Gemma Smith’s daughter’s third birthday party was cancelled due to coronavirus but she still wanted her to have an amazing day at home.
The family have been planning a trip to the farm to celebrate but with the lockdown in place, it was no longer an option.
So the mum, from Stoke-on-Trent, decided to create her own petting zoo at home, made from stuff she found around the house.
Using balloons, bubble wrap, leftover cardboard, an old feather boa and some polystyrene balls she created pigs, chickens and some enclosures, filled with straw.
Posting in the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Facebook group, Gemma said: ‘So we were going to the farm for my daughter’s 3rd birthday (obvs cancelled ) so we decided to bring the farm to our house.
‘I know it’s not brilliant (I had a lot of ‘help’ from my toddler) and I only had the stuff available in my house but she loved making it and she has been looking after them.’
People loved the idea and she was inundated with comments about how she made them.
Editing the post, she added: ‘Wow I did not expect that response!! Thanks for all the lovely comments and birthday wishes. It’s such a hard time for everyone and if this helps out in anyway I’m really pleased!!
‘The chickens were taped up bubble wrap covered in feather boas. I used fabric glue to stick it on and I had some polystyrene balls left over so we drew eyes on them. Card for beak and head.
‘Pigs are just balloons with foam cut for nose, ears and feet! Super simple.’
To make it even more special, Gemma left some chocolate eggs in the pen with the chickens the next morning to make it look like they had laid them for her.
Adding to her post, Gemma said: ‘She has had the best birthday ever thanks everyone.’
‘Absolutely amazing. What a fabulous thing to do,’ one person said.
‘What a lovely idea, I hope your daughter has a lovely birthday,’ another added.
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