Tag Archives: Altered art

A Christmas Love Story

A Christmas Love Story

gsl-Christmas-kitsch-angel-by-Betsy-Skagen-0028Nothing sets my heart aflutter like Christmas decorations made from the 1940s-1960s.

Since this era was before my time and people typically collect things from their childhood, my infatuation may not make a lot of sense. But as the youngest child of older parents, most of my family’s Christmas decorations came from the 1940s and ’50s.

gsl-Christmas-kitsch-angel-by-Betsy-Skagen-0046 Read the rest of this entry

Small but mighty holiday album

Small but mighty holiday album

Christmas-Album-by-Betsy-Skagen-0003

It’s true what they say, good things do come in small packages. At only 6 x 6 inches, this holiday album might be small, but it is packed full of goodness.

You can see how to make it by checking out my tutorial at Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts.

Christmas-Album-by-Betsy-Skagen-0004 Read the rest of this entry

A pink retro laundry room? No problem (if it’s in miniature)

A pink retro laundry room? No problem (if it’s in miniature)

Miniature-retro-laundry-room--by-Betsy-Skagen-0031

Let’s face it, doing the laundry would be so much more fun with a retro pink washer and dryer. Read the rest of this entry

What is this packing light you speak of?

What is this packing light you speak of?

What is this packing light you speak of?

I just don’t “get” people who manage to pack light. Even when I travel to the family lakeside cottage less than two hours from home, I manage to fill an entire minivan with vital stuff I simply cannot live without.

This particular postcard, which I made as part of the “Postcards from the Road” set I created for the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts/Canvas Corp Match Up, drives home this point. Read the rest of this entry

My Swedish heritage & my multicultural family in light of today’s hate for AALL and Create Challenge #1 Europe

My Swedish heritage & my multicultural family in light of today’s hate for AALL and Create Challenge #1 Europe

Family-Bible-MultiCultural-by-Betsy-Skagen-0171

I was thinking about the AALL Challenge #1 Europe one day and inspiration came to me throughout the day. First, while visiting my elderly mother, I spied the family Bible–a massive tome in Swedish that no one in our family can read. Later, while preparing photos for digitizing, I came across both a stoic picture of my Swedish ancestors and a colorful picture of my own multicultural children with impish looks upon their faces. The day concluded with racist hate spewing across the news channels. Read the rest of this entry

Beware of homicidal parrots when creating altered art

Beware of homicidal parrots when creating altered art

Paper-Calliope-GSL-Bird-Brain-036

I didn’t know parrots were bullies until I created this little altered art project for Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts. Hopefully not all parrots are such big meanies, and these guys are just a bad lot.

As you can see, they convinced this dim-witted lass that she can fly–that’s why she is precariously on the edge of the house, readying to launch herself into the air. Read the rest of this entry

A new approach to altered tags–three dimensions

A new approach to altered tags–three dimensions
A new approach to altered tags–three dimensions

 The lifelike qualities of the Architextures mixed media embellishments almost demand a new kind of altered art tag.

You can see my unique answer to that call on the 7gypsies blog.

CCB-3D-Tag-by-Betsy-Skagen-0099a

Read the rest of this entry

Turn an Altoid tin into a spooky mini album for Halloween

Turn an Altoid tin into a spooky mini album for Halloween

GSLHalloween-Altoid-by-Betsy-Skagen-0006

Spooky things come in small packages. Take for example this Altoid tin that I altered into a Halloween mini album. Read the rest of this entry

Heads may roll when you go to the zoo

Heads may roll when you go to the zoo

Coming to you straight from my vacation dockside are these zoo tags.

GSL-Zoo-tagsl-by-Betsy-Skagen-0123

First there is the Pretty in Pink flamingo nestled within his cage. The` second tag features Mr. Tiger.

GSL-Zoo-tagsl-by-Betsy-Skagen-0144

In addition to using the amazing GSL chipboard, both of them feature some of my newest digital image releases–At the Zoo #1 and In the Garden – Bird Cages.

GSL-Zoo-tagsl-by-Betsy-Skagen-0151 Read the rest of this entry

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams

Eleanor Roosevelt’s statement, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams,” is so powerful in my life right now that it inspired me to make this mixed media piece.

While mixed media in its strictest definition is not one of my strongest skill sets, I am always trying to learn more and improve little by little.

I am pleased to say Gyspy Soul Laser Cuts was kind enough to feature this work on their blog.

GSL-Moon-Girl-by-Betsy-Skagen-0271

Read the rest of this entry