MISTER MAKER is a children’s TV hands-on arts and crafts favourite – and there is an excellent annual to keep the action going at home!

The show developed after the demise of Art Attack, which ran from 1990-2007 and was one of ITV’s longest running programmes.

Front man Phil Gallagher has put together a host of great ideas to give the kids lots of fun making all sorts of items to keep them occupied.

He lists all the materials needed to make drawings, pictures, models, collages, cards and other art and craft things, which he keeps in a doodle box, and there are warnings over safe use of scissors, using aprons to prevent clothes from getting messy – and remembering to clear away afterwards!

Among the items in this make-along book are a spaceship from scouring pads, colourful birthday cards, a 3D collage, a shapes game, blow paint pictures, a stretchy lorry, framing pictures, alien eyes, an astronaut, handprint pictures, Ollie the octopus from bubble wrap and a paper plate, a silver crown, a shiny fish, pencil pictures and a festive Christmas tree also made from bubble wrap.

Colourful step-by-step pictures accompany the different items and the easy-to-follow, chatty instructions make it ideal for younger children to spend some useful time making something they can be proud of!

Mister Maker’s 2010 annual is aimed at five years and over, is published by Egmont and costs £7.99.