Camp Pictures....

Or at least what I was able to take...still waiting on some more (fingers crossed)

 Most of the above pictures were taken at around 630 in the morning....with the exception of the top photo

 One policy was that everything had to be put away before they went to bed...the items that were not were placed in the "UH OH" box (kind like a lost and found) and in order for the girls to get their stuff back they had to do something to earn it....here the two pictures above are of two of my girls "butt writing" their names...its really funny to watch....especially when you have them do their full name!

Pictures of our skit...we kinda did a night at the museum meets harry potter type of a thing. Since we were France our setting was at the Lourve and the girls were on tour and every time they would pass one of the "works of art" something would happen...ie the painting or statue would interact with them in some sort of way...cause the girls to get our security guard to have them look...nothing happens and everyone is still and in their places...etc...finally it ends with the tourist running out screaming and the art having a big party...in a nut shell.

The rest of my pictures were of the fire...I love fire so I couldn't resist taking photos of it...it was my down time so to speak

Camp Crafts....Part 2

OK...so I am back with a part two of our camp crafting adventures. Our stake had several crafts to do while we were up at camp. Besides rolled fabric rosettes and fabric die-cut flower clips we made button bracelets.

I know bad lighting and I am so not a jewelry model

Here is what you need:

Assorted buttons (any where from 20-30 give or take)

Clear beading/jewelry cord that stretches

Scissors

First you will take the cording and wrap it twice around your wrist. This way you will get a bracelet that is big enough to slip on but not overly big while at the same time providing enough extra cording to "sew" or string your buttons on.

Once you have your cord measured, cut it. Then you will string your first button on MAKING SURE YOU LEAVE ENOUGH ROOM AT THE END TO TIE IT OFF!!! 

Depending on how you string your buttons and the size you use, your bracelet might turn out chunky or flat...this simply comes from trial and error and undoing and redoing the stringing. 

Once you have your bracelet the way you like it, make sure you securely tie it off (we tied ours about four times) and then gently stretch it to make sure it wont come undone...once you are satisfied...cut off the extra lengths. Viola! You have a new accessory.

These are pictures of my bracelet...I used all pink and grey buttons to make mine.  

Box of Crayons...

Each night up at camp, before the girls and leaders all go to bed, we have a little night devotional that we like to call a Night Light. The nightlights are usually centered on the day's theme (which is usually a sub theme for the whole camp theme). This year our camp theme was on unity and I was assigned the first night, which was Unity in our Ward. For my night light I used the talk that Sister Mary Cook gave in this years General YW Broadcast (found HERE) and used the part where she talks about the counselor and a box of crayons he saw while sitting on the stand. 

I wont go into the whole story, I just wanted to let you in on where I got the idea from...anyway moving on. I started by saying this:

 If we build up those around us instead of demeaning them and ourselves, we will be much happier in this life.

Ardeth Kapp told of a time she went to Washington, D.C. to participate in a national leadership task force. There was a great diversity in the women in attendance (age, culture, faith, language) yet they were all united in a cause to help protect the family and society. One of the women made an observation and said "One woman is helpful; ten women are influential; one hundred are powerful; one thousand are invincible." Unity brings strength. That is why it is so important that we build others up instead of tearing them down. A good woman can feed those - including themselves - who hunger at times for a feeling of acceptance.

We are not good judges of ourselves as we reach for goals that may belong to another season of our lives.

A word of sincere commendation is like a ray of sunshine that brings a smile to the face and a warm feeling to the heart.

Ardeth Kapp mentioned that when she was the General President of the LDS Young Women's Organization, she felt that she was not adequate for her position until a dear friend said to her "You Are Better than you think you are."

Sometimes we set unrealistic goals for ourselves and become discouraged when we cannot reach them. We do not have to be so hard on ourselves. Just keep going.

Writing notes of appreciation for small acts of kindness, a great presentation, or to someone who followed through on something they promised, can be all they need to make their day. Our husbands, children, family members, friends all need a little encouragement from time to time. The effort it takes to write a little note or whisper a kind word can go a long way in cheering someone up. (found HERE)

I then had the girls go around the circle and tell each girl some of the positive things they liked about her (This was neat...I was only requiring 2-3 simple words or phrases and the girls just went on and on...night lights take usually about 15 mins...this took at least an hour and a half).

Everyone was in tears by then. So then I mentioned the story about the box of crayons and handed out my hand out.

Click HERE for Download PDF set of 8

Camp Crafts....Part 1

So as you have probably read from my previous posts (you can tell when I blog from my phone...it looks different) that I am back from girls camp!!! LOL. So I know last night that I promised you I would post some things but the lack of sleep had caught up with me and I crashed...

So I thought I would post some of the craft ideas that we had at camp both at a ward and stake level. The first one I am going to show you we had one of our 4th year girls teach the younger campers and no...I didn't get any pictures taken of them making it so I have searched the wonderful world wide web to borrowed someone's pictures and tutorial (shame on me I know). I am hoping that as soon as I collect enough pop can tabs I will be able to replace these pictures and tutorial with my own...(but I don't drink a lot from pop cans so it could be a while).

Pop/Soda Can Tab Bracelets!
You can find cute pictures and an easy to follow tutorial at Lolly Jane Boutique found HERE (also check out some of their other cute ideas!!!)

Camp is Just Around the Corner....!!!!!

As this post title states...camp is just around the corner. In fact it comes this Tuesday!!!! Eek!!! There is so much to do (little things) to get together and look where I am...I'm blogging!!!!! Shame shame I know my name....LOL.  Anyway, I just wanted to take some time and show you what I have been working on...

Will be posting a tutorial on this as soon as I get back from camp!

A Sneak Peek...

...into my almost top secret project that I am working on for girls camp. Lets just say that this is the start to what will be a very challenging but fun project to work on...will post pictures once completed and we have left for girls camp (because I want the other leaders who are going to camp to be surprised as well).

The blue, white and red....

So after going through some of my camp stuff and evaluating what I had from last year to what I needed for this year and I realized I need lanyards. You see last year I typed up the days schedule and gave copy of it to each girl and leader so they knew what was happening through out the day. The schedules fit inside the badge holders and were hung from a lanyard. This year I wanted to do the same thing but incorporate our wards theme, France, so I chained (crochet) blue, white and red lanyards for every one and if I don't say my self, they turned out pretty cute! Check them out below!!

The chain was about 50" give or take a couple and were made out of three separate strands of yarn with all three being crochet together to form one united chain. I loved this yarn...it was Red Heart brand in the colors of red, royal and snow...the best part of it was that each skein of yarn sparkled!!!

"You've Been Kissed!!"

This year for girls camp, I have decided (and it has been supported by the other leaders) to go ahead and dispense with Secret Sisters this year at girls camp. I know I bet your SHOCKED that I just said that but this is why. Last year we had some issues with the girls not remembering to bring/do thier secret sister stuff and since the economy has been horrible here in my area that doing secret sister gifts would be a little hard for some of girls and possibly a burden for some of their families.

So in order to still get the girls to think of someone other than themselves, we have come up with a "You've been kissed" card. The concept came from the idea of candy kisses. Each of our girls will be given a certain amount of cards and "kisses" that they have to give out to someone in the camp. The only rule is they can't give one to themselves or to someone they have already given one to. 

Here is the card that I have created so that they can write a little note to whomever they decided to give a kiss to. We also thought that it would be a great idea that went well with our ward camp theme which is France.

Front

Back

This card is about the size of a credit card and there is 8 to a page (2 pages). I ran one page off first and then ran the second page to that they were front and back. Click HERE for pdf download.



A Pre-Camp Treat Idea???

photo belongs to thegreenbeancrafterole


So in my browsing of different blogs that I follow (I have been searching blogs like crazy for craft ideas for girls camp this year) I cam across this AWESOME idea.

I found this neat treat idea on a variation on the classic S'more and I fell in love with it. I found it on Greenbean's Crafterole (click to be taken right to this FABULOUS treat idea).  S'mores on a stick....who would have thunk? I think I will be making some to handout to my girls as it gets closer to camp with a reminder on when they need to be at the church to load the buses to head to camp.

Here is a crafty idea that is easy and cute

I was cleaning out some of my girls camp totes looking for who knows what, I found my journal/notebook that I created and that we ended up doing as a craft project up at girls camp. All of the girls and leaders thought they were cute and easy to make. In fact I had some girls wanting to make a second or third one.

I like this idea because it provides a journal for those who might not have one or brought one to camp but it allows the girls individuality come through. There are also nice in making a boring ol' composition notebook look cute.

So lets get started...

(*NOTE: I will be posting pictures to accompany the instructions soon!!!)

Here Is What You Will Need

Composition Notebook (regular or mini size)

2 sheets of patterned scrapbook paper (12x12 works best)

2 sheets of plain colored scrapbook paper (12x12 because you will need the scraps to create the side binding)

Pen/Pencil to trace outlines

Scissors or paper cutter

ModgePodge (I used the matte finish) or Acid Free Double Sided Tape

Small Foam Brush

Ribbon (optional)

Assorted Embellishments (I used the rhinestones and applied with Jewel It)

Newspaper (to protect your work surface from getting sticky)

The first thing you are going to do is trace the outline of your notebook to the scrapbook paper of your choice. The plain color will be the inside while your patterned paper will be on the outside. ***NOTE: the outside cover can be a little shorter than the width of the outside cover because you will be covering it with the binding  BUT YOUR INSIDE HAS TO BE THE SAME!!! or else you will have an ugly white line/space.***

Once you have your lines traced, cut them out and then line them up to make sure that they fit and that you have the front with the correct cut out fronts and the back with the correct backs.

Once you are satisfied with your cut pieces of paper, starting with the inside covers, modge podge (or tape) your plain scrapbook paper to the inside. Making sure that you get clear to the edges and there is no air bubbles. Repeat with other inside cover.

Next apply the outside covers to both the front and back with modge podge. Again making sure that there is no air bubbles and that the edges are securely fastened down.


Now for the hard part...(OK so it might not be that hard but pay attention)....Take a piece of what ever you used for your inside cover color and cut about a 4 inch wide strip or so that fits the length of the book. This is going to be your new spine/binding. Test it by shaping it to the notebook itself. Making sure that you get the back spine even as you can with the front spine. If this seems to be to small of a binding for you, you can trim it or make it bigger...its your call.


BEFORE GLUING, CHECK TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR NOTEBOOK IS FACING THE RIGHT WAY!!!! Now that you have your spine binding measured and fitted, take some modge podge and glue just the back and the middle of the spine LEAVING THE FRONT UNATTACHED.


Take your ribbon (if you have chosen to use it) and loop it around the open part of your spine cover and tie a bow on the front. You might have to take some modge podge and glue down the ribbon in a part or two on the inside of the spine not on front. Once you have your bow where you want it, apply modge podge to the the inside of your spine cover and firmly press down. Again making sure there is no air bubbles and that the ends are securely fastened down.


Then apply your embellishments as wanted.


Ta Dah!!! That wasn't to bad now was it????

Camp Letter

So I thought I would post an image og the letter that I am planning on sending out to our girls and their parents, however I am stillawaiting approval from the president.



Bonjour! Welcome To Paris....Camp Kick Off 2011

So sorry for making you feel like I have abandoned you all...that has not been the case. Just got swamped with last minute school projects and assignments and girls camp and now trying to get over being sick. So with that being said, let me show you our camp kick off. It went off great and the girls had a blast with it.

First, you saw from the previous post a generic ticket which was similar to what we used. One of the other YW leaders made this great sleeve to "house" the ticket.

email me at wearedaughtersofaheavenlyking@gmail.com  if you would like a copy of this sleeve...its editable and is a word doc. The band is not included but but they are simple to make. Our band had this year camp theme scripture from Mosiah 18:21.

Here is the primary room, it was set up kinda lke a bistro style setting (we were short on time and desperate to get it completed before others arrived). The top picutre contains sillouettes of The Eiffle Tower, the Arc de'Triumph, and Notre Dame Cathedrial. Then there was three tables set up and covered with table clothes that had a basket that was filled with 7 different kinds of cheese and slices of white and whole grain bagettes. Then on the plate aside was some french coconut macaroons and doughnut holes and home made grape juice.

Here are some of our leaders and girls that were there with us that night. We had the class room set up like an airplane. We had a stewardess and a ticket clerk. Here the girls had in flight snacks (mini water bottles and fruit snacks) and a presentation presented to us by another YW leader on Unity which was this. If you take a single pencil, it is easy to break but if you try to break a whole handfull at once, it is harder to break. Each pencil is different just like all of us are different, but when we work together we can become united unlike the single pencil who chose to go away from the group. We then passed out last years certification certificates (yeah, they were late in given them to us this year) which after that, we had landed at our destination.

Once we landed in France (no remember not one of the girls or leaders knew where we were going) we had our YW President greet us and tell us some infromation about France then I handed out to the girls a sheet of paper and had them list 3 things they liked about camp last year, three things they did not like about camp last year, and then what they wanted to see, or do, or eat this year at camp. Then we concluded the night by singing the song "Holding Hands Around the World" which can be found HERE.

Overall it was a great night, like I said earlier, the girls and leaders all had fun and came up with some terrific ideas. They are excited about camp this year which I have to say makes me excited about it too. Again, sorry you had to wait but I appreciate your patience and loyality.

Preping for our ward's camp kick off

I have been spending most of my time since Thursday night thinking of ideas that we could use for our camp kick off. Since our Stake leaders had chosen "Holding Hands Around the World" as our Camp this year, our ward has chosen France to be the country we represent. But if you read the last post, you would have already known about that =]

So like I said this is still in the planning stages and I am working with two other leaders to get the final details figured. This is what we have so far (pictures to come as they get taken or when projects get finished):

We thought we would do a flight to France. I had found on Sugardoodle this idea which shared this link to being able to create your own air line tickets.

The website has a place where you can enter a name and also destination. I have left those specifics off this particular picture but they are included on the girls tickets.

My other leader is creating the sleeve that will house the ticket withthe information and dates about camp listed on it. We had even joked about making them use it to get onto the bus when they actually leave for camp.

Anyway, we are going to have them "check in" and move to the "Security" section. Here we will have our opening excerises before loading the plane (the room we are planning on using for this is an adjoined room with a door in the wall leading to the next room). The room they will now enter will be set up like the inside of a plane. We even have a script (which will be posted at a later time) that our flight attendant will read and for our in flight movie, we will have a leader give a presentation on unity (since that is the purpose of camp this year). They will even get snacks to eat while on the "plane" -we have small water bottles and fruit snacks.

Once the presentation is done, we will have our flight attendent announce that we are making our final descent etc... then the girls and other leaders will be ushered in to the Primary room which we will have decorated with french items, have the national anthem playing.... Once they get there we will have some info on France (like culture, food, traditions, etc.) and then that will lead to a discussion with the girls to get their ideas and their objectives for camp this year.  Then of course we will have french refreshments.

Again this is still in the planning stages and I still need to get some apporval from the YW president (which I will talk with tomorrow) and then hopefully I will post some pics of what we have done thus far.

Girls Camp 2011

Just got back from our stake girls camp kickoff and I am excited to get busy. Our stake theme this year is Holding Hands Around the World. Each ward in our stake is representing a certain country...we chose



There is SOOO much we can do with this theme in terms of decorations, food, songs, etc. Now that we have a theme and a country...I can finally get creative and work on some neat stuff. Will be posting my progress and any cute handouts/ideas that I (or any of my other leaders/girls) come up with!

Au Revoir!!!!

Be On The Look Out

Girls Camp kick-off is coming up this Thursday. With that being said be sure to look for information and ideas to start appearing on the site. Also feel free to share any ideas you might have, I love hearing from you!