Tag Archives: Humor

Guess who’s coming to dinner?

Guess who’s coming to dinner?

I have to admit, the art I am sharing with you this week tickles my funny bone. Perhaps some think art should not have levity, but I disagree. I believe art needs to bring some of the elements that humans most need in their lives: beauty, inspiration, insight, a glimpse of God, relaxation and humor.

Of course you know I’m picking the funny route.

So for this piece I turned a miniature tin into a wooden crate containing fish that someone ordered for their dinner party. 

Except the fish, wearing hats, drinking martinis and blowing party horns, might not be what was expected. Even the clown fish are a little different.

The tin contains an accordion fold paper with five panels.

I create a mixed media scene on both sides of each of the five panels. 

To learn how to make this, please visit the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Blog.

But wait–there’s more! To entice you to visit my shop, I am offering an entire sheet of colorful high resolution fish as a free download. Just place it into the shopping cart and download it for free. I hope you take a minutes to check out my other offerings as well.

Great Stuff

  • Little Crowns – Coming soon to Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts!
  • Altoid Tin – Coming soon!
  • Altoid Tin Accordion Insert – Coming Soon!
  • Paper Calliope’s Something’s Fishy
  • Paper Calliope’s Fish Crate
  • Acrylic paint
  • Ink in assorted colors
  • Rubber stamps
  • Black pen
  • White cardstock
  • Vintage book pages
  • Circle punches
  • Greens
  • Beacon Zip Glue
  • Beacon Fabri-Tac
  • Matte Medium

It’s ok, I’m here now

It’s ok, I’m here now
It’s ok, I’m here now

After two and a half loooooong months away due to an unplanned medical snafu, I am gratefully alive and finally venturing back into crafting.

Unlike the arrogant little tot featured in my project, I was much less confident about getting back to crafting. I decided to make the transition a little easier by using some of my favorite things for my first project: Gypsy Soul Lasercut’s Mini House Shadowbox, Paper Calliope’s Snarky Ancestors, 7gypsies paper and Seth Apter’s embossing powders.

GSL-Rusty-house-by-Betsy-Skagen-463 Read the rest of this entry

Coffin’ up some more Halloween goodness

Coffin’ up some more Halloween goodness

Paper-Calliope-ColourArte-Coffin-6

I’m coffin’ up some more Halloween goodness over at the ColourArte blog today with this Pile of Bones Treat Coffin. I hope you stop by and leave a little love.

 

Tune into the NETwork for an important announcement

Tune into the NETwork for an important announcement
Tune into the NETwork for an important announcement

 

 

 

Time to tune in to your retro televisions because today is the big day!

A few weeks back I announced that I “made the cut” and was named to the ColourArte Design Team. Today my inaugural project is featured on the ColourArte blog.

Paper-Calliope--ColourArte-Retro-TV-Card-1c

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An altered art steampunk homage to Oz

An altered art steampunk homage to Oz

Paper-Calliope-Robins-Nest-Oz-front

“We’re off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz.”

Good morning. Now you can hate me all day for that ear worm. Actually, now that I typed it, I am kind of hating myself. Truth be told, I don’t even like the Wizard of Oz.

Why then did I create the altered art piece Behind the Curtain–A Steampunk Homage to Oz? Well you will just have to find out by clicking on this link. You will also get the benefit of seeing a fun two-part tutorial (complete with childhood trauma).

Who knew? I should use my Playstation to craft altered tags?

Who knew? I should use my Playstation to craft altered tags?

Question: How do crafters solve problems?

Answer: Just Like everyone else. They Google it!

The problem I need to solve is that I think I must be the slowest crafter in the world. A visit to Facebook leaves me frothing enviously at the astounding rate that many of you produce your art. DO YOU PEOPLE NEVER SLEEP?

Wait, a minute. I never sleep (well, just about, anyway). So I have been trying to figure out how I can be so stinkin’ slow? In desperation I turned to Google for wisdom.

Oh Google, how could you fail me so?.

 

slow-crafting

 

All aboard for the circus altered art train

All aboard for the circus altered art train

 

 

Paper-Calliope-Betsy-Skagen-Alpha-Stamps-train-Side-A

Ladies and Gents–step right up because Cirq Alpha is coming to town!

Loaded with spellbinding stars and breathtaking beasts, Paper Calliope’s circus train is sure to dazzle and delight you. Step up close and learn just how this spectacle was created.

I am sooooo excited to be featured as a guest artist at Alphas Stamps, that the over-the-top adjectives of the circus world do not even begin to describe  how I feel. Since my journalism professor would roll over in his grave if he saw me using this superfluous language ( “Omit needless words, Betsy!”), I will move along and get right to the point. Read the rest of this entry

The perfect holiday craft tutorial

The perfect holiday craft tutorial


Paper-Calliope-Robins-Nest-Holiday-Tray-four-trees

Are you ready? Halloween is over and that means we crafty people are about to get hammered by holiday must dos. Before you hit the panic button, check out this holiday card tray tutorial I posted over at the Robin’s Nest.

Eye-catching and unique, it is certain to be a “must” for many crafters’ to do lists. However, even if you have no interest in making the tray, you won’t want to miss finding out how it relates to reindeer poop and being naked amidst 73 cats. It’s not every day that you can find a holiday craft with those kind of connections.

Paper-Calliope-Robins-Nest-Holiday-Tray-card

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

Golden Age of Travel Altered Art Box Tutorial at Robin’s Nest

Golden Age of Travel Altered Art Box Tutorial at Robin’s Nest
 Paper-Calliope-Robins-Nest-golden-travel-altered-box-275
 

There was a time during the 1940s to 1970s when some families got to experience the Golden Age of Travel. These were the days of roomy planes with curtained windows and hot meals; luxurious hotels with gloved bellhops; and even wood-paneled stationwagons with kids frolicking unbuckled in the back, while adults navigated empty interstates using a map from the Amoco station.

Ok, truth be told, I don’t remember most of those either. I am not prehistoric after all!.

My altered art box reflects how I imagine some mid-century Americans families  spent their holidays during this era You can read more about this altered art box, see a tutorial on how to make it and even find out what it has in common with Oprah by visiting my post at the Robin’s Nest.

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