Category Archives: Reese’s

Tag someone sweet with this mixed media Valentine

Tag someone sweet with this mixed media Valentine

Valentine-Tag-2016-AP-Slide-by-Betsy-Skagen-of-Paper-Calliope-153344

 

Have you completed all your Valentines cards yet? Don’t run out and buy those perforated factory-made cheapos just yet. You still have time to stun someone special with a dazzling creation.

And if they don’t ooh and ahhh with enough appreciation? Well then you can retaliate by keeping all the chocolate for yourself.

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You spin me right ’round–like a Valentine carousel

You spin me right ’round–like a Valentine carousel
You spin me right ’round–like a Valentine carousel

 

 

 

I don’t think there’s any sweeter combination than Valentines and merry-go-rounds–at least if you exclude the food category. Everyone knows there’s nothing sweeter than a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup.
Valentine-Carousel-by-Betsy-Skagen-of-Paper-Calliope-033940

This carousel features glittering lights, prancing horses in perfect pastels and mid-century sweethearts all dolled up for the holiday.  Read the rest of this entry

A papercraft town in time for the holidays

A papercraft town in time for the holidays

Earlier this fall the folks over at The Robin’s Nest announced a Craft Engineering contest. My wheels soon started spinning and I began scheming up a little project.

Well, that little project morphed into a gigantic undertaking that took countless days and nights. It seems that the process of creating a village isn’t as simple as making one or two buildings. You can’t have a village without houses. Then of course, you need stores and at least one diner. Essential municipal services such as a water towers and ferris wheel cannot be neglected. Yes, ferris wheels are essential.

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An artist trading block–be careful when toying with Number 13

An artist trading block–be careful when toying with Number 13

Paper-Calliope-Halloween-ATB-outside-1

As you are probably aware by now, Paper Calliope has been hosting the 13 Days of October. For 13 days in October I am featuring different autumn and Halloween focused craft projects. I playfully chose the number 13 to toy with spooky superstitions. Read the rest of this entry

Make an altered art Halloween Book

Make an altered art Halloween Book

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Paper-Calliope-Robins-Nest-Halloween-Book-Cover-4

With the season of ghosts and goblins fast approaching, I am thrilled to share my tutorial for an altered art Halloween mini album. You can see the entire tutorial with lots of detailed pictures of creative pages on my Robin’s Nest Design Team post.

Altering books is one of my favorite activities. With so many options available from pre-made books found at craft stores to repurposed children’s books to making books from scratch, I find making altered books almost as irresistible as sneaking Reeses’ Peanut Butter Cups out of my kids’ trick or treat bags. Please note that emphasis on almost, because, well, I really like Reeses. Read the rest of this entry

Aim your glue gun to create this crafty awesomeness

Aim your glue gun to create this crafty awesomeness
Aim your glue gun to create this crafty awesomeness

Do you love the masks and stencils that are on the market these days? Buying one or two is certainly reasonable for almost any budget. However, like most art supplies (and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups), it is hard to stop at just one. If you do want to buy some, you might find Artist Cellar and Stencil Girl Products irresistible.

If, however, you would rather spend your money on other things, say, for example, on items like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups your mortgage, then I have a few solutions for you. Over the next several posts, I will share ways you can make your own masks and stencils. In addition to saving money, this can be a fun and artistic process in itself. Read the rest of this entry

Escape to Paris–mixed-media Paris

Escape to Paris–mixed-media Paris
Escape to Paris–mixed-media Paris

Ahhh Paris…the City of Love. Or so they say. I have to take people’s word on this since my love, The Husband™, has never wooed me with a romantic get-away to France. To be fair, I haven’t wooed him there either, but this is my blog, so it’s all about moi*.

My fifth and final tag of the Valentine series focuses on the City of Love. All of the elements of this tag are either a deep red, purple or silver color. I don’t think this is particularly Parisian, but of course I have no way of verifying that since someone has not taken me there. Just sayin’. Read the rest of this entry

How sweet it is

How sweet it is


Paper Calliope Chocolate Berry Valentine Tag

Paper Calliope Chocolate Berry Valentine Tag Level of Difficulty: Intermediate
 

Nothing says Valentine’s Day like chocolate and berries. Okay, flowers and jewelry can also speak the language of love pretty loudly, but those won’t be making an appearance at our house this year. At our house we stick with the less-than-$5-valentine. Thankfully, after all these years I’ve trained The Husband™ not to buy cutesy talking stuffed animals or dancing plastic flowers from the nearest Super America gas station.

Today, I’m going to share with you a non-caloric way to enjoy a delightfully rich Chocolate Berry Valentine treat by showing you how to make the first in a series of five Valentine tags.

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