Kiwi Lane November Blog Hop - Happy Fall Layout

If you're hopping on here from Joy Nielsen's amazing blog, welcome!

I'm so honored to be part of the Kiwi Lane Designs Blog Hop this month to bring you some scrapbooking inspiration.  The ever so talented and inspirational Kristy Lee is leading the troops over at Kiwi Lane Designs and she is the individual responsible for getting me into this scrapbooking hobby!


I was tasked with making something using the super cute Nature Accessory Set. 

Since it's the fall, the maple leaf instantly caught my eye and I wanted to create a scrapbook page around it.  The reason I love Kiwi Lane Design templates is because it it allows you to easily create shaped embellishment using some non traditional mediums.  In my case, I wanted to use some cork.  My Silhouette Cameo does not cut cork and I don't have a maple leaf die to use with my manual die cutting machine (i.e. Xyron Creatopia with Shapez Component, Sizzix Big Shot, ProvoCraft Cuttlebug).  Enter the Nature Accessory Set!  All I had to do was trace the leaf shape onto my cork and then cut with scissors.  As simple as that! 

Here's my fall themed layout.

Supplies:  Kiwi Lane Designs - Nature Accessory Set; Xyron Mega Runner; Patterned Paper (Little Yellow Bicycle - Acorn Hollow); Enamel Dots (Doodlebug); Stamps (Lawn Fawn - Milo's ABCs, American Crafts); Versafine Ink; Tim Holtz Tonic Scissors; Fiskars Paper Trimmer.

When using such large and bold elements, I like to keep my layouts simple.  Here, I created a photo strip to make sure the lines were straight and clean.  And may I also add that I LOVE the look of stamping right onto the cork. 

Here's another close up of that cork leaf.

GIVEAWAY TIME!!  Make sure to leave a comment here on my blog and all the other participating blogs in the November hop (including the Kiwi Lane blog).  ONE winner will receive a $25 gift certificate to the Kiwi Lane Shop for leaving a comment and will be announced on the Kiwi Lane blog on Thursday, November 7th.

I will also be selecting ONE winner to receive a free Nature Accessory Set.  Just make sure you are FOLLOWING my blog and leave a comment on this blog post.  Winner will be announced on Thursday, November 7th as well. 

Next on the hop is my dear and amazingly talented friend, Minousha Bari!  And if you get lost along the way, here is a list of all the blog hop participants.

1. Kiwi Lane http://kiwilane.com/here/blog/
2. Cristine Redmond http://onescrappynovice.blogspot.com
3. Joy Nielsen www.threadsnscraps.com
4. Van Nguyen http://likethecar.blogspot.com
5. Minousha Bari  http://preservedscraps.blogspot.com
6. Lissa Mitchell http://mightycrafty.blogspot.com
7. Arin Flynn http://apieceoflifespie.com
8. Kerri Smith http://www.crafttimeandcupcakes.com/ 
9. Christine Meyer http://scrappingwithchristine.blogspot.com
10. Christina Steel www.tinasscrapcrap.blogspot.com

 As always, thanks for stopping by!

Sensory Boxes - Autumn

Now that I've been at home with Charlotte full time, I've become much more aware and concerned of how she spends her free time.  While driving cross country and sitting in the back seat, Charlotte did spend a bit of time watching Signing Time or Curious George on the portable DVD player.  We pulled it during meltdown moments and it provided us with a little bit of sanity.  However, now that we are finally starting to settle down in Rhode Island, the DVD has gone "missing" and I am trying to make sure Charlotte gets a lot of stimulating and fun play time.  

While roaming through some mommy/ educational/ crafting blogs the other day (my new obsession), I stumbled onto this post about Sensory Boxes by Pink and Green Mama.  They are essentially indoor sand/ play boxes that encourages hand eye coordination, fine motor development, and provides a fantastic sensory processing integration experience.  Plus, being the wanna-be crafter that I am, I theme the boxes as needed.  

For Charlotte's first box, I thought that a fall/ autumn theme would be appropriate.  Most of the items for the box I found around the house.  But I did pick up a few things at Wal-Mart.

I found a plastic tub and filled it with yellow split peas and black beans.  The yellow split peas look pretty orange and, combined with the black, remind me of Halloween.

Then, I just filled the box up with various goodies.  

I put in some orange play doh (which is quickly turning out to be Charlotte's favorite), measuring cups, orange and black pom poms, Fischer Price Little People toys (the cow and farmer), fake pumpkins and gourds, pine cones, silk leaves, and a toy train.  Here's a close up.

I introduced it to Charlotte after her nap and she spent about 15 minutes digging around.  

 

I placed the box in the kitchen where Charlotte can see it.  Over the past few days, she has actually asked to play with it and discovers something new each time.  It really is fun to watch and play too!  And it goes without saying, definitely supervise your kids with these boxes in case they want to taste a bean or two.  Thankfully, Charlotte has past that stage (or at least I think she has)...

Now I just need to get a mini dust pan and broom to teach her how to clean up.  Those little beans do wander outside of the box more often than not.  :) 

And some other food for thought, the American Academy of Pediatrics on Tuesday again urged parents to limit the amount of television for children under two.  Here is a link to the New York Times article. 

As always, thanks for stopping by.  And if you leave a comment, know that I do love reading them!