Dalicious - Challenge 2

Dear Readers,

The second challenge's theme was Adventure!  Three things came to my mind :

1. The Indiana Jones's movies
2. The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
3. The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland

I crossed out the first one because I didn't have any clothes or prop to make it happen!  My boy really wanted me to make the costume but I didn't have enough time nor skills to sew anything!  I crossed out the second because I was afraid the story wouldn't be famous enough for the judges to recognize.

So I opted for the last one because I already had most of the elements necessary for the photo.   I set up my scene on Saturday during baby's nap.  The most difficult part was making the card soldiers.   It took many trials and errors to finally get the right size and to keep them glued on their "feet",

I created the croquet scene because it's one of my favorite scene!  I wished I had a Sylvanian Families Hedgehog baby because he would have made the perfect croquet ball!  (I am sure mommy hedgehog would disagree with me!).  Instead I used a Playmobil hedgehog which was also very cute!

Pullip Merl is the Red Queen.  I didn't want to show her face because DAL is supposed to be the main focus in the picture and my Pullip doll has such a big head that I think she would most likely overshadow my little Scout (Dal Tweety)!  So I cut off her head (Get it? Get it? Okay, that was lame :P)

It took me a while to get the card soldiers ready.   Being made of flimsy paper, they constantly fell over.  The Little Pullip Cheshire Cat and Little Dal Romantic Rabbit were already part of my Alice collection and couldn't wait to be featured in this photoshoot!  They never get photographed, the poor dears!  The tree is the Sylvanian Families Treehouse (the old model).  I added some fake leaves. 

Overall, I am happy with my picture but the contestants created much better shots than I did.  You should take a look at the entries HERE.  Isn't it MIND BLOWING?  I would be happy not to finish last!!!

But to be honest, I had a lot of fun doing this challenge.  It felt like a SCAVENGER HUNT during which I looked all over my toy collection to see what I could use for this photo.   The third challenge has already been posted: VINTAGE!  I already know what I want to do.  I just hope the execution will be better this time and I won't wait until the last minute again!

Have a great week everybody!

Everything Alice: The Wonderland Book of Makes and Bakes

Dear Readers,

Do you ever buy books by its cover?  I sure do.  A lot.  And my most recent one is a craft book: Everything Alice: The Wonderland Book of Makes and Bakes.  There is even an official website for that book!

Not that I needed another coffee table book that I would never truly use, but the cover art was just too tempting to pass.  Plus I love anything wonderland-related theme, whether they are books, dolls, or teapots. 

So I bought this one as soon as I saw it and I am glad because it's out of print from Amazon.com right now (but still available from other sellers).  The book was co-produced by Hannah Read-Baldry and Christine Leech and you can read more about them HERE.

They also have another book under their name: Everything Oz: The Wizard Book of Makes and Bakes.  That would also be an interesting book to get!  It's also available at Barnes and Nobles in case you live in the USA and want to get it.

Back to Alice book now.  It's a very beautiful book full of color pictures and craft ideas.  It's however in paperback only.  I would  have preferred a hardcover or spiral-bound book but that's just me.  Oh well, paperback will have to do.

The book presents many craft and food ideas somewhat related to the Wonderland imagined by Lewis Carroll.  I say "somewhat" because some crafts are rather loosely linked to the book and a few are quite far-fetched (a shoe bag???).  But if you are planning a Wonderland-theme party, this book can be useful. 

Did I like it? I think the author did a good job at explaining each step and showing the finished product in beautiful pictures but there aren't that many cooking recipes and they are rather plain and not inventive or unusual.  The crafts are undeniably gorgeous but again, there is nothing spectacular.   However, the book is filled with awesome photos or drawings on each page.  Everything is in color.  Here below are some of those pages.

The main attraction of the book is the beautiful art it displays: 5 out of 5 stars!  The content only gets 3 out of 5 stars though.  But  it will be a good book for inspiration rather than a book for exact reference.  It also looks great as a coffee table book or on a Wonderland bookshelf!

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own. I was not paid or received gifts to write this or mention any stores or website. You may find a better store in your area.

 

Alice in Lalaloopsy Land

Alice in Lalaloopsy Land is probably my favorite Mini Lalaloopsy doll.  I love setting up photoshoots with her and my miniature.  And this is what happens after I read "Through the looking-glass" by Lewis Carroll...

 

The lion and the unicorn

Were fighting for the crown

The lion beat the unicorn

All around the town.

Some gave them white bread,
And some gave them brown;
Some gave them plum cake
And drummed them out of town.

'Feather! Feather!' the Sheep cried again, taking more needles.

'You'll be catching a crab directly.'

There is no reason or excuse for this.  Just having fun :P 

Have a pleasant weekend!