Need Another Unusual Gift?

Try one of these, either for an cat lover or for a family member who has everything.

A greeting card/gift that will give the receiver something to ponder over through the weeks.
Materials

• A collection of items that represent what your family did over the past year
• Holiday decorations
• Family photos
• #9 or #10 business envelopes

Instructions

1. Gather your items, such as ballet slippers for a dance recital, a trophy for a winning season, or a mini house for a move to a new home. Assemble the collection, along with festive holiday decorations and family photos, and take a picture of it.
2. Using a word processing program, compose a greeting that includes a list of what to look for in the photo. If you have a digital camera, insert your photo above the text and print out the page. If you're using a snapshot, leave room at the top, print the page, then tape or glue on the picture. Print or color-copy as many as you need.

Got a cat lover for a best friend and need something unusual and personal that will tell her you love her no matter whether the cat sheds on your good black clothes or not? Then check out this gift:
Materials

• 1 yard of fabric
• Polyester filling
• Chalk
• Scissors
• Pins
• Dried catnip
• 1-foot piece of fabric
• Needle and thread
• Embroidery thread

Instructions

1. To make the cushion, fold the fabric in half so the patterned sides are touching. Draw an oval on the fabric with chalk, then cut along the outline with scissors to make two ovals of equal size. Pin them together and stitch three-quarters of the way around to create a pocket.
2. Turn the fabric right side out and stuff it with polyester filling that has been sprinkled with catnip. Turn in the open edge and hand stitch it closed.
3. The fish is made in the same fashion. Fold a 1-foot piece of fabric in half, draw a fish shape on it, and cut along the outline so to create two fish of equal size. Sew up the sides, leaving the tail open.
4. Turn the pocket right side out, stuff with polyester filling and catnip, and sew closed.
5. As a finishing touch, stitch big green eyes and colorful stripes on the fish with embroidery thread.

Quote: My will shall shape my future. Whether I fail or succeed shall be no man's doing but my own. --Elaine Maxwell

Blessings!