Tag Archives: altered book

Nov2

Come visit the North Pole in this altered album

Posted on November 2, 2016 by Betsy Skagen

Come visit the North Pole in this altered album

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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Sep21

Go through the tunnel book to get to the Hanging Tree

Posted on September 21, 2016 by Betsy Skagen

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.

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 →

Sep19

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

Posted on September 19, 2016 by Betsy Skagen

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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Mar25

What’s on your bucket list

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Betsy Skagen

What’s on your bucket list

What’s on your bucket list? My first post with Canvas Corp was on mine!.

Life suddenly began whizzing by for The Husband™ and I. And, to tell the truth, it sometimes feels like there are a lot of missed opportunities.

As parents of kids with unique needs, we put many of our dreams on hold. Year after year, we avoided activities that required babysitters. We embraced staycations and we usually juggled far more stress than we could imagine. Yet, I would give anything to have my kids be little tykes again so that I could better appreciate that precious and fleeting time. Read the rest of this entry →

Mar16

Pink rabbit noses and roses abound in this tunnel book–but be careful, not all bunnies you meet are sugary sweet

Posted on March 16, 2016 by Betsy Skagen

Pink rabbit noses and roses abound in this tunnel book–but be careful, not all bunnies you meet are sugary sweet

I am not sure why I had never made one before, but I am here to tell you that making tunnel books are a whole bundle of fun.

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Dec30

2016 handcrafted calendar–bright days ahead

Posted on December 30, 2015 by Betsy Skagen

2016 handcrafted calendar–bright days ahead

What better way is there to ring in a new year–not counting those midnight champagne kisses–than by making a handcrafted calendar?

I’m excited for 2016. For me personally, I sure hope it is better than 2015. What’s more, I am looking forward to embark on some exciting new adventures that I have been keeping under wraps.

Today though, is a little sad, since it marks my last post as a Robin’s Nest Design Team Member. The Robin’s Nest was my first design team and the gang there will always hold a special place in my heart.

Please visit the Robin’s Nest and see the tutorial for this 2016 desktop star calendar.

Also, as I promise in that post, here is the 2016 mini calendar I created. Please feel free to download and use it for your crafting projects.

Download this free 2016 Calendar Printable made by moi!

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Oct20

I only have (dragon) eyes for you

Posted on October 20, 2015 by Betsy Skagen

I only have (dragon) eyes for you

With Halloween coming, all the witches and wizards need to make sure they are amply supplied with toes of frog and eyes of dragons (sorry Mr. Shakespeare). I got busy in my studio and brewed up this altered art concoction for the folks at ColourArte.

Great stuff you will need

Radiant Rains: Sunburst, Spanish Moss, Ginger Peach, Ocean Wave, Teal Zicon
Twinkling H20s: Kiwi, Lemondrop and Hopeful Honeysuckle from the Think Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Set
Silks Acrylic Glazes: Spiced Pumpkin, Olive Vine, and Azurite
White cardstock
Off-white cardstock
Black marker
Ranger Inkssentials Crackle Accents Precision Tip, 2-Ounce
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad, Vintage Photo
Pebeo Gedeo Crystal Resin, 150ml
Beacon Fabri-Tac Permanent Adhesive, 4-Ounce
Journal
Old photo cover
Chipboard
Three-dimensional adhesive dots
Utility blade

Aug26

Because I never want to forget the stupidest game ever

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Betsy Skagen

Because I never want to forget the stupidest game ever

So one thing I learned from the Quintessential American Road Trip I took with my family this summer is that road trips are full of snapshot memories. Some are breathtaking, ~~some~~ too many are frustrating and a few are knee-slapping funny.

For example, it was amusing how for the first 20 hours of our trip, all four adult and near-adult human passengers got obsessed with the STUPIDEST GAME EVER (the dogs could care less). Here’s the objective: to count the most cows.

Yep, that’s it. Read the rest of this entry →

Jun28

Make a vintage cell phone charging station

Posted on June 28, 2015 by Betsy Skagen

Make a vintage cell phone charging station

Remember when we relied on those massive directories to look up addresses and telephone numbers? Now they are pretty much a thing of the past, which–drumroll please–makes them vintage!

That’s why I hope you check out the tutorial for this cute vintage cell phone charging station I made.

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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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