Tag Archives: Gina’s Designs

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So many adorable pictures of my kids sit unseen in boxes. Now that “my babies” are teens, I am trying to make more time to showcase some of those special snapshots in time.

Here is a mixed media tiled frame I made to showcase one especially colorful picture of my daughter on a visit to Disney World. While I used a different technique, I was first inspired by the work of the talented Lora Mahaffey. You can see my tutorial featured at the ColourArte blog

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 Great Stuff

Big news deserves a big altered art project–I am joining the esteemed Alpha Stamps Design Team!

Big news deserves a big altered art project–I am joining the esteemed Alpha Stamps Design Team!
Big news deserves a big altered art project–I am joining the esteemed Alpha Stamps Design Team!

Dreams really do come true. I found that out firsthand when I recently got invited to join the Alpha Stamps Design Team.

I can’t adequately describe what an honor this is. Nor how terrifying it is. Many artists I have most admired over the years are on this team. Simply put, their work is brilliant.

Austin Kleon says, “Stand next to the talent” because you will only be as good as the people you surround yourself with.  He tells artists to hang around people who are smarter and better than themselves. That’s what I am doing–I  just fervently hope I don’t fall on my face (subsequently impaling myself with craft scissors or suffocating from all the glitter on my studio floor).

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Alpha Stamps is announcing my arrival on their blog tomorrow. For my debut Alpha Stamps project, I created a three-dimensional Altered Art Greenhouse from two 6.5 inch tall House Oddities Boxes, complete with a mossy roof, wind chimes, iron bridge and flower urns. You can see this miniature greenhouse featured on the Alpha Stamps blogRead the rest of this entry

Angels we have seen on cards

Angels we have seen on cards

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I have a few angels at my house. By a few I mean a whole tree full.So I guess you could say I have a fondness for vintage angels.

You can see the tutorial for this mixed media card, which features vintage angels, today at the ColourArte blog.

Read the rest of this entry

Cool, Chill, Retro altered tins

Cool, Chill, Retro altered tins

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Retro images, altered tins and Christmas. Could life get any cooler? I hope you check out all the chill details over at the ColourArte blog. Besides, it will save me from having to think of any more cold-related slang.

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The colors of the Northern Lights in a Winter Wonderland

The colors of the Northern Lights in a Winter Wonderland

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My altered art Christmas tag at the Robin’s Nest today features lots and texture and the rich and vibrant colors of the Northern Lights in a Winter Wonderland.

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Turkeys aren’t the only birds around here tonight

Turkeys aren’t the only birds around here tonight

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For my last guest post at Gina’s Designs, I shared one of my favorite kinds of projects: altered tin ornaments. 

I’m Betsy Skagen of Paper Calliope, and on this Thanksgiving Eve my heart is filled with gratitude for getting to spend the last month  at Gina’s Designs. It has been a fun and delightful adventure. 

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Smoochy smooch! These kissing reindeer will brighten you holiday decor

Smoochy smooch! These kissing reindeer will brighten you holiday decor

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I have been loving my stint as the 2015 November Designer for Gina’s Lasercut Designs as it has challenged my creativity in new and fun ways.

This week my tutorial features this Kissing Reindeer Standing Dome. I will be forever grateful if you visit Gina’s Designs and leave a comment on my tutorial post there.

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Kwanzaa. xoxo -Betsy Read the rest of this entry

Shine a little more light

Shine a little more light

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So this is the quickest blog post ever. Why? Because I’m too busy doing the happy dance since I’m so delighted to be back for a second week as the November 2015 Guest Designer for Gina’s Designs!

Here’s a sneak peek of the holiday lantern I made. It may look like a rusty red metal lantern, but it is made from chipboard, vellum paper and the magic of paint.

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2015 guest designer for Gina’s Designs

2015 guest designer for Gina’s Designs

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Here in the U.S. we celebrate Thanksgiving during the month of November, and I am overflowing with gratitude this month because Gina’s Designs asked me to serve as their 2015 November Guest Designer. Read the rest of this entry

Adding some color into winter days

Adding some color into winter days
Adding some color into winter days

 

 

 

When the beautiful colors of fall have disappeared, the scenery can get sometimes pretty stark up here in the Northland. I try to add as much color as possible indoors and out to my winter days.

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You can see how I decorated my lilac trees last year. If only the snow always stayed that pretty! I can tell you that is not going to happen when you live in the heart of the city.

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This year, I have already begun working on adding some indoor color. Here is a mixed media tag I made this week full of rich, vibrant color. I shared the tutorial on the ColourArte site. I hope you check it out. Read the rest of this entry