YEE HAW - Girl's Camp Is here!

Howdy everyone! Sorry for the lack of posts lately... BUT I undertook some huge projects! I thought I would share on of them with you! In my church I work with the Young Women (girls ages 12-18). Our girls are leaving for Girl's Camp tomorrow. They will be gone for a week. Originally I was hoping to go but I ended up not being able to. So I thought it would be fun to send the girls off with care packages to let them know how much we love them. And of course it was the perfect excuse to do some PAPERCRAFTING! Yee Haw!

So here are pictures of the final projects:

The theme for Young Women's Camp this year is "How the West was One"... So basically cowboy...er... girl and western themed. I had so much fun creating with this theme. One of my favorite things were the cowprint treat bags I created with white lunch sacks.


I used some plain white lunch sacks that I bought at Target. I then cut out two different sizes (large and small)of cow blotches from some Cut-N- Dry stamp pad foam that I had. I just free handed it, no patterns needed.







Then I started by trying to use a freshly inked black stamp pad to stamp the blotches on with, but it really didn't get a dark enough image. So I switched to black acrylic paint. I just used a foam brush and brushed black acrylic paint onto my two stamps. I stamped it onto the white bag fronts, rotating the shape's orientation as I moved upward. After the front dried I flipped the bag over and stamped the back. The paper on the bags was really thin so once they were open they were rather flimsy and transparent which really washed out the black spots. So I added a second bag inside for better color and more durability.




Once I finished the bags, I filled them and made a cute tag for the front, added a large eyelet and put some twine through it to attach it to the bag. The bags were tied shut with some calico type fabric I had. I just snipped at the top of the fabric then ripped down the strip to give me an unfinished, raw edge.


I just loved the finished product!





Okay, so now you may be wondering what is inside these little bags.... Well, that was half the fun too! I decided to put a bunch of Western and Camp themed snacks inside. Here is what I came up with:

In case you can't see everything clearly, here is what is inside: Fish Bait (Gummy Worms), Moose Droppings (whoppers), Smores (a mixture of Golden Grahms, Mini Marshmallows, and Milk Chocolate Chips), First Aid Kit (a bandaid and 2 kisses for their boo boos), Fire Logs (tootsie rolls), Lassos (rope type licorice), Bear Food (BitOHoney), Kindling (pretzel sticks) and a little note from us. Here is a picture of the note I included:

Okay that was camp project #1. Now here is a peek at Camp Project #2.

Mini Camp Journals!!!!!

I made these using my Bind It All! Love that little machine, but it gets me into trouble! Anyhow, I made 18, YES 18! mini camp journals. Each one has a twine lanyard so that the girls can wear them around their necks and take them with them. I don't know exactly what they will do with them... maybe journal, take notes, get their friends to sign them or later add pictures.

Each journal has about 30 pages... I cut the pages using my Dreamkuts Machine (by the makers of Bind It All). I never would have taken on such a project if I did not have that machine. I cut enough for 18 journals in about 35 minutes. AMAZING!

The gingham patterned paper and the red bandana paper is from K and Company. The blue matte in the center is from Close To MY Heart. It has a white core which makes it perfect for sanding and distressing.

I mounted the patterned paper onto 2 chipboard square coasters to create the front and back covers.

Just thought I would share a fun detail. I used my really fine tipped sharp scissors to cut a fringe border on my brown cardstock strip. It gave it a fun fringed leather look. So Western!

Well now you all can see why I haven't posted in AGES! This is what I have been up to! I had so much fun creating these for the girls! I sure hope they love them!

I hope that you all enjoyed seeing them and that they inspired you to create!

Happy Trails!

-Alisha

Cupcake Challenge #17

I have been a fan of Taylored Expressions (Taylor Van Bruggen) for a while now. I love her blog. Lots of fun stuff she shares there! I decided to do one of her cupcake challenges. Taylor posts a sketch and we all get to make something following the general outline of the sketch. I have been following her Cupcake Challenges for a while and today I thought I would give it a try!It was really fun!

I don't have many cupcake stamps but Taylor said it wasn't a requirement....

So I started flipping through my stamps and found this set by Close To My Heart. It has been ages since I have played around with this set and I had recently bought some Martha Stewart BLACK glitter and some pink little rhinestones... Well, they were just beggin to be glued down to something! So this is what I came up with:

I only wish you could see the bling a bit better.

The paper is all Close To My Heart as are most of the stamps. The hanger is made with silver craft wire and the boa is chenille Sassy Strands from Close To My Heart.

The pink ribbon is from Papertrey Ink along with the "frame" stamp that was used around the shoes. The pink rhinestones on the bottom shoe are from Heidi Grace and the pink bling flower on the top shoe is from Kaiser Scrapbooks.

All in all just a very fun GIRLY card. My two girls just loved it. I think it might have had something to do with all of the BLING!

Well hope you all enjoy.

-Alisha

Tuesday's Two Takes

Every Tuesday my friend Erin and I will be posting the results from our swap challenge. It will be two different takes on the same set of criteria.

So this week was all about finding inspiration for creating in things we see all around us. Their were two requirements.

1. Find something that you can take inspiration from for your color scheme.


2. Find something different that you can take inspiration from for your composition.
   

Then of course we included pictures of those two things along with a picture of the finished product. Alright... drumroll please..... Here are the results:

This is a photo I found at Pottery Barn's online store. I based my color scheme on the chair to the left in the foreground. Fun COLORS!!!

This picture is also taken from Pottery Barn and I used it to help me in my composition. First of all I loved the polka dots... but what I liked was how the colors alternated. I did something similar in my card.

And this is what I came up with. I absolutely loved the color combo! Loved playing with my Polka Dot Basics set by Papertrey Ink. Well if you would like to take the challenge feel free to post a link in your response so that I can check out what inspired you!

Thanks for popping by! Oh and don't forget to check out the darling card Erin made for this challenge!

-Alisha

Supplies used:

Stamps: Polka Dot Basics and Garden of Life (Papertrey Ink)

Inks: Cranberry, Autumn Terracotta, Crystal Blue, Sweet Leaf, Buttercup, Black (Close To My Heart)

Black and White Cardstock by Close To My Heart

Gingham Ribbon by Close To My Heart

Blue clip by Making Memories

A Little Behind.....Arte Y Pico Award

I have taken way too long to acknowledge that both Lynn Mercurio and Terri Howard picked my little blog to receive the Arte Y Pico award. What an honor! I have been a fan of both of these lady's blogs for a while now!
As I understand it the award is intended for bloggers who contribute artistically to the blogging community. Those who receive the award are to pass it on to 5 others... My delay in passing it on is rather embarassing... To be honest, I didn't know how to hyperlink on my blog. But my patient and wise friend Erin helped me out. So now, without further delay, I happily pass the award onto these five ladies:

Debbie Olson
Lisa Johnson
Molly B
Sherrie
Jennifer Kirk

I have been following Lisa and Debbie's blogs for quite some time now and they are just amazing! Molly, Sherrie and Jennifer are more recent discoveries. You will have to visit their blogs to feast on all of the goodies they have there! Thanks to all of you ladies for sharing your creativity! Now pass it on!

-Alisha

ART BLITZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been dying to share all of my May Guest Star Stamper Submissions for Papertrey Ink
But I wanted to wait until the contest closed... Well it is closed! So now you are gonna see them all at once! ART BLITZ! and then in a day or so TUTORIAL BLITZ!

So I will start at the beginning:

Pink, Yellow and Black Floral Card

Supplies used:

Stamps: Garden of Life by Papertrey Ink

Inks: Berry Sorbet, Lemon Tart, Summer Sunrise (Papertrey Ink), Black (Close To My Heart)

Cardstock: White, Summer Sunrise, and Berry Sorbet (Papertrey Ink)

Summer Sunrise Twill Ribbon (Papertrey Ink), Buttons and Black Hemp (Close To My Heart)

Triple Color Floral Thankyou

Supplies used:

Stamps: Garden of Life

Inks and Cardstocks and Ribbons: Summer Sunrise, Aqua Mist, and Berry Sorbet (Papertrey Ink)

Other: Silver Brads and White Daisy Ink by Close To MY Heart

Floral Terracotta Pot Card

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Garden of Life and Polka Dot Basics

Inks: Pansy Purple, Petal, Olive and White Daisy

Papers: Spring Moss (Papertrey Ink) Autumn Terracotta, Pansy Purple, Petal, Olive and White and Olive BT paper(Close To My Heart) and Striped Pattern Paper by Chatterbox

Other: White organdy ribbon (Close To My Heart)

Tools used: Fiskars Diamond edge punch, Cuttlebug Dies, and Qtips

Woven Sunflower Card

Supplies used:

Inks: Olive, Chocolate and Cocoa (Close To My Heart) Summer Sunrise (Papertrey Ink)

Stamps used: Garden of Life (Papertrey Ink)

Paper: Spring Moss Cardstock, Father Knows Best Patterned Paper (Papertrey Ink), Chocolate and White Cardstock (Close To My Heart)

Other: Copper beads (source unknown), Summer sunrise twill ribbon (Papertrey Ink), Cheesecloth and gold thread.

Lollipop Card

Supplies Used:

Papers: Patterned Paper (The Goods by American Crafts, Bubblegum, Clover Meadow and White Cardstock (CTMH)

Stamps: Garden of Life and Its A Celebration by Papertrey Ink

Inks: Sunflower, Sunny Yellow, Bubblegum (CTMH)

Other: Glitter by Martha Steward, Brads and white waxy flax by CTMH, Ribbon by American Crafts, kitchen baggies, toothpicks

Cinnamon Roll Mother's Day Card

Supplies used:

Stamps: Garden of Life and Borders and Corners by Papertrey Ink

Inks: Bamboo and Chocolate by CTMH

Papers: Patterned Paper, Platinum metal paper, and Chocolate Cardstock by CTMH, Patterned paper for heart is from Basic Grey

Ribbon, button, waxy flax all from CTMH

Other: Liquid Applique

Deployed Soldier Father's Day Card

Supplies used:

Papers: Black and white Cardstock (CTMH), Father Knows Best Patterned Paper (Papertrey Ink)

Inks: Black(CTMH)

Stamps: Father Knows Best and Borders and Corners: Rectangles by Papertrey Ink

Lemon Tart Ribbon (Papertrey Ink)

Black and White Bakers twine by Martha Stewart

Well there you go.... that is all I have been holding back for weeks now. Hope you enjoyed seeing them as much as I enjoyed creating them. Come back through this next week to see the tutorials I will be posting. I will be showing how I created the Sunflower card, the lollipop card, the cinnamon roll card and the terracotta pot card.

Happy Papertrey Release Party to all!

-Alisha

A Card for Miss Terri N Da Hood (A HYBRID)

Miss Terri Howard (aka stampin in da hood) thinks that I have abandoned Close To My Heart for good.... Not so! Close To My Heart will always be, well, close to my heart! A mother loves ALL her children. And just to prove it, I went and made a card with Close To My Heart stamps just for her!

So here you are Miss Hood:

The inside says: "You Party Animal!"

Okay so I did sneak in some Papertrey Ink stamps too... but the focal point is Close To My Heart!

Supplies:

Stamps: In The Wild and Rustic Alphabet (CTMH), Borders and Corners: Square, Polka Dot Basics, Father Knows Best and It's A Celebration (PTI)

Inks: Spring Iris, Honey, Petal, Outdoor Denim, Autumn Terracotta, Pansy Purple, Clover Meadow, and Sweet Leaf (CTMH) Berry Sorbet (PTI)

Papers: Patterned Paper (Basic Grey), Summer Sunrise Cardstock (PTI), Clover Meadow Carstock (CTMH)

Other: googlie eyes (craftstore), Berry Sorbet ribbon (PTI), white waxy flax (CTMH) and a label maker by Dymo.

-Alisha

A Swap Challenge! Brought to You by the Makers of InkySmiles and PaperProzac

Here is one of the HAPPIEST cards I have made! My friend Erin and I love to challenge ourselves and think "Outside the Box". So she and I decided to do a quick challenge/swap. I will be sending her this very happy card.

There were three guidelines to this challenge:

1. Create a card using Papertrey Ink stamps



2. Use BUSY ribbon



3. No Bows allowed: meaning do something different with the ribbon than just tying a bow.
   

Okay, I have to say that the last one was my greatest challenge.... do something with my ribbon other than tying a bow?? Huh? What?....

Well I have a LOVE/HATE relationship with challenges that make me work outside my comfort zone. I hate them cuz I always worry that I won't be able to come up with anything. But in the end I LOVE them because I usually am able to dig down deep and come up with something fresh, unique and fun and I really end up growing as an artist!

So what about you? Are you up for a challenge? Take me and Erin's challenge! Create a card and post a link to your blog in the comment section and let's see what you come up with following these 3 guidelines!

Come back next week... Erin and I plan on making this a weekly event! Monday nights we will be posting our swap challenge results and then issuing the challenge to all of you!

Have a colorful day! Oh and don't forget to check out Erin's blog to find her adorable card that she made for this challenge!

Supplies used for this card:

From Papertrey Ink: Garden of Life stamp set and White Cardstock

From Close To My Heart: Cranberry, Autumn Terracotta, Honey, Sweet Leaf, Twilight, Amethyst and Black Ink

Ribbon is by American Crafts and We R Memory Keepers

-Alisha

My Words about "These Is My Words"

For those of you reading my blog... stop (after you're done reading this post) and run (don't walk) and get this book: "These Is My Words" by Nancy E. Turner. Buy it, borrow it or steal it.... but GET IT! My mom had been telling me for months that I needed to read it. And everyone who read it raved about it. So now it is my turn to rave!

I absolutely LOVED this book! Couldn't put it down, literally! I stayed up til 1:30 am reading and then was back up at 6:00 am the next morning. I read it in about a 30 hour time span. And everyone I have leant it to has done the same.

So do I have your curiosity peaked? Are you wondering just what makes it so great? Well, first off I have to say that it has EVERYTHING you could want! Action, adventure, romance, danger, excitement, fun, laughter, heartache.... everything. And I have to say that the author handles many of the "mature content" scenes with such grace that you understand what is happening but don't feel like you are reading something graphic or offensive.

My favorite part of the book however has to be the main character! Sarah Agnes Prine! When I grow up I want to be her! She is a spunky, independent, hardworking, no-nonsense, "what ya see is what ya get" pioneer woman. And yet through all of that you see glimpses of her feminine and vulnerable side that lends itself to the sweetest love story.

One last thing to say about the book.... I realized half way through the book that part of the reason I couldn't put it down was that I felt like if I left the book for too long that the story would go right on without me and I would miss it! That's when I know I have a good book; when the story takes on a life of its own and feels like it is happening in real time.

So now you all need to go out and find this book and read it! When you are done, come back and leave a comment and let me know how you liked it.

I am reading the sequel "Sarah's Quilt" and then I plan on reading the 3rd: "Star Garden".

Happy Reading! "T.V. will always fail when competing with a good book!"

-Alisha