3 comments | Posted in: Wordless Wednesdays
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
DoChara Photography Blog Update!
Joy Multiplied!
To view more from this super cute triplet session click here: DoChara Photography Blog
4 comments | Posted in: DoChara Photography
Tutorial Tuesday
Tutorial Tuesday
Adding An Image Watermark
I was chatting via email with Alish from Sisters' Stuff a few days ago and she asked me to show her how I made the image watermark on my photos. Sooo I made her a Photoshop tutorial that I will now share with you!!
(And a cute picture Asher & his girlfriend Chloe sporting the Aly&Ash watermark!)
{Download Tutorial Here}
(And a cute picture Asher & his girlfriend Chloe sporting the Aly&Ash watermark!)
The tutorial is quite thorough so please don't be intimidated by the length. It goes rather quickly! And once you have designed your image and saved, it only take a second to add to your photo each time!
Also don't forget to download yesterday's {Easter Card Freebie} and leave a comment with your blog address so I can come check out your new watermark!
Happy Tuesday!
2 comments | Posted in: Tutorials
I {Heart} Faces Photography Contest Week 13
I {Heart} Faces Photography Contest Week 13
"Dramatic B&W"
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Check out my photography blog:
&
submit your entry and check out more great B&W images entered in this weeks contest at:
Monday, March 29, 2010
Easter Freebie!
The first of many to come! Here is a Free 5x7 Easter Card download! This is a Photoshop file you can edit to add your own pictures and additional text if desired!
Don't have photoshop and want the card? Send me an email at alyashcreations@gmail.com with the two pictures you'd like to add I'll email back the jpeg file ready for printing!
Instructions for adding your own pictures:
1.Open your image
2. CTRL A to select all & CTRL C to copy
3. Open Card
4. Holding down the CTRL key click on the white box in the Color Mask Thumbnail
(A hidden box inside the frame should become selected)
5. Under the Edit tab click Paste Into
6. You can now use CTRL T (Free Transform) and adjust the size of your image to fit as desired.
(Don't forget to lock the transform to maintain the aspect ratio!)
Questions? Email me at alyashcreation@gmail.com
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Craft Crafty Ladies Night - April
Yes, so I have 100% dropped the ball on CCLN for next month. With the 1st Saturday being General Conference and Easter I knew we had to move the date. Then with some personal things going on later that month I was a little overwhelmed in planning it. But I wouldn't let myslef just skip it for the month so FINALLY I have made some decisions!
Date: Saturday, April 10th
Time: 5:00pm
Place: My House
RSVP: Wednesday, April 7th
Theme: Mother's Day
We will be getting a jump start on Mother's Day (It's May 9th!)
Make some projects for your mom...or yourself! (They can be from your kids right!)
This month you can bring your own project to work on if you already have one in mind and I will also have supplies for these great crafts:
Handmade Cards
Picture from {Sisters' Stuff}
Journals
Picture from {Cute as a Fox Creations}
Lovely Necklaces
Picture and Tutorial from {Trey & Lucy}
(Yup, this will be to Mommy from Asher!)
Have a Vinyl Project in mind?
Here are just some of the cute quote ideas available at
custom orders accepted too of course!
Check out the site for great inspiration and all the places to use Vinyl!
Who are these children,
and why are they calling me 'MOM'?
A Happy Family Is But An Earlier Heaven
If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!
Pieces of my heart...
How lucky I am to have something
that makes saying goodbye so hard
Contact Marni to submit your order at:
All orders will be ready and waiting for you at C.C.L.N!
See you there!
3 comments | Posted in: C.C.L.N.
"Somewhat Simple" Sunday
I just have to say a big THANKS to {Somewhat Simple} for featuring my stuff TWO weeks in a row!! It feels incredible to be featured along amazing projects I only hope to be able to create one day!
No comments | Posted in: Features
Saturday, March 27, 2010
See It Again Saturday
Incase you missed my Field Trip Friday with {Cute as a Fox Creations} here is the tutorial!
Recycled Jewelry Headband
What you'll need:
Headband
Permanent Scrapbook Tape
Glue Gun & Glue
Wire Cutters
Needle & Thread
Small Rectangle Piece of Netting or Tulle
Ribbon
Earing w/ Rubber Backing
Jewelry Embellishment of Your Choice
Felt Flower
Step One:
Place a small piece of permanent tape at the edge of your ribbon.
Make a loop and secure with the tape.
(It's a good idea to burn the edges of your ribbon with a lighter or match to prevent fraying)
Step Two:
Place another small piece of tape and squish into a skinny little bow.
You will need two of these so repeat steps 1 & 2
Step Three:
Stagger your two pieces of netting and fold in the shape of a fan.
Stick your threaded needle through the fan and wrap around to secure shape.
Step Four:
Hot glue the netting fan to your headband and then hot glue your 1st skinny bow on top. This will hide the glue that will seep through the netting. Hold secure until dry.
When dry set aside and grab your earring and wire cutters. Place the rubber backing on and clip the post just past the backing.
Step Five:
Place your earing through your flower and netting securing with the rubber backing. To ensure the backing will stay put, dab on a little hot glue.
Step Six:
Use hot glue to add your recycled jewelry.
(I clipped this heart lock and key off an old Target necklace!)
Lastly hot glue your second skinny bow to the back of the headband.
Ta-Da!
You now have a fabulous Recycled Jewelry Headband!
The options are limmitless so dig through your old jewelry and get crafting! Make sure to email me pictures or a link to a blog post so I can see your creations!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Field Trip Friday with Sassy Sites!
Hello cute readers on Aly & Ash! My name is Marni and I'm a stay at home mom/daycare provider/crafter/blog reader/vinyl maker! First thing you need to do is see what Jax is up to on my blog over at Sassy Sites! I have dedicated this blog to all sassy blogs and crafters! Leave me a comment and let me know what you think of the craft she's doing with us today, Monogram Bow Holder!
I am excited that today is Field Trip Friday! Jax is one of my most favorite blogger-girls! Today I am excited to let you know one of America's best kept secrets... vinyl lettering! I have created a little blog called Choose The Writing.
This is seriously one of the funnest, cutest, easiest things to decorate with, craft with, and scrapbook with. I thought instead of showing you just one thing you can do with it,
I am excited that today is Field Trip Friday! Jax is one of my most favorite blogger-girls! Today I am excited to let you know one of America's best kept secrets... vinyl lettering! I have created a little blog called Choose The Writing.
This is seriously one of the funnest, cutest, easiest things to decorate with, craft with, and scrapbook with. I thought instead of showing you just one thing you can do with it,
I would show you a few!
So, without further adieu....
add a little sass to your kitchen by using wood from Home Depot, color choice of spray paint, sand paper, and of course... ME (vinyl lettering)! Here's how I did it: I smiled real nice and pretty, and the boy at the Home Depot cut my wood for FREE! I brought it home, sanded it, painted it, and sanded it again to give it the bestest look-distressed!
I cheated and used a cute sign from Hobby Lobby that says 'LAUNDRY'. But of course, you could make your own using the same instructions from above or you don't even need to add that!
I think this next one just might be my favorite! You can take ANY frame, and apply the vinyl lettering straight on the mat! Easy... :)
Go on over to Choose The Writing and check out all my colors, thousands of fonts, and lots of adorable sayings!
xoxo-Marni
1 comment | Posted in: Field Trip Fridays
Thursday, March 25, 2010
More Features!! Wahoo!
Yay! I was featured for the {Shirts} I made Asher!
And two more features for my {Too Cute Towel Hanger}!!
And two more features for my {Too Cute Towel Hanger}!!
2 comments | Posted in: Features
Organization & Obsession {Not Related!}
So I'm back at it with my awesome suitcase packing organization skills! This time however it's not in a suitcase! I was going crazy fitting Asher's clothes into his dresser drawers and trying to keep it neat. As soon as I'd dig through for a specific onesie it was a mess again. Then I thought...HEY! Why don't I pack it like my suitcase! And voila! Neat, organized and doesn't get messed up when I pull that specific onesie!
(33 Onesies)
(18 Sleepers)
Now onto the obsession!
On sale plus $1.00 shipping...Don't mind if I do!
This was the first time I'd ordered online and love the individual packaging to prevent spills! It will come in really handy if I'm re-shipping for birthday gifts etc!
4 comments | Posted in: Random Fun Stuff
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
BIG NEWS!!
Ok so I know it's WORDLESS Wendesday (See super cute picture below!) but I just couldnt wait till tomorrow to share this BIG NEWS!!
Yes your eyes/moniters/computers are working correctly!
I may be too extremely intimidated to touch it...But it's there, in my craft room,...staring at me! My wonderful friend Breanne got a new fancy shancy sewing machine and was kind enough to lend me her old one so I can learn. (Did I mention before how extrememly intimidated I am!) So I am inviting my Arizona friends to come over or invite me over and help me learn and I'm excited to blog about my journey to mastering "The Machine"
Now you know how much I love comments, so please leave me some well wishes to boost my confidence and if you have a super simple sewing project leave the link so I can try it!
Thanks!
Wordless Wednesday
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
And the winner is...
Jessica Hills
Congratulations to Jessica for winning the Recycled Jewelry Headband Giveaway! Make sure to send pictures of you wearing the headband so we can all see how cute it looks!
alyashcreations@gmail.com
Thanks to all those who entered and especially to my new followers!
(I ♥ followers!)
alyashcreations@gmail.com
Thanks to all those who entered and especially to my new followers!
(I ♥ followers!)
Girls Flower Wreath Headband
Tutorial Tuesday
Girls Flower Wreath Headband
I wanted a flower wreath headband for a one year old photoshoot this last weekend.
So I decided to make one and you can too!
What You Need:
Scissors
Needle & Thread
Headband or Elastic
Silk Flowers Of Your Choice
(I bought a bundle from Joann's for like a dollar after coupon)
How To Make It:
1.Use your scissors to cut the flowers off the stem.
2.Thread your needle and tie a knot at the end so you are threading w/ double thickness.
3. Stab your needle through the center of your flower and thread all the way through to the knot.
(This will create a hibiscus look to the center of the flower.)
4. Sew back through the backing a few times & create a knot to secure.
5. Sew on each flower at equal distances.
(The distance apart will depend on how full you want your wreath.)
It's as simple as that!
How did it look on my model you ask?
Adorable!...
But... she hated it!
Oh well...better luck next time!
Monday, March 22, 2010
I {Heart} Faces Photography Contest Week 12
I {Heart} Faces Photography Contest Week 12
"Focusing on Angles"
Check out my photography blog:
&
submit your entry and check out more great angles entered in this weeks contest at:
Simply Bow-tiful!
So I have blogged before about my addiction to bow making...oh if only I had a daughter! My friend Chantae was gracious enough to show me how to make these little babies a while back and I haven't stopped since! I made a collection for my niece for her 3rd birthday but apparently they are not to be taken out of the {Mod Podge Tin} I made to hold them! (She also apparently packs the tin all around the house and takes it to school with her everyday!)
I have been working on a cute piggy tail collection of bows for my bestie's daughter and am shipping them off to Canada TODAY! (I promise!) Here are a few of my favorites!
Aren't they cute!
This week I will be focusing on the little princesses with a Flower Wreth Headband tutorial tomorrow for Tutorial Tuesdays and an Extremely Cute Bow Holder Tutorial for Field Trip Fridays over at {Choose The Writing} Oh and the Extrememly Cute Bow Holder is going along with the bows to Canada so Claire if you haven't recieved the parcel yet...no peeking!
Lastly, One for the Mommies:
Today is the last day to enter my Chic Mommy Headband GIVEAWAY over at {Cute As A Fox Creations}!! Don't miss out!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Spring Break Craft Extravaganza!
Well we didn't get nearly enough projects done but we did make some super snazzy shirts for our boys! Denise also made some super sweet onsies for her niece!
Check out her blog {Wallflower Grown Wild} to see her pics!
(And you really should because hers are way better than mine!)
Now onto my shirts: I was SOOO excited to try making bleach/freezer paper stencil shirts when I saw a tutorial on {I Am Momma Here Me Roar} and I think it's safe to estimate this is rapidly becoming my new addiction! So fun and easy to make I have already purchased a bunch more shirts and have ideas brewing away in my head!
Since I don't yet know how to sew...yes I know I need to learn! (That was one of the Extravaganza projects that got zero attention due to the juggling of a 2yr old, 5 month old and 2 month old!) Denise sewed on my appliques once they were ironed on. Thanks Denise!! I have a few more ideas and some great fabric that never made it to the table so hopefully I'll learn how to sew soon and whip up a few more! The stencil we used for the applique tie was from {Crap I've Made} but I also have this Guitar stencil bookmarked from {Trey and Lucy} and some awesome skull fabric waiting to be cut!
All in all it was a fabulous couple of days hanging with a great friend making some super cute stuff for our babes! Here are pictures of my stuff for the Ash Man! (Silly nickname lovingly given by his Aunt Tenille!)
*Don't forget to leave me some comment love and follow me for updates on future projects!*
***And don't forget to enter my headband giveaway on {Cute as a Fox Creations}!***
Friday, March 19, 2010
My Little Chunk-a-lunk!
Daddy snapped this picture of Ash & I after my friend Matty's wedding reception tonight.
Seriously how cute is this baby! LOVE HIM!
I would like to comment however on the fact that I had totally curled my hair all cute and semi messy like. (It looked totally hot) But alas in the time between that and getting Asher dressed, fed and ready to go it was a complete disaster of pulled out stands, drool and most likely a little boogers and spit up. So it went into the pony tail. Whatever.
(Ash is wearing one of the shirts Denise and I made during our Spring Break Craft Extravaganza!
Pictures of the whole collection coming tomorrow!)
Field Trip Friday with Cute as a Fox Creations: Silk Dyed Easter Eggs
Hi everyone! I want to thank Jacqui for having me over at Aly&Ash today. Isn't she amazing? You had better run over and check out the giveaway she is hosting on my blog! I mean it, GO! (just come back soon, so you can see what we are making today!)
Here's a little bit about me. My name is Ashley and I'm a SAHM to a 4 year old boy and a two year old girl. She's my little foxy lady! I love to make things with my hands and so far there isn't a craft I have tried that I haven't loved. My current favorites are sewing, although I'm still a novice, paper crafts, and all things mod podge. I've recently developed a love affair with the dollar store and the Ikea As-Is section. I've got lots of ideas brewing regarding both of those things. I have a degree in Computer Information Systems and so I really LOVE it when technology and crafting come together. In other words, a craft blog is pretty much heaven for me!
You can find me over at Cute as a Fox Creations where I share what I've made and try to share a tutorial or two as often as I can.
Today we are making Silk Dyed Easter Eggs. A sophisticated alternative to the neon eggs in little cups that die your hands and everything else for a week!
Before we begin with the tutorial I want to give you some tips on picking out your material.
IMPORTANT: Your ties must be 100% silk. There should be a tag at either end of the tie which let you know what it is made of. If there isn't a tag, don't get it. I found some ties I thought would be just awesome at Goodwill but they either didn't have a tag or were polyester.
Step 1: Disassemble your ties. Remove the center stitching, any tags, and all of the guts of the tie.
Step 2: Cut off a section of tie big enough to cover your eggs and give you enough room to twist it off at the bottom of the egg. You can get at least 2 eggs per tie, possibly 3.
Step 3: With the TOP of the material FACING the egg, wrap the egg as tightly as possible without breaking it.
I like to make sure the "top" or narrower part of the egg is at the bottom of my little pouch. The design usually comes out the best there.
You are going to have to fold over and tuck parts a little bit. Those areas will turn out a little lighter and the pattern probably won't come across as well.
Step 4: Wrap your egg package in your light colored material and twist tie off at the top.
Here is one egg all ready to hit the hot tub.
Step 5: After all your eggs are wrapped, put them in a pot of water with 1/2 cup vinegar. Bring to a boil and cook for 20-30 minutes.
Step 6: Remove from heat and allow to cool. They just need to cool long enough so you don't burn your hands off trying to unwrap them. It's a little like waiting for Christmas morning. :)
Tada! Here they are.
I picked a few of my favorites and put them in a vase with some brown paper shred. You could make up a very nice centerpiece for your holiday table.
Thanks for having me Jacqui! I'd LOVE to see some pictures if you give this a try. Come on over and see me at Cute as a Fox Creations, I'd love to have you!
Here's a little bit about me. My name is Ashley and I'm a SAHM to a 4 year old boy and a two year old girl. She's my little foxy lady! I love to make things with my hands and so far there isn't a craft I have tried that I haven't loved. My current favorites are sewing, although I'm still a novice, paper crafts, and all things mod podge. I've recently developed a love affair with the dollar store and the Ikea As-Is section. I've got lots of ideas brewing regarding both of those things. I have a degree in Computer Information Systems and so I really LOVE it when technology and crafting come together. In other words, a craft blog is pretty much heaven for me!
You can find me over at Cute as a Fox Creations where I share what I've made and try to share a tutorial or two as often as I can.
Today we are making Silk Dyed Easter Eggs. A sophisticated alternative to the neon eggs in little cups that die your hands and everything else for a week!
Before we begin with the tutorial I want to give you some tips on picking out your material.
- Pick really saturated colors. Reds, purples, dark greens, dark blues. As you go through the dying process, the colors get washed out, so the darker you start with the better.
- Remember that you are dying a small egg, so a big pattern might not be the best fit. You will only get a small piece of it more than likely. I personally think small geometric patterns turn out best.
- Get your ties at a thrift store, garage sale, or back of your closet(just make sure you ask first!). In my area, March 27 is the next 1/2 off Saturday at Goodwill. Mark your calendars!
- 100% Silk Ties, scarfs, shirts, anything you don't mind cutting up
- Vinegar
- Eggs
- Twist Ties or something to tie off the eggs.
- Flour Sack Cloth or some kind of white material. Old sheets, pillowcases, or whatever scraps you have will be fine. I bought mine at the Dollar store and 1 was enough for 12 eggs.
IMPORTANT: Your ties must be 100% silk. There should be a tag at either end of the tie which let you know what it is made of. If there isn't a tag, don't get it. I found some ties I thought would be just awesome at Goodwill but they either didn't have a tag or were polyester.
Step 1: Disassemble your ties. Remove the center stitching, any tags, and all of the guts of the tie.
Step 2: Cut off a section of tie big enough to cover your eggs and give you enough room to twist it off at the bottom of the egg. You can get at least 2 eggs per tie, possibly 3.
Step 3: With the TOP of the material FACING the egg, wrap the egg as tightly as possible without breaking it.
I like to make sure the "top" or narrower part of the egg is at the bottom of my little pouch. The design usually comes out the best there.
You are going to have to fold over and tuck parts a little bit. Those areas will turn out a little lighter and the pattern probably won't come across as well.
Step 4: Wrap your egg package in your light colored material and twist tie off at the top.
Here is one egg all ready to hit the hot tub.
Step 5: After all your eggs are wrapped, put them in a pot of water with 1/2 cup vinegar. Bring to a boil and cook for 20-30 minutes.
Step 6: Remove from heat and allow to cool. They just need to cool long enough so you don't burn your hands off trying to unwrap them. It's a little like waiting for Christmas morning. :)
Tada! Here they are.
I picked a few of my favorites and put them in a vase with some brown paper shred. You could make up a very nice centerpiece for your holiday table.
Thanks for having me Jacqui! I'd LOVE to see some pictures if you give this a try. Come on over and see me at Cute as a Fox Creations, I'd love to have you!
