matching the Curlicue wrapping paper to the birthday boys and girls.

The Dino-roars wrapping paper is perfect for dinosaur fans young and old. Featuring a selection of dinosaurs on a dark background the paper was too nice to throw away after my son unwrapped his presents, so I’ve been cutting the dinosaurs out to use on cards and for crafts with my children!   

Stars At Dusk is suitable for any occasion and can be teamed with the Stars at Dawn print for co-ordinating presents. Add a golden ribbon for the WOW factor.

Sporting Legends is perfect for any sport fan and features a selection of sports including cycling, weightlifting, volleyball, golf and dance.

Unicorns are popular with the girls at the minute so they loved the Sprinkles of Magic paper with the cute pink and purple maned unicorns.

Each sheet is 70cm x 50cm and folds satisfyingly around your gift, the reverse side of the paper is marked with squares to help when cutting the paper and as the paper is nice and strong it cuts easily without tearing.

With matching gift tags Curlicue paper offers a sustainable option without sacrificing style or quality. There are plenty of fun prints for every occasion, giving you the opportunity to make an eco-friendly swap without breaking the bank. 

Available in packs of 3 or 5 sheets:
3 sheets – £6.75 (£2.25 per sheet)
5 sheets – £9.75 (£1.95 per sheet)

Postage is £3.95 and free over £30