Got carried away with the Tiles....

I've been busy! Or should I say productive?? Either way.....I'm learning as I go and that's whats really important! I've been making Polymer clay tiles.......this is what I have so far......Not too sure what I'm going to do with them yet.....but they'd be cute for a wall in minis or could be used in real size craft projects...... They can be grouted just like regular tiles. You can cut them down, too.

1. Black, white, gray and translucent clay chopped up and pressed down.
2. Tiles made to look like stone......Gray
4. Left over Pineapple cane....chopped up and pressed down....
3. (Yes, I know these are backwards!) 3.....left overs from #4.
5. Landscape cane, chopped up and pressed down.
6. Copper, brown and black clay, chopped and pressed
7. Black and reds.....chopped and pressed
8. Copper........chopped and pressed
9. Translucent and white cane.....sliced, rolled and slightly burned. lol
1,8,and 9 are my favorites:)

Like I said......I've been busy.......
....oh, just in case you're wondering.......they're mostly 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch. All handcut.

A Cookie Jar.....and some Mini tiles.....

I know, I know....I said I was leaving......But then I saw Nikki's Perfect mini mushrooms and remembered that I really wanted to show you this:

Isn't it Awesome:) A couple of weeks ago, when Cora and I were in the thrift store, we found this Mushroom Cookie Jar and I Fell in Love!! That was until I picked up the top and saw that they wanted $15 dollars for it. If you haven't figured out yet, I'm a cheapie...So I told myself that if it was meant to be, it would come down in price and I would find it later.....When I went back, it was still there....but it was also still $15.....................And I walked away, again. Then the next day we were at another thrift store and There sat My Mushroom Cookie Jar! And it was priced at $5.99!!! Cora looked at me, and said, Now you have to buy it!!! SO I did, lol. Isn't it the best! The bf is not totally impressed, he forced a smile, and said Yup.....it's very 70ish, lol. I think that was his way of being polite, lol.
Here's the back of it:
**When i was in high school, I got this bright idea one day! I wanted to turn a hat stand, with an umbrella shoved down the top.....into a mushroom. It was so fun! My friend and I sat in the garage for hours paper mache'n this massive mushroom, only to give up and never finish it! Terrible, I know! ......LOL......Maybe one day I'll come across another hat stand and an umbrella.....Or maybe it would be fun to do in mini.......


Speaking of Minis.....I have been working on something.......Polymer clay tiles. So far, I'm not impressed. LOL. The first batch I burnt! But didn't kill...if you know what I mean. It adds age and character to them, and the bf tells me this is ok. But they are far from what I had envisioned. That's the one thing about working with clay, sometimes you never know what you're going to get.


Then I decided to start working on a blue and white set. I kinda like these, but they were not what I had wanted either. I'm going to for a much more natural look, not so many strips......And I must of not rolled the clay well enough, because I ended up with little air bubbles. The bottom of these are white......


And then after I cut the above tiles, I started to wear down a little, and cheated....these next tiles aren't backed, and I cut them after they had been cooked, which turned out to be harder than just cutting them before I cooked them. Lesson learned!

Anyways.......I will play some more when I get a chance......I want some like the ones I used in Cora's bathroom.........and I want some natural looking stone ones.

Ok...think I'm done now....
((Must remember to show you the pie plate I found too! LOL))
There's always one more thing, isn't there, lol!!!!!

Until Next Time...........

On a roll here.....

I actually got some stuff done yesterday. Well....I've got a lot done this week, but it mostly consisted of grocery shopping and cleaning....and I got 75% of my Christmas cards done. They're stamped, stickered, addressed.....and just need to be signed! Feels good to know it's almost done!

And then yesterday.... I started tinkering.....
I got the gourd hollowed out! It was a lot easier than I thought, and I didn't hurt myself, hehe! First I washed and scrubbed the outside of the gourd to remove any dirt......then I dried it. Next I drew an oval with a pencil onto the outside of the gourd. And then I used the Dremel to cut out the oval. I didn't cut to close to the line at first, just wanted to get the oval cut out. Then I went back and sanded the edges back to where I wanted them. Once I was done, I washed off the pencil marks, just took a little wet cloth to do that. Next I pulled out the insides....really easy to do by hand! And then this is what you'll have:)

I found an old plant stand that I cut down to use as a base.....

...and painted it black. I still want to stain the outside of the gourd, just haven't made that final decision yet. But I really, really, like it so far!

And!! I got the bathroom wall Grouted!!! And it works perfectly! If you've ever been afraid to grout polymer clay...Don't !! It wipes right off the tiles.....and is beautiful when it's finished! Just look!! ((And cause I know someone will ask:)......I used the premixed grout that comes in a bag from Michael's by Triangle Crafts~it's called white Mosaic grout))

I also think I want to add a 'chair rail' across the top of it...or maybe a little shelf? I just love how that brown brings out the best in those tiles!!

...and last but not least! Here's Otis and Fred, who actually might be a Fredericka....hanging out in Otis's bed. Otis barely fits in there alone, but Fred, (yes, we're still calling her Fred!) just wiggled up in there, too!!

....so until next time.....

Katie

.....and for the record, I can't wait till I can type with all my fingers again!!

Just a little update.....

Oh My.....has it really been a week since I posted?? I can't believe I let time get away like that! I'm still here.....just been 'lounging' around the house.....lol........ The kiddos will be home this weekend, and it's time to start getting them ready for camp........So, you'll have to excuse me for a little while, while I play 'Mom'! *Sigh...This summer is flying by sooo fast! At the end of the month the 2 oldest will go to a special camp for kids with asthma!! It's such an awesome place.....if You live in or around West Virginia...and have kids with asthma, Email me and I can give you the info!! Your kids will love it!! ~So......while those 2 are at camp, my youngest will be going to spend the week alone with Grandma and Grandpa!! They were talking about checking out a museum or 2.....they live right outside Washington DC! And my youngest is sooooo freakin smart, he scares me sometimes. LOL.....Have you watched the movie Knowing, with Nicholas Cage??? My youngest would be the boy in the end....I tease him all the time about how the aliens brought him to me one night!! And how one day, they're going to want him back to head some super mission or something, lol......and he laughs, and says 'Aweee, Mom!' ....and I say, 'It's true:)' .........Bah hahahaa.......

OK....So it's time for some pictures!! I've been working on the wall in Cora's house that separates the sitting room and the bathroom. First I used a piece of foam board, but once I put a layer of paint on it, it started to curve and wouldn't stand straight up anymore.....So after a Lot of thought.....I think I finally came up with a solution! Lego's!! LOL, Yes a Lego wall! Well, actually there's not a single Lego in that whole wall...they're all the generic brand, but they worked perfectly. LOL, Oh my.....it was such a chore getting my oldest to dig through his big ole box of Legos for the Non-lego ones, hehehe. But I really appreciated it:) OK...So I built the wall.....covered one side with tissue paper and Mod Podge, then painted it green. And on the other side......I first covered it with a layer of Mod Podge~ to act as a sealer...then I began gluing on the tiles. I used the E6000 glue and it worked perfectly! Now I just need to grout it. Anyone out the there ever grout polymer clay??? I'd love to hear any tips!!! :)

I think it looks pretty good. I want to add a chair rail above the tiles.......And A piece of trim at the top....Oh~ and those 2 holes at the top of the wall are going to be for my shower curtain rod....once I figure out how to make it:)

Still need a couple more layers of paint here and there, but I think I'm getting some where?!

...ok....so what would a post be without a picture or 2, or 3 of Otis.....

Here is he sharing one of my secrets with you.....I use an emery board to sand most of the things that get made for the doll house.....It's easier to control then just a piece of sandpaper! (BTW.....He took it right out of my hand to chew on it....but once he tasted it he changed his mind!)

And this is one of my favorites!!! I took this the other day......and well, it pretty much sums up the way I've been feeling *blowing raspberries*.....LOL! He's sleeping, sitting straight up, with his tonuge hanging out:)


Found this guy the other day in the garden.....I've seen him weave ones that look like ladders...but never one in a spiral like this...Wonder if he's drunk?? LOL

And look.......Rufus came in to hang out for a little while this morning........I swear, Otis was telling him about all the fun things he could get into around here.....

.......Until he realized I was listening........

...You see how much they look alike now???? Crazy, huh!!

OK....I'm off to run a few errands...........

Until next time!!

:)