Mariposa Altered Box

Hello there!

I hope that your weekend is off to a wonderful start.

I've watched so many videos on altered boxes. They are such wonderfully exquisite works of art and I've been wanting to try my hand at creating one of my very own for some time now but have lacked the motivation (I guess). I don't know where the lack of motivation was coming from but today I managed to roll up my sleeves and create one. And, so, today I'm sharing the very first altered box created by yours truly.

Oh how I enjoyed making this. I hope you like it!

Box Recipe
· Michaels Petal Paper Gift Box
· Acrylic Paint (custom color using white, crimson, and orange)

· DCWV Mariposa Paper Stack
· Tim Holtz Distressing Tool
· Tim Holtz Distressed Ink (Vintage Photo)
 · Glossy Accents
· Prima Paper Mini Roses

· I Am Roses Paper Mulberry Flowers
· Spare Parts 3D Paper Flowers
· Glimmer Mist (Iridescent Gold, Crocheted Doily, & Peach Delight))
 · Recollections Window and Page Corner Embelishments

· Lace Trim From Local Outlet Store

 

 

  

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Sincere Thank You

In a world where priorities are too commonly centered around self it is quite a refreshing change when someone goes out of their self-less way to go above and beyond for someone else.

Here is a thank you card I created for someone who I want to show my sincere appreciation to for going above and beyond for me!

 

Card Recipe

· My Minds Eye Lost & Found Sunshine Designer Paper Pad
· Hero Arts Clear Stamps (Everyday Sayings)
· Memento Ink Pad (Rich Cocoa)

· Creative Fiber Arts Ribbon
· I Am Roses Mini Taupe Rose (R2 - 805)

· Recollections Floral Border Punch

   

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!

God's Promises

I am still passionate for mini albums and today I'm sharing a tp mini that I created to serve as a beautiful reminder of God's promises to us.

I call it my Little Book of God's Promises because it is jam packed with some of my favorite “promise” verses. I had a lot of fun making it, hope you enjoy it.

And here's a video that shows a little more:

 

 

SOME SUPPLIES AND TECHNIQUES USED IN THIS DESIGN

 

[PAPER] My Mind's Eye, Lost & Found 6x6 Designer Paper Pad

[FLOWERS] I Am Roses http://www.iamroses.com/

[FIBERS] Creative Fiber Arts http://www.creativefiberarts.com/

[ACRYLIC PAINT] Burnt Umber

[EMBOSSING] VersaMark Ink Pad and Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Power (Vintage Photo)

[GLIMMER MIST] Lemon Zest, Peach Delight, Candy Apple Red, Iridescent Gold

STANDARD SHIPPING TAG LEATHER LOOK

 

1. Tags were sprayed with glimmer mist and heat dried.

2. The edges were distressed with Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

3. The floral design was stamped with VersaMark Ink and embossed with Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Embossing Power.

~~~~~


The verses on the tags are my paraphrases. The actual scripture is below.

~Romans 5:10~
For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

~Acts 13:38~
“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.

~John 17:17~
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

~John 14:20~
On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

~John 3:36~
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.



Thanks for stopping by!

Faith Book

Oh my, I can hardly believe that it’s been three months since my last post!

Although there has been an obvious lull in my blog postings there has not been a shortage of crafting projects around these parts. In fact, I have had my crafty little hands in all sorts of new crafts this summer. I have dabbled in jewelry making, polymer clay beads, and my most favorite of all: mini albums.

I have acquired an absolute passion for mini albums. I made a couple of paper bag mini albums as gifts over the summer, one for a baby shower and another for a birthday. I did photograph them. I’ll have to find those photos and post them for you to see.
 

After making a few minis using empty toilet paper rolls I thought the size of this mini is the perfect little size to hold perfect little Bible verses and so I set out to search YouTube for how crafters have utilized this medium for this purpose. I came across a channel (faithfulcrafter1) where Valerie had created some beautiful little minis using scripture, just like I had envisioned. I absolutely fell in love with one of Valerie's works of art and so I recreated it here. Today I want to share that mini album with you. I call it my Faith Book because it is jam packed with some of my favorite “faith” verses. I hope you like it.

 

 

 

 

What I used:

Empty toilet paper rolls (duh), DCWV Mariposa Paper Collection, Prima flowers, The Paper Studio ribbons and fibers, eyelets, and a 2-inch ring binder.



Thanks for stopping by!

 

A New Chapter

I’ve been unemployed for six months now and have spent a lot of time in prayer, seeking the Lord’s guidance for the next chapter of my life.

For the last ten years I have worked for a handful of companies performing the duties of a Data Analyst. For those of you wondering what exactly a Data Analyst does, the Data Analyst’s focus is analysis and problem solving related to data, types of data, and relationships among data elements within a business system or IT system.

As a Data Analyst, I was unhappy and burned out long before my position was eliminated last December. My husband and I often talked about me quitting and, although my husband whole-heartedly supported my quitting, I was always too afraid of making such a drastic change to our “two-income” income.

Well, here I am six months after that bitter-sweet day last December and, after lots and lots of prayer, I am as excited as a child the night before the first day of school. Why is that, you ask? Well, because I am… except for the child part, that is. You see, I have re-enrolled in college and my first day of school is tomorrow.  I’m a little nervous because tomorrow marks the first day of my pursuit of a brand new career. I have decided that I want to be a children’s book illustrator and so I am pursuing a degree in Fine Arts. I know it won’t be easy but, with God by my side, all things are possible.

I know that this is a blog about crafting so I hope you don’t mind too much when I share something personal and exciting. Thank you for allowing me to share.

Well, let’s get on with tonight's craft…

Card Recipe

· Colorbok Spring Morning Pattern Pack
· Cardstock (pink and white)
· Wilton Small Doilie
· Alice MaeDigital Image by Some Odd Girl
· Copics (E11, E13, RV10, R43, Y11, Y0000,C1)

· Prismalcolor Colored Pencils (PC941,PC947)
· TPC Studio Greetings Clear Stamps

· ColorBox Archival Dye Ink Pad (Fireberry)
· Tim Holtz Distressed Ink (Spun Sugar)

· Simplicity Button Bucket (Green)
· Sew Easy Floss (Quick Sand)
· Michales Celebrate It Ribbon (Green)

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Welcome Back, Areli

Happy Saturday, everyone!

I’m sorry that I haven’t posted in a while but I’ve been a little preoccupied with my family. A few weeks ago my husband, AJ, gave us quite the scare with what we thought was a heart attack. He was admitted to the hospital where several tests showed his symptoms were not related to a heart condition. That was some pretty scary stuff. I am so thankful to God that AJ’s heart is healthy and that, as I type this post in our office, I am watching AJ scrape the old paint off our shed in preparation for a fresh coat of paint. It’s kind of how I’m seeing my husband after my scare, with a fresh coat of paint. I’m seeing all the good in him that we wives tend to take for granted after years of marriage. AJ is a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. He is my best friend. I love him dearly and cannot imagine my life without him. Thank you, Lord, for allowing us to keep him around.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The nudge to draw is still going strong. I have a sketch pad full of drawings and I so love how drawing takes my mind to different places. It’s like being on vacation!

Here is my latest drawing. She’s an adorable little chibi that I’m calling Destinee, named after my beautiful niece who turns 7 tomorrow and who is the recipient of my latest masterpiece. Ok, ok so I’m no Picasso or Michelangelo but I am proud of how my drawing is coming along :-)

Oh yeah! I almost forgot! I also drew a self-portrait... take a look at my new profile picture :-)

 

Card Recipe

· Colorbok Spring Morning Pattern Pack
· Cardstock (pink and blue)
· Wilton Small Doilie
· Peaceful Destinee Digital Image by Areli Johnson (that's me!)

· Copics (B34, B37, E11, E13, E15, E18, R20, R43, RV10)

· Cuttlebug and Divine Swirls Embossing Folder

· TPC Studio Greetings Clear Stamps

· ColorBox Pigment Stamp Pad (Orchid)
· Tim Holtz Distressed Ink (Spun Sugar)

· Martha Stewart Dimensional Pearls (Light Pink)

Thanks for stopping by!

My Artistic Debut

Happy Thursday, everyone! The weekend is almost here and I can hardly wait since my husband and I are getting away for some extended quality time together. Long overdue!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

So, I've been coloring a lot of images and, lately, I've remembered how I used to love to draw as a young girl and teenager. And I was pretty good at it, too!

I've been feeling a nudge to draw something (anything) for a little while now but I always manage to talk myself out of it. I tell myself, "Girl! You haven't drawn anything in decades! What makes you think you can still do it?"

Well, I finally turned down the volume on that little voice and took a crack at doing something that I once loved to do! I know that it's not anything spectacular, and even a bit juvenile, but it's exactly the jump start I needed to remind me of how much I love to draw. You will definitely be seeing a lot more of my drawings in the future!

I drew the bear, by the way :-)

Card Recipe

· DCWV Linen Closet Matstack
· Cardstock (brown, blue, and white)

· Bear Image by Areli Johnson

· Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol (PC941 Light Umber, PC947 Dark Umber, PC946 Dark Brown, PC1054 Ginger Root)

· Cuttlebug and Swiss Dots Embossing Folder

· Tim Holtz Distressed Ink (Antique Linen)

· Dollar Store Ribbon (Sheer Light Blue)

· American Crafts Ribbon (Baby Mockingbird #6)
· Blue buttons from local antique store
· Memory Keepers Sew Easy Floss (quicksand)

Thanks for stopping by!