Category Archives: Alpha Stamps

Oh how I love to putz around (and how that relates to crack)

Oh how I love to putz around (and how that relates to crack)
Oh how I love to putz around (and how that relates to crack)

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Long before they were trendy, I treasured my putz houses. As a young girl I took these battered Christmas decorations that my family had abandoned and set up a tiny village. Granted, there were only four or five houses, but I loved them.

I never had the budget to add many authentic putz houses to my collection over the years, but my little village grew nonetheless. Frosted trees and 1940s era cars in a variety of scales joined the village. Mid-century children skating and sledding loomed like giant toddlers about to devour the putz homes.

Perhaps the putz house I most treasure is the one I made this year. I stuck true to the simple mid-century stye adorned with lots of glitter. Read the rest of this entry

Come visit the North Pole in this altered album

Come visit the North Pole in this altered album

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At this time of year there’s no place on earth busier than the North Pole. Santa’s elves are frenetic–making toys, grooming reindeer and loading the sleigh. However, those elves are so thoughtful that they still left room in this altered album for your photographs and journal entries.

I am thrilled to be invited back for a second year as Gyspy Soul Laser Cuts guest designer. My projects will be featured at Gyspy Soul Laser Cuts each Wednesday in November. I hope you visit there and see my projects. I will be especially grateful if you leave some love.

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Twas the night before Christmas and guess who is stirring

Twas the night before Christmas and guess who is stirring
Twas the night before Christmas and guess who is stirring

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

Hold it right there. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong!

Obviously Mr. Moore didn’t take time to actually check on the mice. All he had to do was remove the grandfather clock face to see what the mice were really up to.

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Who’s for dinner on Halloween

Who’s for dinner on Halloween

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There was a time when I needed place cards because I regularly hosted dinner parties.

That however was a long, long time ago. That was back when I religiously memorized every issue of Martha Stewart Living.

Then life changed. Martha donned her Orange is the New Black party clothes and my life became consumed by family health care needs.

Sadly, nowadays–my guest list is purely imaginary. But hey! At least my imaginary guests will have place cards to die for! Read the rest of this entry

Go through the tunnel book to get to the Hanging Tree

Go through the tunnel book to get to the Hanging Tree
Go through the tunnel book to get to the Hanging Tree

The Hanging Tree song by James Newton Howard is a haunting tune that stays in your head long after you hear it. With the Halloween season upon us, I wanted to create my own homage to this song.

While I may sometimes feel murderous intentions–especially when one of my kids doesn’t replace the toilet paper on the roll–my desire to erect a hanging tree took on a more benign approach via this altered art tunnel book.

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Hanging Tree Altered Art Tunnel Book Cover

Once you enter through the spooky gates of this book, the song lyrics guide you though a series of hauntingly sad spaces. Read the rest of this entry

Do you know What Witches Do? This altered book may tell you

Do you know What Witches Do? This altered book may tell you
Do you know What Witches Do? This altered book may tell you

Combining altered books and Halloween–does life get any better?

It does when your altered art album gets featured on the Canvas Corp blog!

Please stop over and check out my tutorial (and my first-ever video explaining how I used magnets in the book).

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A time of magic and dragons in a miniature Merlin’s room

A time of magic and dragons in a miniature Merlin’s room
A time of magic and dragons in a miniature Merlin’s room

In a land of myth and a time of magic lived Merlin. With his room deep in the heart of Camelot, Merlin had a special connection to powerful dragons. If you look closely, you can see that one has appeared in Merlin’s mirror, ready to speak to the fearless wizard.

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Meanwhile his cupboards are filled with frightening potions and books of spells and other wizardry.

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Hocus Pocus-Altered Art Houdini Trunk

Hocus Pocus-Altered Art Houdini Trunk
Hocus Pocus-Altered Art Houdini Trunk

Abracadabra. Alakazam! Despite his magic prowess, I’m sure Houdini still had to cart his stuff around from show to show. As I was snooping around the Alpha Stamps shop last year, I saw their steamer trunk and began imagining what this trunk of Houdini’s would look like.

In my demented imagination, I decided that half of his sawed-off assistant should be present. Even The Son™, who is a horror flick aficionado, looked at me with concern. Heh.

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Tutorial to make Houdini’s Magical Altered Art Trunk

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Summer at the shore–an altered art miniature beach scene with bait and snack shack

Summer at the shore–an altered art miniature beach scene with bait and snack shack
Summer at the shore–an altered art miniature beach scene with bait and snack shack

Nothing defines summer more than a sunny day at the beach–the sound of waves hitting the sandy shore, wooden docks, children laughing and cold drinks.

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I captured an idyllic summer moment by making a miniature scene with realistic water and sand, a bait and snack shack and an old wooden dock that is actually made from paper. Read the rest of this entry

Make vintage coasters for summertime drinks

Make vintage coasters for summertime drinks

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I wanted to share with you this fairly easy vintage beverage coaster project that makes a perfect summertime accessory for your home. Make a bunch ahead of time and you will always have last-minute hostess gifts on hand.

BSkagen-JulyCoaster-6 Read the rest of this entry