Craft: Autumn Placemat

The past few weeks, my 4 year old and I did a few crafts for the fall season. I'm just now getting around to posting them :)

In this post, I'd like to share the autumn placemat that we made on Thursday.

My daughter is always trying to collect leaves from outside and bring them in the house. We usually end up with leaves by the front door, and sometimes she even sticks them in our fridge....So when she wanted to bring some leaves in the other day, I had to think of a way she could keep a few 'pretty leaves' (as she calls them) in the house without them being all over the place. I decided she could make a placemat...that way the leaves would be preserved, and not be crumbled and scattered around.

Here she is the finished product:

Here is how to make your own autumn placemat:

Supplies:

• Leaves (we used 10) or paper cut-outs of leaves or anything autumn-themed.
• two matching lengths of wax paper (whatever size you desire your placemat to be)
• a sheet of newspaper big enough to cover the wax paper
• iron set on medium heat
• contact paper or construction paper
• markers/colored pencils/crayons (optional)

Instructions:

1. Have your child (or yourself) pick a few nice leaves from outside.
2. Lay one piece of wax paper down so that the shiny side (the side with all the wax) is facing up.
3. Have your child arrange the leaves on the wax paper however is desired.
4. Place the second piece of wax paper, shiny side down, on top of the leaves.
5. Place a sheet of newspaper over the waxed paper and, with your iron set on medium heat, press the sheets until the wax paper fuses together.
6. Cut up the construction or contact paper to create a border for your placemat.
7. Glue the border into place and let dry

An introduction is in order...

I'm starting a new blog here on Blogger. (Obviously...right?)

I used to run a blog on Xanga (www.xanga.com/xl3abugirl4u05x) where I just rambled on about my life and such, and I plan to do the same here :) lol. I just stopped using xanga a few months back...all of the people that I was in contact with on there seemed to disappear. With the exception of about 3 or 4 people, I no longer have contact with my xanga friends, so I feel the need to move on. I figured I could start fresh here.

I have actually had this account set up for like 2 weeks (or more) now, and just didn't know what to do with it. I have decided I will use it for regular blogging, as well as showing off my crafts and sewing projects...Oh yes, and promoting my etsy shop :) That URL, by the way, is http://www.itsmydesign87.etsy.com/

I have been a member of Etsy since about Dec. 2008...but I just started my own shop there in April, so I am fairly new. I am still getting into the swing of things, and still do not have much in my shop. Things have been kinda busy around here...But I am sure you will here about that later.

Ok...see...This was supposed to be an introduction post. Ya know, where I introduce myself? So far it has just been some rambling. My bad....lol. Alright, I am Kimberlee. I'm a 21 year old wife and mother of 2. One girl (3yrs), one boy (1yr). I enjoy making all kinds of things. I love to sew. My sewing machine probably hates me because since I got it, I have used it basically non-stop. I am up for trying to craft/make/sew just about anything. I will honestly tell you that I am not a 'pro' (yet lol), but I love my creativity.

Ok, well I am off in search of a blogger template that is not so boring. Stay tuned, though, in honor of my new blog I think I will start a contest/sweepstakes sort of deal...I just need to figure out what/how to do so. Thanks for reading.