Tag Archives: MixedMedia

Jan30

Sadly, I have no problem whatsoever finding a logical explanation for this

Posted on by
Sadly, I have no problem whatsoever finding a logical explanation for this

20140117_115637-pickup-Recovered-close-up

Don’t worry. I’m still going to share my mixed media panic attack story with you. The last thing I want to do is add more anxiety to your life by creating undue anticipation. However, this simply could not wait.

That is a problem because I am trying to find the right balance between topics. Paper Calliope is mainly about the art of mixed media, altered art and paper crafting. However, at last count, there were one million and forty-seven crafting blogs. Trust me on this. I know. I counted.* We don’t need one million and forty-eight.

That’s why I want to bring a fresh approach by recognizing how both the act of creating and the beauty of finished art brings calm, joy and inspiration to our anxiety-ridden lives. As actress Stella Adler said, “Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one.” Read the rest of this entry →

Jan27

Crafting is exactly like Breaking Bad

Posted on by
Crafting is exactly like Breaking Bad

2014-01-27 13.29.36

Help! I couldn’t update my blog because my pc was tombed beneath layers of polyurethane. Luckily, since the only way my life parallels Walter White’s is that my son is a teenager, I’m not engaged in any nefarious meth-related violence. No, I’m not wrapping bodies up in poly and finding the nearest 55 gallon drum–although admittedly if certain family members had kept pushing my buttons yesterday, it might have become a tempting option.

Read the rest of this entry →

Jan23

Valentine’s Day is the 14th

Posted on by
Valentine’s Day is the 14th
2014-01-12-01-altered-web-1

Valentine’s Day is the 14th

Although the techniques I used for this tag were similar to the Heart aMazing Tag, I was much happier with the results. To continue the chocolate box metaphor, I guess this one had the caramel filling.  Nom Nom.

When all else fails, Coke is it.

When all else fails, Coke is it.

To most closely replicate this tag, you will need some sort of red ring. I am lucky that my vintage stash contains a plethora of red, white and green plastic translucent rings. I have no idea what they were used for or where I got them. I suspect they came from a game, but that’s just a guess. In any case, scrounge around your supplies and see what you discover. If you come up empty, you can always use the plastic top from a Coca-Cola bottle.

Measure the width of the interior of the circle and using a computer and a sans serif font, print out the number 14 onto to tan or ivory paper. Choose a font size that will mostly fill your circle. If you wish, you can print several different sizes to see which one you like best.  You can always use the leftover 14s in some other Valentine collage. Center the ring over your chosen number 14 and use a pencil to lightly trace the ring. Then cut out the circle and glue the number to the back or inside of the ring. Read the rest of this entry →

Jan18

Valentine’s tags are like a box of chocolates—sometimes you wrinkle your nose and just keep chewing

Posted on by
Valentine’s tags are like a box of chocolates—sometimes you wrinkle your nose and just keep chewing
2014-01-12-01-tag-4-a-web-1.jpg

You Heart aMazing

I’ll be honest, this tag is my least favorite of the five. I like each of the elements on their own, but somehow they just didn’t mesh together well. I guess it is kind of like that big ol’ box of Valentine chocolates. You always end up biting into one that you don’t like. By the time you realize it, you are half way through and then you are left with the quandary of deciding whether to go ahead and finish it or stick it back in the box to disgust some other member of your family.

I’m speaking from experience, as my daughter has been known to do that with just about anything. The other day I found a solitary doughnut left in the box with the topping completely gnawed away. Now that’s an enticing breakfast. Read the rest of this entry →

Jan14

Enter mixed media heaven with this Valentine

Posted on by
Enter mixed media heaven with this Valentine

2014-01-12-01-main-web-1

Valentine’s Day is exactly one month away. So today I bring you the second tag in this series. I should mention that all of them use a basic alteration of a technique I learned from Tim Holtz’s 12 tags of Christmas sometimes around 2007 or 2008. Read the rest of this entry →

Jan6

I am a greeting card hypocrite

Posted on by
I am a greeting card hypocrite
I am a greeting card hypocrite

So you think someone who painstakingly handcrafts cards for a hobby would have the best holiday cards. Nope.

Last year I managed to send out one of those picture postcards of my kids in their Thanksgiving finery doing circus tricks. This year? Nada. I have not made cards, I have not ordered photo greeting cards, I have not run out to Target and bought 75% off Christmas cards. Nothing.

It’s one thing to not send a humble/show-off card/autobiography to all your friends, college roommates from a previous life, and second cousins thrice removed. It’s an entirely different matter when you postally neglect elderly relatives who have faithfully sent you Christmas and birthday cards your entire life. People! The guilt is eating me alive! Read the rest of this entry →

Jan3

End of Era

Posted on by
End of Era

archivers_logo

Archivers–Not pms*–has made me bitchy

This morning Archiver’s announced it was closing all of its doors. Forever.

Archiver’s and I started scrapbooking around the same time. In the same city. I’m not sure who was first. But we were catching a wave that had already gained momentum.

Now it is time to switch metaphors. Why? Because although Archiver’s and I both have our headquarters in the Land of 10,000 (wavy) Lakes, it is winter here 90 PERCENT OF THE TIME. It is pretty darn hard to catch a wave when all the water is trapped under two feet of ice.

Anyway–continuing my metaphor switch from warm waters to winter wonderland–there was soon an avalanche of people who were interested in capturing life’s memorable events with photos, cardstock and embellishments.

Really? Soap-on-a-Rope and scrapbooking?

For many, the art of scrapbooking in those early years entailed putting eight, nine or 107 photos on a page and adding a couple of stickers. Usually the stickers reminded me of Precious Moments figurines. Guess what–I never liked Precious Moments figurines. (Disclaimer–In case you are one of my very first blog readers and you like Precious Moments, I’m actually lying. I have Precious Moments figurines in every room in my house. I love them so much I even have Precious Moments Soap-On-A-Rope hanging in my bathroom.**) Read the rest of this entry →