Week 1, CHAPTER 21: Gratitude

'You ought to return thanks in a neat speech,' the Red Queen said, frowning at Alice as she spoke. . . .In fact it was rather difficult for her to keep in her place while she made her speech: the two Queens pushed her so, one on each side, that they nearly lifted her up into the air:
'I rise to return thanks--' Alice began: and she really DID rise as she spoke, several inches; but she got hold of the edge of the table, and managed to pull herself down again.-- Chapter 9, Through the Looking Glass

The US Thanksgiving holiday is this month, and many people are dedicating the month to a spirit of gratitude; after all there is nothing like counting your blessings to make you realize how many blessings there are! Our theme this month is GRATITUDE, and you can interpret that any way you like as long as you explain it in your post. Enter by Friday, Nov. 23; all entries are welcome but those that feature Wonderland will have two chances instead of one. Multiple entries are encouraged, but each must be on a separate post to have additional chances at the prize, which is quite wonderful!

The theme ties in nicely with this month's sponsor, Nature's Blessings, who have offered a $30 shopping spree to the randomly chosen winner! Nature's Blessings stamps were the beginning of my love affair with Alice in Wonderland stamping, as they have beautiful rubber versions of the original Tenniel illustrations of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland AND Through the Looking Glass. Without Nature's Blessings, The Altered Alice might not exist! In their words:

As avid readers and bibliophiles, we fell in love with the beautiful line drawings in the books in our family library. Our antiquarian stamps are a collection of our favorite images. If your tastes range from the classically elegant to the quirky and fun, then we make stamps for you! We also offer a variety of original art: be sure to visit John Wagner's page of Calligraphy and Art Lettering, and Laura Ann's pages of stamps for holidays and special occasions.

Your Weekly Inspiration:

Tracy Evans created this beautifully layered autumnal card, featuring the Tweedles stamp from Nature's Blessings. These stamps are incredibly detailed and stamp beautifully. Clipped words express the theme.

I love the sense of depth she has created by using the negative of the die cuts to stencil leaves in the background, then creating a paper leaf pile of sponged and stamped leaves!

The jute bow and script button add rustic texture for the perfect finishing touch. Please visit Tracy's blog to read her description and to leave a comment!

Bonnie McLain of Love Light and Peace created this lovely chipboard Thanks mini-album. Each page includes things or which Bonnie is grateful, starting with the appropriate letter of the word T-H-A-N-K-S.

Bonnie used Ranger alcohol inks to get these incredibly saturated shades on the images and the seam binding ribbon.

Be sure to visit Bonnie's blog; she gives instructions on a wonderful method for using a refillable Ranger marker and alcohol ink palette to get this intensely colored effect.

Be sure to visit Bonnie's blog for more photos of the various pages and the alcohol ink tutorial, and leave a comment while you are there!

We have another project from Tracy Evans; this altered Altoids tin featuring the Queen Alice stamp is absolutely charming! I love the tree growing up from the center, and the leaf pile that has collected in the bottom of the tin.

You can see how Tracy has used layers to add a sense of depth.

You can see how much detail the Nature's Blessings stamps contain, and how beautifully they stamp.  Please visit Tracy's blog to read her description and to leave a comment!

We look forward to seeing your interpretation of our gratitude theme! Enter your projects in the Linky list below by November 23, and PLEASE include your name or blog name in the TITLE. This helps me enormously when it comes time to had out the honorable mentions! (Note: if you are viewing this post in a reader or email, please click on the title of the post to go to the blog to see the entries or submit a project.)

Please leave a comment before you go!

Winner & Honorable Mentions, CHAPTER 20: Twinkle like a Bat, Shine like a Tea Tray!

Happy Hallowe'en from The Altered Alice!

Our sponsor this month is Smeared Ink, home of edgy, wild and fun designs in rubber and digital forms has released a Wonderland Collection; images are available individually or as a set. The randomly-chosen winner of this month's challenge will receive a $15 shopping spree in their online store.  But first. . .

One Last DT Project!

A two-page art journal spread from Lynne Phelps of Savvy Sisters Studio (me!). It was a real joy to color these complex detailed images despite it being a huge departure from my usual style, LOL! I really enjoyed the way the Queen of Heart's looking glass acted like a window into Alice in the garden and I wanted to have the two images next to each other to reinforce the connection. Here are some closeups of the images and my coloring:

I would love it if you would stop by my personal blog, Savvy Sisters Studio, and leave a comment there for me!

Our Winner:


Our sponsor this month is Smeared Ink, home of edgy, wild and fun designs will give the randomly-chosen winner of this month's challenge  a $15 shopping spree in their online store.   Smeared and Smudged is an online community of rubber stampers and crafters who enjoy using alternative, gothic, edgy, and unique stamps in their designs. We thrive on different and unusual. We welcome the macabre and devious side of things, and most of all, we embrace ALL types and styles of art. Whether or not you “come to the dark side”, your creations should be a reflection of you. At Smeared and Smudged, the most important thing is being yourself. There are lots of ways to interact with the community! [ Ning Community | Challenge Blog | Facebook Group ]

The winner of this month's challenge is #2 as chosen by random.org, so that means that Shahrul Niza of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is the lucky one! Check out her amazing exploding box!

Be sure to visit her blog, Such Pretty Canvas, for many more pictures showing all the amazing detail! Shahrul, please email me through the link in the left column so I can forward your info to Smeared Ink for your shopping spree! You may also add this badge to your blog, linking it to this post:

Thanks again to Smeared Ink for being such a great sponsor!

Honorable Mentions

Artwolf2009 from Munich, Germany brings us this scary entry along with a charming story! Be sure to visit her blog for the tale.

The wrinkled background texture behind these twinkly bats is fantastic. Kudos to Keren Howell of Altered Ego for trying a great new technique!

Leintje brings the very first shaker card to The Altered Alice and shiny metallic gold hearts make the perfect "snow".  The image of Alice with the playing cards flying about is just perfect for a shaker card! I love the way she used the bell jar shape, charming!

I love the quirky Cheshire Cat shape of this twice-altered clock from Blackdragon, who titled the piece The 31 Days of Hallowe'en. The outer border makes me think of board game trails to go along with that theme! Love the hand too!

WendyLynn's Paper Whimsies poses the question "is everyone in wonderland batty?" and I would have to say "why YES!" It made me laugh so it is in for a Mention!

Marcelo Carbone from Brazil and living in Italy, brings us the undead Queen of Hearts and her undead vampire playing cards! Eeeek! He calls this Alice's Hallowe'en Nightmare; who knew an altered doll could be so scary?

I had such fun watching the video by EmeraldQueen of TatteredRoses41 showing the creation of this art journal page Be sure to visit her blog to watch the video!

I am out of time to describe what I like about each project, but everyone did such a great job this month that ALL ENTRIES get an Honorable Mention! Thanks to all our participants for doing such a great job! See the other entries below:
Please leave a comment before you go!

Week 1, CHAPTER 18: Now you see him. . . Now you don't!

`Do you play croquet with the Queen to-day?'
`I should like it very much,' said Alice, `but I haven't been invited yet.
`You'll see me there,' said the Cat, and vanished.
Alice was not much surprised at this, she was getting so used to queer things happening. While she was looking at the place where it had been, it suddenly appeared again.
-- Chapter 6, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland 

Just like the Cheshire Cat, we would like you to make a card where things appear and disappear! It could be as simple as a tag in a pocket or something more interactive and fun, for example a wiper card, a slider box or a slider card or even a double slider card, a telescoping card, a T-slide card, a swing (flip-flop) card, or a ViewMaster card. These tutorials from Splitcoaststampers are for inspiration; your project does not need to be a card and the hidden element does not need to be a cat. Enter by August 24 , and the winner will receive three digi stamps from our sponsor!

Our sponsor this month is Dilly Beans, featuring the whimsical art of Megan Suarez, famous for her charming big-eyed girls! You can see the digi stamps and collage sheets on her blog, Dilly Beans Stamps. There is also a Dilly Beans design team challenge blog and an Etsy shop with Megan's artwork to inspire you. Dilly Beans offers four Alice-related digi stamps: Alice in Wonderland, the Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat and some whimsical mushrooms; the design team will be featuring the first three.

Your Weekly Inspiration

Bonnie McLain of Love Light and Peace created a Wonderland Configurations box.  I love all the little cubbies, adorned by the Dilly Beans Alice in Wonderland and Queen of Hearts. That box set askew on top is so perfect for this miniature Wonderland world. I don't see the Cheshire Cat anywhere. Where's the cat??? Be sure to visit Bonnie's blog to see closeups of the great project!

Bonnie made a spinner panel, see the string?

And there is the Cheshire Cat! Please visit Bonnie's blog to see all the photos of each cubbie, plus there is a bonus project of another Wonderland Configurations box by her friend, Sande!

Next is a gatefold card from Tracy Evans, and I love the way they become double doors with the addition of the trailer hitch hardware as knobs! Do you see the Cheshire Cat? I wonder what is behind those peephole panels!

Now we see the Cheshire Cat's head peeping out at us! Let's go inside!

What a fabulous scene! Of course I  LOVE the use of book text in the hearts and as background on the left and right panels. Click to enlarge the image, it is absolutely charming! Be sure to visit Tracy's blog to leave a comment and see all the details on this wonderful card!

Last, we have another amazing project from Bonnie McLain of Love Light and Peace, an art journal page with a Zentangle tree! Bonnie is quite the Zentangle enthusiast, and this tree is just amazing against the backdrop of vivid dyed tissue paper foliage. Do you see the Cheshire Cat? I wonder what happens when we pull the ribbon?

Why, that Cheshire Cat was hiding in the tree all along! Be sure to visit Bonnie's blog post, as she has step by step photos on the creation of this lovely, interactive art journal page, and to leave her a comment on her fun projects!

So join us for some interactive fun by entering your project by Friday, August 24 and PLEASE include your name or blog name in the TITLE. This helps me enormously when it comes time to had out the honorable mentions! (Note: if you are viewing this post in a reader or email, please click on the title of the post to go to the blog to see the entries or submit a project.)
We will have more Dilly Beans inspiration projects for you next week, and please leave a comment before you go!

Week 1, CHAPTER 17: Hurrah for the Red, White & Blue!

The White Queen gave a deep sigh, and laid her head on Alice's shoulder. `I am so sleepy?' she moaned.
`She's tired, poor thing!' said the Red Queen. `Smooth her hair -- lend her your nightcap -- and sing her a soothing lullaby.'
`I haven't got a nightcap with me,' said Alice, as she tried to obey the first direction: `and I don't know any soothing lullabies."
`I must do it myself, then,' said the Red Queen, and she began:

Hush-a-by lady, in Alice's lap! Till the feast's ready, we've time for a nap: When the feast's over, we'll go to the ball -- Red Queen, and White Queen, and Alice, and all!

-- Chapter 9, Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There

In the United States, we are celebrating our Independence Day this month, so we have a patriotic Red, White & Blue color challenge for you! Of course here in Wonderland we know those colors are for the  White Queen, the Red Queen, and Alice's blue dress! Enter your red, white & blue project by July 27 for a chance to win a prize from our sponsor. All entries are welcome, but those that feature Wonderland will have two chances to win instead of one.

Simon Says Stamp is offering a $20 gift certificate to one randomly drawn winner! Simon Says Stamp has over 100,000 items in stock. They have all of the latest releases from Magnolia, Whiff of Joy, Tim Holtz, Spellbinders, Copic and so much more! With great deals on shipping, it’s a great time to shop with Simon Says Stamp.

NOTE: Please use the link in the right column of this blog whenever you shop at Simon Says Stamp, even after this month, as the blog receives a small affiliate fee to help defray our costs, and you get the same great prices and shipping rates!

Your Weekly Inspiration

Tracy Evans (who is also on the Simon Says Stamp design team) created this fabulous art journal spread full of vivid red, white and blue! Be sure to visit Tracy's blog to see all the specific supplies used. She has certainly done a great job with the Dylusions sprays and stencils!

Tracy used the lovely Wonderland set by Stampendous, which was featured here on The Altered Alice a couple months ago.

Tracy used the text of this month's challenge quote. I love the way she spotlighted the red, white and blue references in the passage!

Bonnie McLain of Love Light and Peace created this charming heart album, which opens up to form separate compartments instead of regular pages. The cover was tinted with Dylusions ink sprays, and inside Bonnie has showcased a variety of the six by six inch paper pads, all carried by Simon Says Stamp, including Sweet Nothings by Kaiser Craft, Conservatory by 7 Gypsies, Crush Collection by Bo Bunny.

Some vivid Dylusions Ink Sprays add some pops of color inside as well.

Here we have the RED compartment! Bonnie has showcased a variety of the six by six inch paper pads, all carried by Simon Says Stamp, including  Sweet Nothings by Kaiser Craft, Conservatory by 7 Gypsies, Crush Collection by Bo Bunny.

WHITE is next, looks like they've just started painting those roses! I love the way Bonnie has used each little compartment as a mini stage.

And of course the Caterpillar (and later butterfly) in the BLUE compartment! So charming, be sure to visit Bonnie's blog for all the details and please leave her a comment!

We also have these wonderful crowns from Bonnie, made with metal tape textured with embossing folders and glammed up with glass Dew Drops, adhered with Glossy Accents, all available from Simon Says Stamp. Bonnie has a great tip regarding the Dew Drops, so be sure to stop by her blog. Now a closeup of the crowns:

The RED Queen's crown, with ruby colored Dew Drops and a heart motif on top.

The WHITE Queen's crown, lovely, with diamond colored Dew Drops and lovely snowflakes to represent the white.

And BLUE for Alice, with a lovely blinged up "A" on top! Great job, be sure to stop by Bonnie's blog to leave her a comment on these lovely projects.


Link your projects below by July 27, and PLEASE include your name or blog name in the TITLE. This helps me enormously when it comes time to had out the honorable mentions! (Note: if you are viewing this post in a reader or email, please click on the title of the post to go to the blog to see the entries or submit a project.)

Please leave a comment before you go, I love hearing from you!.