Category Archives: Mixed Media

Sep15

When altered art turns deadly–your number is up

Posted on September 15, 2015 by Betsy Skagen

When altered art turns deadly–your number is up

I was making Halloween tags out of bingo cards the other day when my husband quipped “my number is up”. Being that I’m the wordsmith, I don’t know why it is that he remembered this expression and I didn’t. Maybe because he causes me so much stress. I certainly know that even if my number isn’t up, my memory certainly is.

Now where was I?…Oh yes, well he may have remembered the phrase, but I was the one who realized that I could have a lot of altered art fun with it.

Your Number is Up is actually a combination of altered art and mixed media. It plays upon the themes of numbers and bones. Please visit ColourArte to see more details about how I made it.

Sep1

Tune into the NETwork for an important announcement

Posted on September 1, 2015 by Betsy Skagen

Tune into the NETwork for an important announcement

Time to tune in to your retro televisions because today is the big day!

A few weeks back I announced that I “made the cut” and was named to the ColourArte Design Team. Today my inaugural project is featured on the ColourArte blog.

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Aug30

An altered art steampunk homage to Oz

Posted on August 30, 2015 by Betsy Skagen

An altered art steampunk homage to Oz

“We’re off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz.”

Good morning. Now you can hate me all day for that ear worm. Actually, now that I typed it, I am kind of hating myself. Truth be told, I don’t even like the Wizard of Oz.

Why then did I create the altered art piece Behind the Curtain–A Steampunk Homage to Oz? Well you will just have to find out by clicking on this link. You will also get the benefit of seeing a fun two-part tutorial (complete with childhood trauma).

Aug4

Good news keeps on rolling in

Posted on August 4, 2015 by Betsy Skagen

Good news keeps on rolling in

I have even more good news that I’ve been keeping under wraps over here at Paper Calliope. I’ve been asked to join the Altered Pages Design team! I am excited to join this team as they have such a great reputation for fun themes, ideas and products. You can check out both the Altered Pages blog and its Facebook site.

One of the first projects I will be working on is a road trip project–which is perfect timing since my family just finished our quintessential American road trip.

I’m so grateful to the folks at Altered Pages for inviting me to join their team of talented artists.It should be a fun ride!

Jul30

There’ a good reason I’m doing the happy dance in this odd place

Posted on July 30, 2015 by Betsy Skagen

There’ a good reason I’m doing the happy dance in this odd place

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I can’t imagine a stranger place to be dancing. Here I am, somewhere between Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota–wedged between cupholders and suitcases with two teens, a tired husband, a 90-pound dog panting bad breath at my face and a 13-week-old golden retriever puppy chewing his way through his crate–somehow doing the happy dance.

My reason for cha-cha-cha-ing amid backpacks, books and binoculars is perfectly reasonable. You see, today is the day I get to announce that I have been selected as a ColourArte Design Team member.

I’ve been keeping this news secret for awhile now and am thrilled to be able to finally share it with you.

Please check out the official ColourArte announcement.

Jul9

Who knew? I should use my Playstation to craft altered tags?

Posted on July 9, 2015 by Betsy Skagen

Who knew? I should use my Playstation to craft altered tags?

Question: How do crafters solve problems?

Answer: Just Like everyone else. They Google it!

The problem I need to solve is that I think I must be the slowest crafter in the world. A visit to Facebook leaves me frothing enviously at the astounding rate that many of you produce your art. DO YOU PEOPLE NEVER SLEEP?

Wait, a minute. I never sleep (well, just about, anyway). So I have been trying to figure out how I can be so stinkin’ slow? In desperation I turned to Google for wisdom.

Oh Google, how could you fail me so?.

Jun18

And they called it puppy love

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Betsy Skagen

And they called it puppy love

This project takes whiskers to a whole new level. To show off our new puppy in an adorable DIY frame, I combined my love for vintage products*, with some fantastic Whisker Graphics products. Read the rest of this entry →

May24

Ahoy there!

Posted on May 24, 2015 by Betsy Skagen

Ahoy there!

Ahoy everyone. Please check out my nautical craft Brie by the Sea over at the Robin’s Nest. I promise, there’s nothing fishy about the link. (See what I did there?)

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Apr16

Pretty, pretty Prima—with sprinkles on top

Posted on April 16, 2015 by Betsy Skagen

Pretty, pretty Prima—with sprinkles on top

Prima Marketing is having a design team call. A long-time fan of theirs, I simply could not resist giving it a try. But the best part???? The best part is how much fun I had creating these projects with Prima products!

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Jan11

A mixed media reflection on finding my tribe

Posted on January 11, 2015 by Betsy Skagen

A mixed media reflection on finding my tribe

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt from the heart.” –Helen Keller

Each month the Robin’s Nest provides its International Design Team with a quote to inspire our art projects. This month’s quote got me thinking about focusing 2015 on the “things” that are important to me. One such beautiful thing–which cannot be seen or touched–is loyalty in friendship. Read the rest of this entry →