Alpha Stamps: Halloween and Christmas!? And a New Challenge

	September 4, 2011

Halloween and Christmas!? And a New Challenge

You might think it's way too early to start announcing Christmas things but I see the orders flowing through here (and some of you guys have been ordering Christmas since early July). But first, let's look at challenge winners, a new challenge and swap art!

New "Catnip Kittys" Challenge!

Use any of the adorable kitties from the Catnip Kittys Collage Sheet and a Ginormous Manila Tag to create a Halloween-themed piece of artwork! We’re looking for creative fabulousness (and some spooky cats)!

Submissions are due Sunday, September 25th. Voting will be open from September 28th - October 5th, with the challenge winners posted on Saturday, October 8th. (2 winners! Popular vote and Editor’s Pick.)

Read more about the rules (and prizes!) on the blog.

Art from Both Circus Swaps Posted to the Gallery!

Photos from the Circus Train Swap are live (using Blank Altoids Tins).

Train Car at right by Sharon Bolmey.

And photos of the Circus Book Swap are also posted.

Plus the Afternoon Muse Chipboard Album (used in the book swap) is now on sale!

Circus Book pages, below, are by Jennifer Busselle, Teri Steele and Phoebe Diamond (left to right).

More Halloween

Phantom Scrapbook Papers, Paper Pad, Clear Stamp Set, Banner Kit & Stickers! (whew!)
A nice, big set of spooky images in a tight black, white, orange and sick green palette. the 12x12" papers are spot-varnished, so some of the designs are slightly raised and shiny. And the banner kit includes enough lettered mini cards to create a "Happy Haunting" banner.

Love Potions Scrapbook Paper
12" x 12", double-sided sheet with collaged faux magic, elixir, love potion labels (and a fun Halloween stripe pattern on the back).

Haunted Hallows Scrapbook Paper
12" x 12" double-sided cardstock sheets.

Tiny Plastic Skull Beads
Tiny is right. Double-sided (the face is on both sides).

Updated Halloween Fiber Set
8 yards of fibers! 2 yards each of four beautiful, soft, fuzzy fibers in a pumpkin patch (at night) palette.

The set is carded for shipping (so the fibers won't get tangled).

New Pendant by Wendy Anderson

Wendy is on a roll! Another gorgeous necklace, using Rosary Chain, Morning Glory Heart Filigree and a Violet Garden Heart Pendant with some new antique silver components.

Waterlily Wreath/Toggle Ring - New Silver Finish
Beautiful, vintage patinaed brass or antique silver filigree with delicate details.

Nouveau Lily Bar
A good size/shape to use as a toggle (closure). Don't forget Head Pins to complete this toggle bar.

Art Nouveau Iris Connector - New Silver Finish
30 x 20mm in Antique Gold, Antique Silver or Vintage Patina.

Christmas (really)

Dear Santa 6x6 Paper Pad
40 sheets total (2 each of 18 designs plus 4 sheets of die-cut tags & borders). 10 sheets include specialty flocked, varnished or foiled accents. Single-sided sheets.

Father Christmas Sleigh Scrapbook Paper
12" x 12" double-sided scrapbook paper. One side has a Victorian Engraving of Father Christmas flying in his sleigh, with 4 reindeer, and the caption "In Hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there." Reverse side has numerous Victorian Santa Claus illustrations. Both sides heavily distressed.

Et Cetera Symphony Scrapbook Paper
12" x 12" double-sided scrapbook paper. One side has a collage of sheets of music. Reverse side has portions of script, music notation, and coffee ring stain. Both sides heavily distressed.

Petite Papers Christmas 6x6 Pad
36 double-sided papers (2 each of 18 designs) with a mix of roses, snowflakes and Santa parachuting in to deliver gifts, in a sweet, candy-colored palette.

You may remember similar designs in larger 12x12" size: A Candy Party, The Delivery & Making A List Scrapbook Papers.

Related Petite 6x6 Paper Pad
A sweet mix of roses, teacups & dress forms. 36 sheets of 6" x 6" double-sided papers (2 each of 18 designs).

Miscellaneous

Gothic Fleur Cross Charms
Really gorgeous crosses. A bit over 1" tall. Earrings by Design Team Coordinator Miz Bella.

Small Fleur Drops
These are really tiny (almost 11mm tall).

Small Angel Wings
Antiqued gold-, silver- or copper-plated pewter, 15x5mm double-sided wings. Good price, too.

Smash Tape: Black & White Dots (far right)
65 ft of 5/8" wide tape. Use to attach mementos in a sketchbook or bind the edges of a book. Note: not terribly sticky (sticky enough but won't tear your papers if you need to adjust the placement).

Antique Heirloom Buttons
20mm plastic shank button with an antique vintage look.

Out Of Print Scrapbook Paper
Double-sided 12" x 12" paper with an interesting distressed collage/text pattern (like you cut up collages and reassembled them in a harlequin diamond design). (The curve is just showing the reverse side of the sheet.)

Jump Ring Sets - New Antique Brass Color
120 jump rings per set (60 small (4mm), 30 medium (6mm) & 30 large (8mm)). Antique Brass, Gold or Silver. The antique brass are a good color match for brass oxide finishes.

Belle Armoire Jewelry - Autumn '11
The Autumn '11 Belle Armoire Jewelry is not to be missed! Inside this stunning issue you'll find a striking set of resin charm accessories from Kristen Robinson, shrine box necklaces by Connie Fong and etched metal necklaces by Stacey Cordell.

Timeless Scrapbook Papers & Paper Pad
Two 12x12" Scrapbook papers and a paper pad with miniatures of those 2 sheets, plus many more classic map, music, dictionary, etc., images (perfect for backgrounds).

Snippet of sample art, at right (using one of the calligraphy pages from the set), by Design Team Member Teri Calia (link to full circus book page).

The Main Attraction Scrapbook Paper
12" x 12" double-sided paper with a linen texture. A curtained stage on the front and bouquets of roses on the back.

Fun House Rub-Ons
Flags, banners, ornaments and a full set of numerals (in 2 sizes).

Each package includes one 6" x 10" sheet of rub-ons. 48 individual images.

Not New to the Site, But Newly On Sale!

Dress Form Chipboard Book
8 pages on a chain, first page die-cut, stand on last page. Approx. 9-1/2" x 3-3/8". Used in the Retro Recipe Book Swap.

Chipboard House Book
Adorable chipboard house book, complete with 8 house-shaped pages (not including covers) held with 3 metal binder rings. Approx. 6-1/2" x 6-1/2". Used in the Feather Your Nest Swap.

ATC Chipboard Book
First page of each coaster book is embossed. 6 pages on a chain.

Sprocket Chipboard
Heavy chipboard die-cut sprocket gears. Each gear is 3-1/2" in diameter.

Black Chipboard Tags & Chipboard Tags
5-1/4" x 2-1/2" (5 pieces) in black or raw (tan) chipboard.

Circus Elephant Clear Stamp
Approx. 2" x 2"

Silly Circus Scrapbook Paper
Spot-varnished, double-sided 12" x 12" scrapbook sheet.

Sea Glass Labels Scrapbook Paper
12" x 12" paper with a dense pattern created by layers and layers of vintage travel stickers/labels. Distressed (subtly antiqued around the edges).

Art Doll Quarterly Magazine
This issue includes a cute marionette theatre made with wooden spools.

Papillon Cling-Mounted Stamp Set
Designed by Tim Holtz.

Floral Fantasy Postcards
Beautiful 4" x 6" postcards (printed on both sides). 20 per set, 2 each of 10 designs

Brass Dragonfly Charms
Four different types of very detailed, ornate dragonflies (all are stampings so are concave on the back).

14x10mm Looking Glass Oval Settings
Antiqued pewter-plate over brass (or antiqued brass). All brass is lead free and made in USA.

Brass Dragonfly with 2 Loops
1" wide. Would be a lovely, simple pendant by itself or wrap the tail around a cabochon.

Nouveau Crest Filigree
Beautiful vintage patinaed brass! 38mm x 40mm (approx 1-1/2" tall).

Oxidized Gold Rosary Connectors
Each piece is double-sided with one side having the head and shoulders of a praying Mary with a large halo while the reverse side has a torso length praying Mary and the word Italy. There are 2 loops on the halo/top of shape and 1 loop at the base of the figure/bottom of shape.

Rebekah Pendants
Antique silver-plated brass, antique gold-plated brass or vintage-patina brass. Slightly dapped (see profile, below left). 25 x 55mm.