Starting CHAPTER 24: Romance in Wonderland

...next [came] the ten courtiers; these were ornamented all over with diamonds, and walked two and two, as the soldiers did. After these came the royal children; there were ten of them, and the little dears came jumping merrily along hand in hand, in couples: they were all ornamented with hearts. Next came the guests, mostly Kings and Queens...

The theme of this quote is couples, and that's what we celebrate in February with Valentine's Day. For the month of February, we are celebrating Romance in Wonderland! As always, you may enter any project that fits the challenge theme, but those that feature Wonderland will have two chances at the prize instead of one. Multiple entries are encouraged but each must be on a separate post; enter by Feb. 23.

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We are using the fabulous Steampunk Romance images by Simply Betty Stamps . The people pictured in this stamp line resemble grown-up characters in Wonderland, don't you think? You should also check out the whimsical Alice in Wonderland collection. Here is what the oh, so talented Betty has to say:

Simply Betty Stamps started in 2010, when I was forced to close my little scrapbook store due to my last baby coming early.  I was home, with a preemie  couldn't do much but draw, craft, and had just discovered blogging!  I started to nose around about digis, how could I do this, how could I do that?  Slowly but surely Simply Betty Stamps was born!  I have a quirky sense of humor and I believe it shows in my images.  I have immortalized my kids in my images as it is what I love creating with, their everyday shenanigans and goofy ways.  I love sharing my creativity, I can't tell you how awesome it is to see others creating with SBS images!  I look forward to continuing to bring in the quirkiness to crafters across the globe and look forward to many years of fun images.

So get busy and show us your interpretation of  Romance in Wonderland!

Design Team Inspiration

Bonnie McLain of Love Light and Peace created the most incredible star book featuring the entire cast of characters!

You will need to go to Bonnie's blog to see all the detailed photos, closeups of the characters and more pages in this FABULOUS star book, and be sure to leave her some love while you are there! Star books are a time consuming endeavor, and I am so thrilled that Bonnie took the time to make such a beautiful project for us. Thank you Bonnie!

Once again we bow to the Queen of 3D Paper Projects, our own Donna Mundinger of Popsicle Toes and her Wondeland mailbox!

Donna created an amazing mailbox, ready to receive Valentine's from Wonderland! The flag really raises and lowers, complete with pearls and blue gingham bow.

The postage stamp letters spelling Alice are the perfect label for this pearl-studded mailbox! The silver teapot, teacup and tea bag are charming. Sorry, I couldn't resist the pun!

Donna's trademark use of alphabet beads is the perfect finishing touch on the back of the mailbox. I really love the color scheme; the powder blue and white are cheerful, and soft red makes it pop. The soft shades make it fresh and fun rather than patriotic.

I love the way Alice is framed on the end of the box, complete with a silver key ring charm! She looks lovely against the heart-shaped red lace doily. This image is lovely and Donna has colored her beautifully. Be sure to stop by Popsicle Toes to get all the details on construction of this amazing mailbox, and to leave Donna some love!

3D project abound this month, as Barbara Washington of Magic Delights created a wonderful Valentine Pop-Up card!

The cover sets the tone. I love the white stamped letters contrasting the embossed red heart. Two of the Steampunk Romance characters are examining their Valentine offerings of cards and flowers! But the magic is inside...

Ta da! I love the way the folded pop-up is a series of hearts, with all characters facing the center doily. Those rhinestone flourishes add a festive note!

Trimming out the characters was well worth the effort; that white rim makes them stand out beautifully from the rich red patterned background.

Thanks Barbara for such a lovely Valentine project! Be sure to stop by Barbara's blog for details and to leave her some love!

Amy Bowerman of Plucking Daisies was created a set of six Valentine tags using a variety of images from past sponsors! She was inspired by past Tim Holtz tag series and they are wonderfully detailed.

I love the torn colored kraft card stock, embossed with the Postcards folder, so appropriate for a Valentine theme! The strong crackle-stamped jewel tone backgrounds really unifies the series of tags, and the embellishments add texture and interest! Fantastic job Amy, these tags are fabulous and I absolutely love them! Be sure to stop by Plucking Daisies for all the details and to leave Amy some love!

Submit your Romance in Wonderland projects by Feb. 23 using the Linky Tool below. PLEASE include your name or your blog name in the TITLE, this helps me enormously when it is time to do the honorable mentions. Note: If you are viewing this in an email or reader, you may need to go to the blog by clicking on the title of this post in order to submit or view the projects.
Please leave a comment before you go!

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!

Week 1, CHAPTER 19: Lovely Garden and Bright Flowers

"...she tried the little golden key in the lock, and to her great delight it fitted! Alice opened the door and found that it led into a small passage, not much larger than a rat-hole: she knelt down and looked along the passage into the loveliest garden you ever saw. How she longed to get out of that dark hall, and wander about among those beds of bright flowers and those cool fountains, but she could not even get her head though the doorway; `and even if my head would go through,' thought poor Alice, `it would be of very little use without my shoulders."-- Chapter 1, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Your challenge this month is Garden and/or Flowers! Enter your creations by Friday, September 28, 2012. Multiple entries are allowed, but to count as a separate entry each must be on its own blog post. All entries are welcome, but projects that feature Wonderland will have two chances at the drawing instead of one.

The winner will receive 3 digi images from The Stamping Boutique, which has a wonderful Alice in Wonderland line we will be sharing with you! Tracey Malnoski is the owner and illustrator, and she has previously designed stamps for Unity, InStyle, Squigglefly, and The Digi Shack. Her Stamping Boutique has it all: digital images, red rubber stamps, and themes that include fairytale, whimsy, sentimental, and candy. Please visit the Store and their wonderful Challenge Blog!

Your Weekly Inspiration

Bonnie McLain of Love Light and Peace created a fabulous accordion book that is zig-zag folded with two pop-out stages on each side. The garden theme is established with her lovely heart frame and flowers, and we see Alice peeping through the keyhole at the colorful garden! I love all the text layered over the brilliantly colored background textures.

Each side of the book has two of these pop-out frames; this one shows a charming Alice image surrounded by card suits. I love the way Bonnie included her own illustrations of tangled doodles around the frame opening and her lovely flowers. Clearly Alice is happy in this beautiful garden!

The Mad Hatter image is my favorite! Bonnie surrounded the frame with more of her original doodles and flowers, lovely! To see the Queen and the Cheshire Cat frames on the other side, you will have to visit Bonnie's blog.

The back with Alice in a teacup is as lovely as the front. Bravo Bonnie for such a fab project! Please stop by Love Light and Peace to leave a comment for Bonnie and to see the other two pop-out frames!

Our fabulous Tracy Evans has created a royal garden fit for this sassy Queen of Hearts! The large flower at left and the metal posy corners help to emphasize our theme, as does the color scheme of rose pinks and reds. 

The way Tracy combined the digital image and the text stamp is really brilliant. She even has the Queen word from the stamp centered on her flower; you know how I love those texty details!

Tracy did some paper-piecing and popped up layers on the dress. I love the text inside the dress, it adds so much to the image! Thanks Tracy for such a great project. Be sure to stop by Tracy's blog to leave her  comment!

That's it for this week; we'll be back with more inspiration next week. Be sure to enter your flower/garden project in the linky tool below by Friday, September 28, 2012 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!

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!.