Tag Archives: Betsy Skagen

Eight Artists collaborate on Portals to raise awareness about ALS

Eight Artists collaborate on Portals to raise awareness about ALS

It’s been more than a minute since I made a blog post. I’ve pretty much stopped blogging and just post pictures on social media. However, I wanted to share a recent project that I spearheaded.


Portals is a handmade book collaboration with seven other mixed media artists. Ann Sullivan Barnes, Cassie Lynch, Joyce Holmes Shaulis, Lora Mahaffey, Dilys Brundage, Deatria Cameron and Lindy Gligorijevic.

I created the book, index page for each artist to include her bio info and my own two-page spread.
My two page spread in the portals book. Each page has a portal of some sort. Of course, there’s lots of found object rusty goodness as well.

Portals Page by Me- Betsy Skagen
This gorgeous spread is by Dilys Brundage
Ann Sullivan Barnes created these inspirational pages.


I was inspired to start this collaboration because of my dear friend Joan Stookey Harring who was diagnosed with ALS last year. Once the book is completed, I hope we can auction it to raise funds for the fight against ALS.

Cassie Lynch has so much wonderful detail in her pages.

Page by Cassie Lynch


Be sure to follow #portalscollaboration on Facebook to see the book progress as other artists add their work.

Introducing the Art-i-ful Journal

Introducing the Art-i-ful Journal

I made a new journal that was not quite an art journal and not quite a junk journal…so I decided to create a new category…the Art-i-ful Journal!

The Artiful Journal combines some of the best elements of art journals, junk journals and the almost-forgotten trend of altered books. Artiful Journals are bursting at the seams with mixed media art, ephemera, pockets, pull outs and tags. They have more interactive elements than traditional art journals and far too much thought and artistry put in them too be labelled as a junk journal.

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My wish for you

My wish for you

No one is too old to have a Christmas wish list, even if it is not the traditional list. Maybe your wish is for a new sweater or maybe you hope you can see a loved one soon.

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It’s plaid to see

It’s plaid to see

Buffalo Plaid is all the rage right now. I especially love my plaid purse I picked up on ebay last year. It is what inspired me to create this holiday ornament. 

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Baby Oh Baby Part 2

Baby Oh Baby Part 2

We are now just days away from a new baby arriving in my family. I am making a little book for my niece, who is the mother-to-be, for her to keep memories of those first precious months.

The book features all sorts of pockets, magnetic flaps and little spaces to store precious photos, mementos and tags to record milestones and memories. On some of the pages I used Gypsy Soul chipboard to create three-dimensional elements and frames. 

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Gear up for some Steampunk Field Notes

Gear up for some Steampunk Field Notes

Combining rusty metal and intriguing bits and bots with vintage style paper to create blank books is one of my favorite pastimes.

That’s why I loved making this steampunk art journal.

Held together with a rusty chain and featuring all sorts of bits and bobs, I made this steampunk journal using Eileen’ Hull’s Wrapped Journal Die and Stamperia papers.

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The best things come in tiny packages

The best things come in tiny packages

I love making art journals, junk journals and other forms of books. However, embarking on one of these is always a huge time-consuming project…or at least it was until I discovered the joy of making tiny art journals.

It was easy to make a complete journal in an evening. What’s more, the finished project is just so much fun.

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Down by the Steampunk Sea

Down by the Steampunk Sea

Making this piece was so liberating. After experiencing a horrible, no good, really bad day, all I wanted to do was crawl under the bedcovers, but knew that I had too many upcoming projects I needed to work on. 

Instead of retreating  from the world, I pulled out some some sea-themed chipboard pieces because the waterways always soothe my soul. To keep things simpler, I decided to limit my palette to only two colors beyond black and white. 

I found this decision liberating as my project came together lickety-split–which for me, the world’s slowest artist, is nothing short of miraculous.

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I’m building my dreams

I’m building my dreams

Walt Disney once said, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” For me, that is what this year has been all about. I have been reaching outside of my comfort zone to build the foundation for achieving my dreams.

Actually, I have been going beyond more than just one comfort zone. I have been trying a lot of new things–from starting art product lines, to growing friendships and alliances in the art industry, to expanding the kinds of art I make to opening up about last year’s health scare.

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