Tinker & Pour, LLC

09/23/2026

Well, the day is almost over, but I made it in the nick of time. 😮‍💨😅

Introducing 🍎 APPLE ORCHARD 🍏 on this perfect first day of fall! 🍂

We all love a trip to the apple orchard this time of year for fresh apples, donuts, and all the other fall fun. 🥰

🌳 The Apple Orchard kit comes with your very own apple tree, little 3D-printed apples to hide throughout the bin, and a pair of kid-sized tongs—perfect for little hands to practice hand-eye coordination while they pick their apples! 🍎🍏

Apple Orchard is available NOW! Message me here to order yours today. 📩📲

And tell me below—what’s your favorite apple orchard to visit? 🥰⬇️

Sensory mix recipe by The Creative Mix Shop. 3D model by Playtessori. Used with permission.

09/10/2026

Heading to the Stillman Valley’s Farmers Market tonight? 👋

You won't find Tinker & Pour there this evening. September is a busy month for our family so unfortunately, I'll be missing our local markets this month -- but you can still shop with me! 🛍

I currently have the following kits available:
🐠 Tide Pool
🦖 Fossil Find
🍦 Sweet Scoops
🏕 Camping
🍓 Berry Patch
🚧 Construction Zone
🌈 Rainbow Rice

Local pickup available -- send me a message to order! 🤳

And don't go anywhere... 🍎🍂🎃 I've got THREE new seasonal kits coming soon!

Some of the sensory mixes pictured were made using recipes from The Creative Mix Shop 🥰

09/02/2026

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!! Congratulation to our winner ! 👏 Thank you so much to everyone who entered and helped Tinker & Pour reach 100 Instagram followers. 🥹❤️ Keep following along — there’s plenty more happy messes to come! 🫟🫶

UPDATE: YOU GUYS!! 🥹🥹🥹 You all are some overachievers! 😍 We got to 100 Instagram followers in THREE hours!!!

I’ll leave the giveaway open until 7 PM tonight for anyone who hasn’t entered yet and then I’ll draw the winner tonight!

Remember — to enter, make sure you’re following on Instagram and comment on the original Instagram giveaway post!

🎉 200 + COUNTING! 🎉

Tinker & Pour officially hit 200 followers on Facebook this week! 🥹

I was planning to do a little giveaway this week to get us there but you guys beat me to it! 😂❤️ So let’s celebrate 200 on Facebook by trying to hit our next milestone — 100 followers on Instagram! We’re only 10 away!!

And obviously, there should be a sensory kit involved. 😀

Once reaches 100 Instagram followers, I’ll randomly choose ONE person to receive a FREE 5-cup themed sensory kit of their choice from my current inventory! 🎉

To enter:

✨ Follow on Instagram
💬 Comment on the Instagram post and tell me which Tinker & Pour kit your little one would choose!

Already following over there? You can still enter! 🫶 And if you know someone who might enjoy a little happy mess in their life, feel free to tag them in the comments!

As soon as we hit 100, I’ll announce a cutoff time for entries and randomly choose our winner. ❤️

And seriously — 200 Facebook followers?! Thank you for being here, sharing my posts, visiting me at markets and supporting this little business of mine. It means more than you know. 🥹

📍 Local pickup only in the Stillman Valley or Rockford area. Shipping is not available for this giveaway.

Some of the sensory mixes pictured were made using recipes from The Creative Mix Shop 🫶

This promotion is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Facebook or Instagram.

08/29/2026

It’s Saturday Market day at Cypress House! 👋

Come shop all of the amazing vendors from 9 am–1 pm today—and stop by to check out my newest sensory kit: Farm Stand! 👩‍🌾🌻

There’s just something about an end-of-summer farmers market or little roadside stand filled with fresh, homegrown produce. Now your little one can gather up some of their own while practicing color recognition and fine motor skills through play!

Our Farm Stand is stocked with:
🍅 Tomatoes
🌽 Sweet corn
🫛 Green beans
🫐 Blueberries
🍑 Peaches
🌻 Sunflowers

Each kit includes its own farm stand crate and wooden scoop so little farmers can gather, sort, scoop and sell their fresh produce again and again.

📚 Pair it with a book! Visit your local library for:

- “Farmers’ Market Day” by Shanda Trent
- “Before We Eat: From Farm to Table” by Pat Brisson
- “The Vegetables We Eat” by Gail Gibbons

08/27/2026

Less than 3️⃣ hours untilStillman Valley’s Farmers Markett ! 📣

Come see me and all of the wonderful vendors at tonight’s market from 5-8 pm located in the park behind Meridian Junior High School.

And apparently Mother Nature got the memo about tonight’s newest Tinker & Pour Kit. 🍂 With the cooler temps giving us a little preview of fall, we’re going camping! 🏕️🔥

Come build a campsite, gather around the campfire and make some s’mores — no bug spray required.

I can’t wait to everyone on this beautiful evening! 👋

08/22/2026

Did the end of summer break + back to school somehow feel like two weeks jammed into 48 hours for anyone else, or was that just me? 😅 I think I’m finally getting caught up over here!

And just in time, because Tinker & Pour has a busy week ahead!

❤️ Thursday, August 27: Stillman Valley’s Farmers Market
💜 Saturday, August 29: Cypress House Outdoor Market

I’m focusing on stocking up for both markets this week, so I won’t be taking online orders before then — but I’d love to know what kit you’re hoping to see! And while you’re at it, drop any themes you’d love to see me make in the future. 👀

Speaking of which… Fossil Find got a little makeover! 🦖

Meet Fossil Find: Triassic Period. You’ll recognize the same rocks and fossils from my previous, more Jurassic-inspired mix, but this version has a sandy, dig-worthy base with some new shades of green and blue mixed in for a fun pop of color.

And learning more about the different dinosaur periods isn’t the only thing I’ve been working on…

🔥 I’m cooking up a few new ideas for next week that I can’t wait to share with you. 🧑‍🌾👀

See you at the markets! 👋

Sensory mix recipe by The Creative Mix Shop. Used with permission.

08/12/2026

Tomorrow’s market is cancelled due to weather and I will miss seeing all of you! Stay tuned for updates on what kits I have available for purchase. 👀

📣 Happy first day of school to Stillman, Rochelle and Oregon kids! 📚✏️

Sometimes Mother Nature gets the final vote, and this week she appears to have checked the “absolutely not” box. ⛈️

There will be NO Farmers Market this Thursday

With the chance of rain and storms remaining too high, we don’t feel comfortable asking our vendors to set up tents, displays, products, and equipment while hoping the weather cooperates. More importantly, we want our vendors, shoppers, and community to be safe.

We know how much work our vendors put into preparing for each market, and we know many of you make Thursday evening part of your weekly routine. We truly appreciate everyone who continues to come out and support these wonderful local businesses. ❤️

Please help us spread the word by sharing this post, and we’ll see everyone at the next market with hopefully much friendlier skies! 🌻🥕🍅

Thank you for understanding and for continuing to support our local vendors and community. 💛

07/28/2026

It’s a new week, and I’ve finally caught up on my sleep after two markets in three days! 😅

Thank you to everyone who stopped by my booth at the Stillman Valley’s Farmers Market and Cypress House Outdoor Market last week. Whether you purchased a kit, let your little one explore the sensory bin, or simply stopped to say hello, I truly appreciate your support. It means so much to know that this little business can bring joy to families in our community. 💜

I’m already looking forward to the rest of the market season! I have some fun new themes in the works (👀 Back-to-School is coming soon!) while also keeping favorites like Tide Pool and Fossil Find stocked for all of my little explorers.

📚 I’m also excited to share that I’ll now be offering larger quantities for teachers, daycare providers, and homeschool families! If you’re looking for sensory fillers for your classroom or learning space, send me a message and I’d be happy to put together a custom quote.

I still have a handful of kits available from last week’s markets including:
🚧 Construction Zone
🥕 Veggie Garden
🍦 Sweet Scoops
🍓 Berry Patch
🌈 Rainbow Rice

If you weren’t able to make it to the market, send me a message! I’d love to help you find the perfect kit or get you on the list for the next restock.

Sensory mix recipes by The Creative Mix Shop. Used with permission.

07/25/2026

Looking for something fun to do this morning? 💙

Come find us at the Cypress House Outdoor Market! Browse our handmade sensory bin kits, meet our NEW Construction Zone kit 🚧, and don’t forget to stop by the Tide Pool sensory station for some hands-on fun.

Plus, you’ll find tons of great local vendors, live music, and tasty food all in one place. We’re here until 1 PM—come say hi! 👋

Sensory mix recipes by The Creative Mix Shop. Used with permission.

07/22/2026

As we approach two more markets, I figured it’s about time I introduce myself. ☺️

Hi! 👋 I’m Laken, the face behind Tinker & Pour. I was born and raised in Stillman Valley, where my husband and I are now raising our two young kids. By profession, I’m a social worker, and together we also help run our family-owned tree service. Needless to say, creativity looks a little different depending on which hat I’m wearing!

Tinker & Pour actually started at home. I began making sensory bins for my own children because they loved scooping, pouring, sorting, and using their imaginations—and I loved watching all of the creativity, fine motor development, and play-based learning that naturally came along with it. Before long, friends and family encouraged me to share them with others, and what started as a creative hobby has grown into this little business. Every kit is handmade by me right here in Stillman Valley—from coloring the sensory fillers to 3D printing many of the accessories.

Thank you for following along and supporting my small business. Whether you’ve purchased a kit, stopped by my booth at a market, or simply liked or shared a post, I’m so grateful you’re here. If you’re local, I’d love to meet you! I’ll be at the Stillman Valley’s Farmers Market this Thursday evening and at Cypress House outdoor market on Saturday morning. Stop by, say hello, and check out this season's sensory kits. I can't wait to meet you! 💜

p.s. thank you to the incredible gingersnapps lifestyle portrait photography for the amazing family photo 🥰

Sensory mix recipes by The Creative Mix Shop. Used with permission.