.....an idea for recycling Christmas cards.......Personally, I think it would be funny to send people back cards they my have sent you years ago...that's if your a pack rat like me and have kept everything...and don't forget, if you don't want to cut up the originals you could always use scanned copies! Don't forget to check out the blog itself! Lots of ideas for Christmas cards!!
http://christmascardsallyearround.blogspot.com/2009/04/april-challenge.html

Another idea on index prints

If you look in the middle of this picture you will see 4 green mini photo albums........I used the same idea as I used in my book tutorials....but I changed the inside a bit. You can find the tutorials here: http://katiesclaycorner.blogspot.com/search/label/miniature%20books

And here's the insides: I took a strip from my index prints...and cut it into an even number...then I folded it up, glued the insides together and wrapped a piece of paper around the outside. If you need me to explain it better, just ask......not to sure if I'm making much sense here. What can I say.....I'm Tired!! I think they're cute, and they add a little more of that personal touch.

.....OK, just wanted to show you something else, too. Here's another cabinet I did with the paint finish in the last post....And here's the beginning of a new collection. I LOVE Disney's Beauty and The Beast!!! And last year when we went to Disneyland.....I found this tiny Belle. I've had her put away in a cabinet in one of Cora's rooms...but recently when I found Ms. Potts and Chip, I reclaimed her!!! I would love to fill this whole cabinet with things from the movie.....Cogsworth and Lumiere......the Red Rose and the mirror....the wardrobe and the feather duster....And a tiny Beast would be awesome!! Any ideas as to where to look?? I'm looking for things that are under an inch......

And you know I can't leave without a kitty pic:) Here's Fred and Ginger taking a nap somewhere safe......Can't figure out if Ginger is sleeping with her eyes open or if she's watching us?! LOL

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

A New Paint Finish

I found this paint finish in a book, and I just can't get enough of it. There's lots of different ways to do it, depending on what you like! Here are two examples:

This one was originally painted black......then I painted it Apple Barrel Apricot. (You don't have to use these exact colors, I'm just telling you what they were in case you wanted to know.....any peachy color will work!!) Then I painted it Coastal Blue (by Color Traditions). I also painted the trim with Craft Smart brand Ocean Breeze. After it was dry, I sanded and sanded some more. I wanted it to look worn down!!! You can also try this with out the black underneath.....

This one was done without the black undertones.......But when I was done I stained it with Gunstock Miniwax. I love how the stain filled in all the cracks....it just adds a lot of character to it.

But I do have to admit....My favorite is without the black and without the stain.....It has a real country beach feel to it:)

Until next time:)

I have a tutorial to write about something else you can do with those index prints.......

The Outside kittens....

OK.....you'll have to forgive the glare on some of these pictures....most have been taken through the window. Here you can see Momma kitty feeding all 6 of her babies....

And they're starting to get braver and explore the yard.

Here's Momma feeding them again..... She's the one looking up. And if you look carefully...you can see the runt of the family laying up on top of her.

They really are so tiny!!!

.....and these 2 have made it in the house. They're the biggest of the bunch...and I've been watching them eating solids for a week now...so I felt OK taking them. It has been raining and storming here so bad, if I could catch them all, they'd all be in.

Luckily I have the kids here to help me out......these guys are already using the litter box, when we make it in time! I told the kids they were NOT aloud to name the kittens, so we wouldn't get attached, then the kids Godfather stopped by....and dubbed the kittens Fred and Ginger...........That's Ginger in the last picture...And OMG Is she beautiful!! See that bright orange spot...that's her foot!

OK....hang in there......I'm off to get a mini blog done:) Until Next time.....

Kids and Kittens

2 days in a row...and no problems!! Yippee!!

My Lord.....do I have a lot of pictures, lol!! Thought I'd break them down into a couple of blogs for you.....With a house full of kittens and kids.....I'm just not getting anything real done. LOL......cleaning, cleaning, cleaning.......

So.....here's a pic of my kids on Halloween......The older they get the less they corporate! Especially when it comes to taking a 'nice' picture.....lol!

And thought you'd enjoy seeing Cora's devil earrings. She bought them at the beach last year...they're made the same way worry dolls are made (with toothpicks and DMC floss).

We celebrated Cameron's 11th birthday on Halloween this year....He also had his last game that morning......so We took the Whole team to lunch at Golden Corral to celebrate. 15, 11 year old boys+buffet= A Mess!!! (If you didn't know.....he's playing for the Cowboys this year:)!!))

Now for some pictures of the inside kittens........

Otis loves to sit on things and pretend he doesn't know he's sitting on something.........He does this all the time with his toys, so why wouldn't he do it with his niece?......LOL, I don't think Bella knew what was happening!!!

And speaking of Bella......she's discovered the dollhouse. She likes to lie on the front porch and look into the house...Wonder how long it will take her to realize she can get in there???

This is Sphinx......and this is where he hangs out when all the kids are at school.....cracks me up!

And here's a head shot, lol......He's so lovable!

T-Boy.......the last of the inside kittens....is back in the house....I'm really thinking of renaming him Houdini! I swear....it's a 2 inch gap that he wiggles out of. And I'm tired of hunting him down!!

OK....Bear with me!!! Next blog will be about the new babies!! And then after that I have a few minis to talk about:)

I plugged my computer in this morning and It works, LOL. I am so computer retarded!! The other day, I couldn't get the monitor to work to save my life....it turned on, but there was nothing there? So I turned it off......and left it alone. But the ghost in the house kept turning it on....so I finally just unplugged it......and decided to leave it alone until I could get someone to look at it..........And then this morning.....I was feeling a little brave. So, I plugged it in, and it worked??!! I just don't get it. When I got on my blog yesterday......everything was black.....so I deleted the background, and now you can see it. Hopefully I have gotten rid of the 'ghost' and my computer will work right.......Hopefully!!

OK...so while I'm here I want to tell you if you haven't seen the movie UP yet, you should. But I will warn you.....12 minutes into the movie and I was balling like a baby.....It just hit so close to home with me, that it made me a little emotional. I could totally see my Grandfather doing something like this!!!!

Next I'm off to upload some pictures.....so hopefully I'll be back later.....However I have all the kids this weekend...and a home full of cats. T-Boy, one from first batch of kittens escaped last night, and I was able to catch one of the new kittens earlier.....and even brought him in and gave him a bath. The weather is Crazy here......it's been raining all week, and the winds were getting up to 75 miles per hour here last night. Today it's a little calmer.......but everything is still water logged. Hopefully this weekend will be pretty and I can catch the rest of these guys and get them out of here. I left a message for someone at PETA, just waiting on a call back. I am trying to hard to find a no kill shelter, and I'm having no luck. The new litter will have no problem finding a new home~ they're so cute and little!!! We are going to keep Bella, the only female from the first litter~ she's made her way into my heart like no one else has.........She's become my buddy!! Otis is learning what kitty head butts are.......he thinks it's an invitation to attack! Hopefully when all is said and done......We will all be one big happy family!!

OK.....I've ran my mouth enough......I'm off to get you come pics:)

So...I'm thinking my computer has officially died?!?! Still haven't figured it out, nor have I tried. Real life is hectic......But there have been some good things to brag about. My youngest son, Cameron.....and his football team won the play offs, and if the weather is good this weekend..They will have their 'Superbowl'!! :) I am so proud of him and his team! They have worked very hard to get this far!

Oh.....And guess what else....Casey...don't laugh, but Momma kitty brought me her 6 new kittens this past weekend! And they're sooooo tiny! I have been able to get a few pictures and cant wait to share them with you!!! It's killing me not to blog!!! I miss all of ya'll so much! This is my 'Happy place" and dang it.......I could really use a break here!! LOL.......

As for the minis, nothing has been made yet....so your not missing much, lol. I did find a mini potato peeler the other day though......still can't get over how realistic it looks!! And found some tiny glass figurines at Hallmark yesterday.........

So......hopefully I'll be back soon....and the fact that I can't see anything on my blog right now isn't helping any....can you guys see my blog, or is it ust a fluke on my end??

Until Next Time!!!

Katie