Hi Everyone!

Good afternoon, all!

My name is Alyssa, and I'm here to share my love of all things creative and cute. I've been crafting for years and I've recently been given the push and a platform to share my adventures with anyone interested.

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I'm what some might call a "hobby hoarder". Have you seen the show hoarders? My life is just like that, but instead of collecting old newspapers or fast food wrappers or cats, I collect a vast array of craft supplies, projects, and ideas (and also maybe some cats).

I love the feeling of starting a new project, especially if it's in a medium I haven't worked with before. I have a tendency to dive in head first and bite off as much as I can possibly chew. Case in point, I once decided I wanted to complete a complicated crochet pattern, despite having never picked up a crochet hook in my life. So, I went to the store, bought the supplies, and spent hours on the Internet poring over YouTube tutorials, basic stitches, definitions of the abbreviations and language used in crochet patterns, and accidentally crocheted a number of perfectly round, plush coasters getting the hang of crocheting and increasing in the round. I still haven't finished that initial project, but I've learned so much about crochet, and it's become a favorite for keeping my restless hands busy!

So, here I am. I'm looking at a room full of craft supplies, some entirely unused, and I want to get to work! While I am mostly blogging to document my experiences with new projects, I have a few passions that I'm sure will work their way into my posts. First, I have been baking and decorating cakes and cupcakes for years, and while my style has evolved from boxed mix cupcakes with cartoonish frosting art to gourmet flavor profiles with complex fillings, toppings, and garnishes, frosting will always be my number one medium of choice, and you can check out my cooking and baking website at www.frostilebakeover.com for recipes and cupcake stories.

Second, I have a particular weakness for crafts with scrapbook paper. I love pairing patterns and colors, as well as constructing simple pictures and messages with handmade pieces. I love the charm and thoughtfulness of a handmade card, and the surprise on friends' faces when they realize you've made the envelope as well. Holidays and birthdays are some of my favorite project opportunities, and I find that a message built by hand is always well-received (and occasionally hung on the fridge).

And of course, my third love, albeit a bit unorthodox in the arts and crafts realm, will always be nail art. Creating a pretty, creative, or funny manicure has always been fun for me. It also inspired me years ago to stop biting my nails and picking at the skin around my cuticles and fingertips. I must warn you, dear readers, that I will often post about nail art, new polishes, and nail art tools, but I will do my best to keep these posts related to the creative potential of the subjects. By the same token, anyone involved in the nail art community (yes there is a community and I am fully immersed), will know that indie polish makers are blowing up at the moment. These amazing lacquer loving people are all over the forums with lovely etsy shops filled with handmade polishes beyond your beauty supply store shelves as well as your wildest dreams. I will not only be occasionally swatching and reviewing a few of these unique beauties, but I am in the process of beginning my own food-themed indie polish line called Cake Polish, and I'll be detailing my steps, sources, triumphs, and failures here.

This blog will be written and edited by me, so be wary of bad jokes and groan-worthy puns, and all of the included photographs (unless otherwise cited) will be my own. They will be taken with my Nikon D3000 DSLR camera (or my iPhone 5 if I'm really desperate), edited either in Adobe Photoshop or Windows Picture Viewer, and for the real photo nerds, all specs should be available to view in the "developer mode" of your Internet browser. Another note to my fellow photography lovers, please excuse my lack of light box. I am currently working on building my own, though I have very little space for it. For the time being, all of my photos will be taken at my desk. Please find it in your hearts to forgive my perpetual mess and background clutter. I am always working on several things at once, and while I try to keep at least one area dust, clutter, and distraction-free for photos, I have limited space and four very nosy cats who have other ideas, and no knowledge of boundaries or considerate shedding practices.

So to all of my fellow creative warriors, please join me on my quest to explore and conquer every facet of the DIY world. Be inspired with me by my fellow crafty bloggers, adorable Pinterest projects, and the necessity of an otherwise unmet need.