The Altered Alice, Chapter 27 What a Wonderful Dream it Has Been

"`Who cares for you?' said Alice, (she had grown to her full size by this time.) `You're nothing but a pack of cards!'
At this the whole pack rose up into the air, and came flying down upon her: she gave a little scream, half of fright and half of anger, and tried to beat them off, and found herself lying on the bank, with her head in the lap of her sister, who was gently brushing away some dead leaves that had fluttered down from the trees upon her face.
`Wake up, Alice dear!' said her sister; `Why, what a long sleep you've had!'
`Oh, I've had such a curious dream!' said Alice, and she told her sister, as well as she could remember them, all these strange Adventures of hers that you have just been reading about; and when she had finished, her sister kissed her, and said, `It WAS a curious dream, dear, certainly: but now run in to your tea; it's getting late.' So Alice got up and ran off, thinking while she ran, as well she might, what a wonderful dream it had been."
-- Chapter 12, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
 

I've created  a Wonderland scene using a number of the fabulous stamps from our sponsor, Stampotique.

Chapter 27 will be the last regularly scheduled challenge on The Altered Alice. Due to pressures of work, health, and family activities, Lynne is not able to keep up with running the challenges any longer. We will continue to have Alice posts and Linky tools so you can show us your Alice and perhaps some blog candy now and then, but it will not be in formal challenges. Please continue to subscribe and to share your Alice artwork!

Just as our very first challenge was sponsored by Stampotique Originals, we are ending with a Stampotique challlenge! They are offering a $30 gift certificate for one lucky winner, and their design team is going to play along! Be sure to visit their Stampotique Designer's Challenge blog where you can play every week! There is something to please everyone at Stampotique Originals! I like the symmetry of ending as we began.

 

 

Here we have the Mad Hatter and Caterpillar sitting a top the Mushroom Forest. Most of the Wonderland Stamps I've used are from designer Janet Klein. The perfect Wonderland sentiment here is from Amy Wilson Wellenstein.  Couldn't leave out the Alpha Beads, now could I?

 

 

A startled White Rabbit looks on.

 

 

 

 

And of course I couldn't forget the star of the show Alice, without whom there would be no story.  As you all know, I'm usually a digi stamp gal, but I've long been impressed by the fabulous quirky designs, superb quality, and ease of stamping I find with Stampotique Originals.  I've used Memento Ink for stamping and colored them all with Copics and was thrilled that they came out perfect the very first time I stamped them.  I'm so thrilled that they are our sponsor.  Thank you, Stampotique!

 

 

This is a tent card with the windows cut with Spellbinders Labels Seventeen. I added an additional frame in front to allow for more depth.  The lovely DP's are Kay&Co.

 

Anything goes, so show us your best! We will begin on Mother's Day, May 12 and end on Father's Day, June 16. Your last day to submit projects will be Friday, June 14. Multiple entries are encouraged but each must be on a separate post. For our last challenge, only Wonderland projects are allowed!

Besides the rest of the Altered Alice team, we have the honor of one of the Stampotique Designers joining us today.  Please welcome Sue Davies and give her some love. Happy Mother's Day to all. 
 

 

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The Altered Alice For the Love of Wonderland

"So she sat on, with closed eyes, and half believed herself in Wonderland, though she knew she had but to open them again, and all would change to dull reality--the grass would be only rustling in the wind, and the pool rippling to the waving of the reeds--the rattling teacups would change to tinkling sheep- bells, and the Queen's shrill cries to the voice of the shepherd boy--and the sneeze of the baby, the shriek of the Gryphon, and all thy other queer noises, would change (she knew) to the confused clamour of the busy farm-yard--while the lowing of the cattle in the distance would take the place of the Mock Turtle's heavy sobs." -- Chapter 12, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
 

Changes are coming for The Altered Alice. Due to pressures of work and other pesky distractions, next month will be our last regularly scheduled challenge. So this month we are sponsor-free and the design team members are sharing any projects they like that show their love of Alice.  Since our winner of last month's challenge has just been named (our Mad Hatter's watch seems to be running a bit more than 2 days slow) I made another project from our fabulous March Sponsor, The Octopode Factory.

I've made "Flip Book" with some of the most beloved characters from Wonderland. Sit back with a cuppa 'cause I've got LOADS of pix. On the cover, I have the Caterpillar who asks "Who are you? First you see each character in his/her entirety. On the opposite page there's a quote. Of course I started with Alice.

 

Next, the Mad Hatter.

 

 

The White Rabbit

 

 

The Queen of Hearts

 

 

And finally, The Chesire Cat

 

 

Each page of the book was cut in threes so the head, torsos and legs can be flipped to create fun new characters in countless ways.  The quotes then become more nonsensical as well.  See if you can tell who's who now.

 

 

 

Have to say, this one's my fave.  Dig the sentiment.  HeeHee!

 

 

 

How do you like Chessie's new hairdo?

 

 

I could go on and on.  This was so fun to make and play with.  Please visit The Altered Alice and check out the winner of the $30 Gift Certificate to The Octopode Factory and check back for the inspiration (and Linky) for our April Challenge.

 

We invite you to do the same and show us your love of Wonderland this month. You may enter older projects for this challenge only. Enter by April 27 to share the best of your Wonderland creations with our community.

We will of course have honorable mentions and a challenge winner, but you will be playing for the glory this month as we do not have a sponsor. We will try to organize some kind of prize although no promises! Would anyone like to donate a prize?

Next month, we will be sponsored by Stampotique, who took a chance on us and sponsored our very first challenge. I like the symmetry, alpha and omega, closing the circle.

We may have challenges in the future, but they will be more spontaneously scheduled, and in the meantime we will share "Alice sightings" and miscellaneous Alice projects with you, so stay tuned!

I'm also entering this in the DLArt April Linky Party , The Squirrel and the Fox Inspired by a Song or Movie Challenge and the Artistic Inspirations Anything but a Card Challenge.

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The Altered Alice Chapter 25: Mad as a March Hare

The Hatter was the first to break the silence. `What day of the month is it?' he said, turning to Alice: he had taken his watch out of his pocket, and was looking at it uneasily, shaking it every now and then, and holding it to his ear. Alice considered a little, and then said `The fourth.' `Two days wrong!' sighed the Hatter. `I told you butter wouldn't suit the works!' he added looking angrily at the March Hare. `It was the BEST butter,' the March Hare meekly replied. `Yes, but some crumbs must have got in as well,' the Hatter grumbled: `you shouldn't have put it in with the bread-knife.' The March Hare took the watch and looked at it gloomily: then he dipped it into his cup of tea, and looked at it again: but he could think of nothing better to say than his first remark, `It was the BEST butter, you know.' -- Chapter 7, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
 

We're so excited at The Altered Alice to be working with the fun, fabulous, quirky stamps from The Octopode Factory this month.  Lily has offered a generous $30 gift certificate to The Octopode Factory to one random winner so I'm sure you'll all be putting your crafty thinking caps on.

 [ Etsy Store - Digital | Rubber Stamps | Blog | Challenge Blog | Facebook | Flickr ]

The talented Lily Chilvers started The Octopode Factory when she was only seventeen and they were an instant hit. Originally available only in digital form, they are now also available in rubber stamps, and she has a wealth of amazing Alice in Wonderland images. Be sure to check out these wacky images through the links above!

For this challenge I took an inexpensive Walmart frame and turned it into a working clock with works from the local craft store. Instead of a pocket watch image, I chose Octopode's quirky Clockwork flower

 

 .

 I printed Clockwork Flower several times so I could fussy cut and layer it, adding some "butter" to the gears which were cut with Spellbinders dies.  It's colored with metallic Sharpies.  I also added to the "stem" so it would run the entire length of the frame.
 

 

The "Tick tock" is included with the stamp and was cut apart to add to the background.  All of the fab DP is from Heidi Grace.  I really thought it had a Wonderland feel.  Of course I added some alpha beads but didn't realize that I'd misquoted the text until just now.  It should read "Two days wrong"  OOPS!  This is gonna bug me to no end, but I can't correct it without ripping the background.  Sometimes Glossy Accents can be a little too permanent.  BUMMER!  Please ignore and promise me you won't tell.

 

 

The term "Mad as a hare’ which was common during Carroll's time, alludes to the crazy capers of the male hare during March, it's rutting season, and the straw on his head in the original Tenniel illustrations was also a symbol of madness. (from Lenny's Alice in Wonderland site)

Umm..., well this March Hare looks anything but randy and I dare say he'll need more than a cuppa before he's ready for any "crazy capers".  LOL  Where he isn't paper pieced, he's colored with Copics and is available individually HERE or as part of the 6 stamp Wonderful World of Wonderland set HERE.  The teapot is also paper pieced and is available as part of the 11 stamp Alice Elements set.

As March is the month we celebrate the mad March Hare, ANYTHING GOES is our challenge.

Please remember that although we're called The Altered Alice any and all projects are welcome.  This is the place to "get your Alice on"! 

You have until Friday, March 29 to enter your creations. As always, multiple entries are allowed but each must be on a separate post. All entries are welcome, but those that feature Wonderland will have two chances at the prize instead of one. And what a prize it is! A $30 gift certificate for digital images from the fabulous, fantastical world of The Octopode Factory!

 

I'm also entering this in the Movie Magic Monthly Alice in Wonderland Challenge, the 2 Sisters Fairytales/Fantasy challenge (I'm hoping this fits), Emergency Crafters Mad as a March Hare, Hotshot Craft anything but a Card and Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes.

The Altered Alice Romance in Wonderland

One more project for the Altered Alice February Romance in Wonderland Challenge featuring the fabulous Romance Steampunk images from Simply Betty Stamps.

[ Store | Simply Betty Blog | Challenge Blog | Steampunk Challenge Blog ]

 

 

We wish to thank Simply Betty for the fabulous sponsorship this month.  The winner of the $15.00 certificate will be announced shortly on The Altered Alice Blog.
 

 

Here I've altered a Godiva Chocolate Truffle box using the gorgeous Romance Gwendolyn.

Doesn't she make the perfect Queen of Hearts?  After coloring her with Copics, I fussy cut and popped her on the lid.  The gorgeous swirls behind her are part of the box design. 

Her hair was too pretty to disturb with a crown, so I added a covered wooden one from Artchix Studio to her heart shaped balloon, spelled out "For my" on Alpha Beads and completed the sentiment with a tiny wooden Queen of Hearts card, also from Artchix.

To ground her a bit (and cover up some writing on the box) I added some velvet ric rac and a red rose from her Wonderland palace garden.  I've so enjoyed working with these fabulous Romance Steampunk images and want to thank our participants this month and wish them luck.

 And did you know there is still time left in the very first monthly Simply Steampunk challenge which is Anything Goes?  I am entering my project there as well.

 

Chapter 24, Week 2: 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.

[ Store | Simply Betty Blog | Challenge Blog | Steampunk Challenge Blog ]

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.

It's week 2 of our Romance in Wonderland Challenge at The Altered Alice and I've done a couple of tags using more of the fabulous Steampunk Romance images from Simply Betty.

First off is Romance Annie who makes a fabulous Alice, don'tcha think?  On her way to the croquet field Alice stops to pluck a rose from the Queen's tree where the cards are busily painting them red.  I've used a book page for the background and colored only the roses, which helps set the stage.

Alice looks quite smitten as she smells the sweet fragrance and begins to pluck the rose petals in hopes of discovering if her true love shares her feelings.  The sentiments are done with my Dymo label maker and "He loves me" is flanked by my ever present Alpha Beads  (so happy they include hearts).

And the happy result?  He LOVES her!  (How could he not?)  I have to confess, when I did this as a child, it always came out this way because I'd count the petals and toss those that didn't end in my favor.  LOL  The fabric roses along the bottom were painted with Distress reinkers and I've finished it off with some gorgeous tassel trim that I've been hoarding.  Ah yes, love blooms in Wonderland!

And so you might ask, who is the object of her affection?  Why none other than the Hatter, played by Romance Mercius, of course.  Personally, I always thought they had a bit of a thing going.  I have to admit, this image makes my heart go pitter pat.  He sooo reminds me of my high school Sweetheart, all tall dark and handsome with gorgeous flowing locks (it was the 70's).  One long cool drink of water...MMmmm...!!!  (No, my hubby rarely visits my blog, and if he did, I dare say he wouldn't read this far.  LOL)

I tried to keep the color scheme going, as they are companion tags, using the same background DP but going a bit darker and more masculine here.  He's colored with Copics (as is Alice) and the sentiment is a mix of the Cuttlebug Postage Stamp Alphabet and Dymo labels to further tie the two together.

Couldn't resist a bit of metal, being Steampunk and all, and the key to my heart seemed fitting.  Besides, if you notice, the darker backgound DP is lttle keyholes.  His goggles are tiny hearts.  We call these "love goggles" around here, through which you see only beauty in the object of your affection.  (Pretty much wear them 24/7, thank GOD!)

Finally, the hatter's watch has fallen from his pocket indicating it's "Time for ROMANCE".    The clock face and mad hat are from Artchix Studio and the ball chain from Tim Holtz.  Please don't be late to enter the Romance in Wonderland challenge at the Altered Alice.  You have until Feb 23rd from a chance to win the $15 gift certificate from Simply Betty Stamps, but I noticed today that the Romance  Steampunk images are on sale for only $2.00 (more than 50% off!) so I'd go grab them up ASAP as I'm not sure how long that will last.

Finally, I'm entering my tags in the Simply Steampunk Anything Goes Challenge, the Simply Challenged Anything Goes Challenge, the Whimsical Wednesday Textile challenge (fabric roses, ribbon, tassel and velvet trims), Sentimental Sundays Love is in the Air, the Outlawz Paper a la Mode Anything but a Card Challenge, the February GDT Challenge on The Smeared and Smudged Forum and the brand new Movie Magic Monthly's very first challenge which is Alice in Wonderland.  WooHoo!  Be sure to check them out.   Fab inspiration and lots of my buddies on the DT there.

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.  One lucky winner will receive a $15 store credit to Simply Betty Stamps.

We are using the fabulous Steampunk Romance images by Simply Betty Stamps [ Store | Blog,  Challenge Blog, and new Steampunk Challenge Blog ]. 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.

Today's project for The Altered Alice features the gorgeous Romance Emma.  Doesn't she just make the perfect Alice?  Alice has just found a love letter in her Wonderland mailbox.  I wonder who it's from.  A secret admirer?

I love the expression on her face, so touched by the loving words. The man who can truly express his feelings in writing is a rare one.  He obviously holds the key to her heart (and mine).  I've colored her with Copics in the traditional Alice blue and added a key ring charm.  The heart doily behind her is a Cottage Cutz Die.

The mailbox is a $1 one from Target.  Alice's name is done with the Cuttlebug Embossing Plus Postage Alphabet.

 

The heart border is an MS punch to which I've added tea party charms and pearls.  A blue and white gingham bow and trim seemed fitting.

Finally, on the back is the addy.  14 Love Lane, Wonderland.  Please visit The Altered Alice to see more Romance in Wonderland projects (a bit later since we all run a bit late in Wonderland) and check out the winner of last month's challenge (up NOW!) The new linky will be up with the Romance post so hurry and get started for a chance to win the $15 voucher and choose some gorgeous Simply Betty Stamps of your own.  Remember, Wonderland related projects are not a requirement, but we love to see them and they're counted TWICE!

I'm also adding this to  the Simply Challenged Anything Goes Challenge, The Simply Steampunk Anything Goes Challenge  first ever!  WooHoo!, A Gem of a Challenge Gingham or Checks, Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes, Moving Along With the Times Punch it Out Challenge, The Inky Chicks Bingo Challenge (using Ribbon, Image and Pearls), the Desert Islands Crafter's Challenge #47 using #1,2,3 and 5 (thinkin' the die cut doily is lacy) and the Outlawz Paper a la Mode Love Challenge (a new group for me, go check them out)

The Altered Alice Chapter 23: We're All Mad Here, So Anything Goes

Sit back and grab a cuppa because this post is gonna take as long to read as it did for me to finish the project, but I must say, I haven't been this excited about crafting in a LONG while. We'll be having a little reminder post over at The Altered Alice a bit later, but in the meantime, here's another little inspiration from me. There's still time to enter.

 

`In THAT direction,' the Cat said, waving its right paw round, `lives a Hatter: and in THAT direction,' waving the other paw, `lives a March Hare. Visit either you like: they're both mad.'

`But I don't want to go among mad people,' Alice remarked.

`Oh, you can't help that,' said the Cat: `we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.'

`How do you know I'm mad?' said Alice.

`You must be,' said the Cat, `or you wouldn't have come here.'

-- Chapter 6, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

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"We're all mad here" is the favorite Alice quote of artist Rick St. Dennis, so in January, anything goes! Be mad! Get cute, get creepy, get crazy, because Rick St. Dennis has amazing digi stamps in all those styles, including many wonderful AIW images! Submit your creations by Friday, January 25th for a chance to win three digital stamps from Rick St. Dennis. All projects are welcome, but those featuring Wonderland will have two chances at the prize instead of one. Multiple entries are welcome, but to be counted as separate entries they must be on separate posts.

The one thing I have been able to do during my crafting slump is color, and the fabulous AIW images are so much FUN to color that I wanted to use as many as possible.  My thought was to have Alice fallling down the rabbit hole and seeing all the characters on the way (wasn't initially sure how I was gonna pull that off ) but I didn't really have an Alice that fit my vision.  Rick to the rescue!  I mentioned it to him and within an hour he sent me this fabulous Alice, exactly how I had described her.  What a GUY!  Now I'm not saying he's gonna go cranking out custom stuff every time, but he does welcome suggestions.  I was particularly thrilled when he put her in the shop with a little mention.  You can grab her HERE.  Thanks ever so much, Rick!  She's just perfect, so I printed her in three different sizes to give the illusion that she's falling and used an ancient Sizzix Spiral die to cut the hole.  I colored it in a checkerboard motif and and thought "Now what?"

My initial thought was to make a book with a page for each character and holes of descending size on each page as Alice fell further and further down.  Yeah, right.  Choosing DP sends me into fits of indecision so that was DEFINITELY out! Besides, having them all together has such greater impact, don'tcha think? My solution was to do a step card which conveniently allowed me to stretch out my hole for the depth I was imagining with room on the side for all the other guys.  I didn't even use DP because I thought the black and white background scheme showed the colored images to better advantage.  Just a bit of embossing for texture and I was good to go. 

 

So on the way, Alice encountered The March Hare,

 

The Tweedles,
 

 

The Queen of HeArts Zentagle Style,
 

 

and the Mad Hatter.

 

They're all colored with Copics and fussy cut, mostly with a craft knife so as not to clip off any of the fabby details.  (A little tip here.  I use my old Cricut mats to cut images with my knife because the little sticky that's left keeps them from slipping and protects any surface).  This took FOREVER, and imagine my dismay when I realized that because of the cheap crap paper I use to print my images, the bleed through required I back them and do it all AGAIN!  (I seriously considered skipping that part and making sure the pix didn't show any of the mess, but once I laid the colored images down on black and saw how the colors popped, I decided it was soooo worth it.)

But wait a minute.  What about the Cheshire Cat?  I'd run out of steps.  Hmmm...  He did seem to appear in the trees so I used a Crafts Too folder and embossed and fussy cut a tree for him to sit in.  I did flip him in my Printmaster Program because he looked better facing the opposite direction of the March Hare and his swirlies are enhanced with metallic gel pens so he sort of sparkles.

My only problem now was making the tree strong enough to hold him and not collapse on the rest of Wonderland.  Fortunately, I planned on backing the tree with black too and inserted a skewer up the trunk before attaching the layers.  Then I folded up the sides (thank God I left the bottom sides long) and glued that to the last step. The black ground is taped directly to the bottom of the last fold and then held on each side with adhesive foam to keep the tree upright. The banner in front was computer generated and cut by hand and I colored some of my pink metallic hearts red, with a Bic Marker to embellish it.  DONE!  and let me tell you I was doin' the "Happy Dance"! 

Now, if you're not snoring, I invite you to pop over to The Altered Alice for more inspiration with Rick's wonderful images.  There's still time to enter and it doesn't even have to be an Alice project, although those who do get a double chance at winning.  I might also mention that Rick has just added some new Wonderland images to his Etsy SHOP so be sure and check those out, too.  I've already snatched them up and can't wait to color some more.

Finally, I'm also entering this in the Sparkle and Glitter with Rick St. Dennis current Challenge which is Anything but a Square.  Pretty sure this qualifies,  the Totally Papercrafts It's Embossing Time Challenge, A Gem of a Challenge Emboss It, The Simply Create Linky Party #18, and the Glitter and Sparkle Sentimental Challenge. Finally, I'm adding it to the Octopode Factory Friday Mad Hatter's Tea Party Challenge because I didn't get a chance to do one with my fabulous Octopode stamps.  So sorry Lily, you know I love you and your work.  Thanks for hangin' in there with me.