Wednesday, November 30, 2011

100 Posts & a FREE Printable

I just realized that I have posted 100 TIMES!
Wahoo! I feel like I have actually accomplished something, not that it is anything really noteworthy but all the same I am celebrating:)
And with that celebrating I am also sharing a free printable with all of you.  In my desperate search to become more organized this holiday season, I stumbled across a few gift list organizers, most of which I was not impressed with (meaning they just didn't have enough color going on).  However, I really liked the content of this ONE but wanted to jazz the background up a bit.  So with a big thank you to http://www.littlestlearners.blogspot.com/ for her ideas, I used their chart but then added my own font/background. 
Well... I added my own font and 6 different bgrounds.  I couldn't pick just one so you have your choice of 6 backgrounds.

To download the gift list:
1. Please follow my blog.
2. Please leave me a comment. 
I love reading everything you have to say.
3. Click the download link (the down arrow) below the image you wish to download.

HERE THEY ARE!



Terms of use: All gift lists are created/adapted by KT Designs and are for PERSONAL USE only.  You may NOT re-sell, re-distribute, or claim them as your own.  If you are posting on the Internet, you must link back to this website.  Thank you!
 
Happy gift list organizing!
 
~Katania

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Thanksgiving Banner


I made this banner last year for Thanksgiving and was so happy to take it back out again this year.  I love the simplicity of the saying, the rustic colors, and the detailed font.  Sadly, I have since forgotten all the cartridges I used but I am pretty sure the banner panels and the font are from Winter Woodland.  I have used Winter Woodland for so many things besides typical winter decor and scrapbooking pages.  I definitely recommend it if you haven't already picked it up.
For each panel I used a shiny gold and red floral background from an autumn cardstock paper pack and then layered it with a two layered leaf in red, gold, and green.  On top of that I used red and gold again for the two layers of the font.  Each layer is pop-dotted to add dimension.  I then used a thin cranberry colored ribbon to tie each panel together.  I apologize for the photos.  It is really difficult to take a picture of a banner and I have yet to figure out a better way.  Here are a few more shots with a little more detail.





I hope you like it :)

~Katania

Friday, November 25, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!
I hope you all have a relaxing time with friends and family, grateful for the love, laughter, and memories you share together!
I am so grateful for all that I have been blessed with and I continue to be in awe of how amazing life can be when it's filled with the wonder of a two and a half year old. 
I am grateful for great friends, close family, and delicious food.
I am grateful for the little things in life, like my sons messy hair when he wakes up in the morning, or the smell of bubble bath on his skin after his nightly bath. 
I am grateful my husband is home and safe spending time with his family and will continue to be here for every milestone of his sons life. 
I am grateful we are healthy and have a roof over our heads and food in our bellies.
I am also grateful I am now almost 60 lbs (59.8lbs) lighter than I was last year. 
Sorry, I just had to add one selfish item to the list :)

What are you grateful for this
Thanksgiving holiday?

~Katania

P.S. I am so grateful for everyone who continues to read my blog and comment on my crafts and thoughts. 

Thank you, it definitely makes it worth it:)





Saturday, November 19, 2011

{Free Printable} I Spy cards for Sensory Bin

Well here it is...
I spy cards for the Halloween sensory bin!

Fun activities for your child using the I Spy cards:
*find the item in the sensory bin
*identify the color
*count how many
Click HERE for the post and tutorial on how to make your own.

Each download contains four cards including a picture of the item, the name of the item, and the color word in the correct color.  There are 26 cards in all and two bonus blank cards for any additional items you might have included in your sensory bin.

You can download all seven pages by clicking HERE!
If you download my printables please leave me a comment or follow my blog.  I love reading what you have to say:)

Terms of use: All I spy cards are created by KT Designs and are for PERSONAL USE only.  You may NOT re-sell, re-distribute, or claim them as your own.  If you are posting on the Internet, you must link back to this website.  Thank you!

Happy I-spying!

~Katania

Thursday, November 17, 2011

{Tutorial} Halloween Sensory Bin


During my Internet search for tot school, I came across a couple of websites that posted about sensory bins.  It seems to be a common activity for Montessori schools but thought it would be a fun, indoor activity for my little man.  I found some great ideas at Counting Coconuts and The Picky Apple and then went to Wal-Mart and Stop N Shop for more ideas.

 This is what I found:


Here's what's inside:
*2 bags of black beans
*1 bag of yellow split peas
*Pumpkin buckets
*Pumpkin ornament
*Ghost ornament
*Spider rings
*Glitter spider embellishments
*Glitter pumpkin embellishments
*Skeletons
*Sticky skeletons
*Stampers
*Bubbles
*Small sand shovel
*Large bin with lid



Here's the fun part!
1. Pour both bags of black beans and the one bag of split pea on the bottom of your bin.
2. Mix them together.
3. Layer your Halloween items both on top of and under the beans.
4. Give it to your child. (Monitor young children since there are many small items that are choking hazards)
5. Marvel at how long they stay engaged and all the fun things they do with the items inside.

Here's my little man enjoying his time with the sensory bin. 
I love how serious his little face is.



My little man loved filling the little pumpkin buckets up with the beans and then dumping them into his candy bucket.  Surprising, only a few beans escaped the bin since he was very careful to keep  everything in the bin and on the table.

I can't wait to make one for fall/Thanksgiving and then Christmas!
What items would you include for the
two holidays coming up?

~Katania

P.S. Stay tuned for a FREE PRINTABLE to use with this sensory bin!  It should be available this weekend:)

Sunday, November 13, 2011

MIA for a little while

Just a little post to let you know I have been and will continue to be MIA for a little while.  I have found myself under a great deal of stress dealing with writing report cards, potty training at home, planning my sister's baby shower, putting together 50+ baby shower invitations, and then this coming week conferencing with 17 families.  I promise I will continue to bring you photos and tutorials of my crafts after this much needed break.  I already have some posts in mind with the upcoming baby shower, so stay tuned.  I should be back in action by the end of this coming week :)
~Katania

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Halloween Banner

Happy Halloween... just a little bit late :)
Halloween was definitely down played where I live because of the snow storm (6 inches of snow to be exact) we received two days prior which knocked out many power lines and trees.  Thankfully, we still maintained our power but unfortunately many people did not which made trick or treating a bit dangerous without street lights.  We did however lose many large tree branches on about five of our trees.  Some were much taller than our house and so heavy and large my hands would not fit around the branch.  However, we still managed to decorate for Halloween despite the snow (UGH, I still can't believe it).  
I printed out a few subway art printables for fall, brought out my decorations and made ghosts to hang from the trees with my little man.  Of course no holiday (can we really call it a holiday?) is complete without a banner.  So without further adieu, here she is...
I used Birthday Bash for the actual banner and Happy Hauntings for the letters.  The spiders are left over from my little man's sensory bucket (more on that later).








I am so happy with how it came out.  I love the letters and how they look like they are dripping and of course you can't forget the glitter.  I am sure you are shocked that I used glitter and pop dots.  Never seen that before on this site, lol!
What do you think?

~Katania