Like sunshine after the rain

Hello scrappy friends! I have had a pretty exciting week, so I just had to share! I did get a final layoff notice from my school district this month, so times may be rough ahead,but I am looking forward to new opportunities at the moment. This week I began submitting job applications for potential new positions and the one I am most excited about is at a local university as an Instructional Designer; this job is so perfect for me! I'll keep you posted, but in the meantime I am researching everything I can about the school and its programs. :)
After all the anxiety I've been through in this layoff, I feel like this week has really lifted my spirits in small ways. After a particularly yucky day, I came home to find a package of too sweet stamps from my new scrappy friend, Lisa. You must check out her blog...love it! She sent me these darlings:

So cute, no? I had just enough time to ink one of 'em up and get her colored in with my copics and prismas...I'll let you know when she gets a home! The sweetest thing about this package was that last time we were at our LSS, we both liked this set and I was going to purchase it, but before I'd made up my mind (and my wallet), a girl in our group snagged 'em. I so appreciate Lisa's thoughtfulness and generosity! <3
Additionally, I received an e-mail from Lisa and Betty (of the NEW SimplyBettyStamps) today inviting me to be a part of Betty's first DESIGN TEAM! *insert giggly boppin' around here* I was able to see all of the images in her first release this afternoon and they are SO friggin' cute! You can check out either Lisa or Betty's blogs for a Lil' sneak peak, or see the images on the company blog, here.
In light of all of this loveliness, I wanted to share this little doll with you:

For this card, I used the Rain Snow Shine set from The Greeting Farm for the main image; isn't Anya fabulous? After coloring in Anya's hair and skin with my Copics and Prismacolor Markers, I started by stamping Anya onto various scraps of both K & Co. and DCWV papers and then paper piecing her outfit together. From there, I used the Hello Kitty Greetings Cartridge and my Cricut Expression for the rainbow and raincloud, using coordinating papers. I finished it all off with a couple punches from Martha Stewart(butterflies and fence border), some embossing with SU! plates,a few prima flowers and a phrase stamp(SU!) punched out with my SU! word window punch. All of the Cardstock is SU! and the papers are from the DCWV Crafty stack.
Here is a close-up of the fashionable Anya:

I want to wish you all a happy Friday and a wonderful weekend!
Hugs and HOOTS,
Alicia <3