May Newsletter

🌼 Could Do May – Gentle Family Fun for a Slower Month

Hi lovely friends,

This newsletter is arriving a little later than planned because, if I’m honest, I’ve just had the hardest three weeks of my life. After a couple of emergency operations and a long hospital stay, I’m home — sore, healing, and deeply grateful.

Parenting while in hospital, even with older children, is emotionally overwhelming. You want to protect them from worry, but also be truthful. There’s a constant inner conflict between shielding and sharing, and it’s exhausting.

If anything I share has ever helped you or brought a smile, and you feel able, you can buy me a cuppa here or donate here via paypal— it means the world. And if not, please just take this as your gentle permission slip to do only what feels good this month. 💛

Thank you for being part of this community. It means more than I can say, especially during times like these. Here’s to a May filled with softness, sunshine, and small victories.

With love,
Jen aka Mum in the Mad House

📸 Follow on Instagram and tag your makes with #MumInTheMadHouse to be featured!

May “Could Do” List – No Pressure, Just Possibilities

Our Could Do List for May is here, and it’s all about small, seasonal joys. You’ll find ideas for crafts, celebrations, and simple connections — from meteor showers to mental health check-ins.

Download the full list here

May Printable Ideas

Perfect for slow weekend moments or rainy day rescues!

May Activities

Perfect for screen-free afternoons and getting a little crafty together.

DIY Phone Amplifier and Stand

This craft was born out of necessity as I couldn’t find the little Bluetooth speaker we have for our phones. So instead we went low tech and created a DIY phone amplifier and stand from a toilet roll and a couple of paper cups.

Paper Plate Clock

These paper plate clocks have so many uses, from helping children to tell the time, to uses to let them know when an activity will start and end.

30+ Post-it Note art, crafts and activities

I don’t know about you, but I never realised there was so much you could do with post-it notes.

Post-it notes are a great alternative to origami paper as they are square. So there are a lot of paper crafts made using them. Plus sticky note paper comes in loads of colours now, not just the yellow of yesteryear.

Easy Monkey Paper Puppet with Templates

We have two monkey paper puppet templates for you, a coloured one or a black and white one, so the kids can colour it in or paint it.

Even bette,r these puppets move!

May Eats

Fun seasonal food for families and kids - we have VE Day, the start of the Jersey Royal Season and food for picnic perfection!

Recipe

Recipe

Recipe

Get Ahead This Month…

Start a Summer Bucket List Brainstorm – keep it low-pressure and fun. A picnic? A night under the stars? Chalk art on the patio?
Father's Day is nearly here - so we have a load of freebies for you.

Teacher Appreciation & End-of-Year Gifts – bookmark our DIY keyrings or easy handmade ideas

Prep for Garden Crafts – plant wildflower seeds or save recyclables for summer junk modelling.

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