Spooky things come in small packages. Take for example this Altoid tin that I altered into a Halloween mini album. Read the rest of this entry
Aug1
Tag Archives: Ranger
Jun24
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams
Eleanor Roosevelt’s statement, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams,” is so powerful in my life right now that it inspired me to make this mixed media piece.
While mixed media in its strictest definition is not one of my strongest skill sets, I am always trying to learn more and improve little by little.
I am pleased to say Gyspy Soul Laser Cuts was kind enough to feature this work on their blog.
Jan14
Sorting Valentines at the Postal Station
Hello! After serving as a guest designer for a couple years, I could not resist making the leap to joining the official educator team team in 2017. The opportunity to work with so many talented artists and play with the boundless creative opportunities of Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts products was a dream come true.
To kick off the year, I created this miniature Valentine Postal Station. I hope you tour all the tiny details–from the miniature millinery cabinet, to the mail bags filled with itty-bitty love letters, to the minuscule chocolate kisses.
Designed in 1:12 scale, this sorting station is a mix of old and new. There’s no computerized robotics to sort the lovelorn postcards, the cute Valentine puns and the packages filled with chocolate truffles; yet you can see a few a few modern-day postal boxes. Read the rest of this entry
Aug20
Hocus Pocus-Altered Art Houdini Trunk
Abracadabra. Alakazam! Despite his magic prowess, I’m sure Houdini still had to cart his stuff around from show to show. As I was snooping around the Alpha Stamps shop last year, I saw their steamer trunk and began imagining what this trunk of Houdini’s would look like.
In my demented imagination, I decided that half of his sawed-off assistant should be present. Even The Son™, who is a horror flick aficionado, looked at me with concern. Heh.
Tutorial to make Houdini’s Magical Altered Art Trunk
Apr12
Under the Mixed Media Big Top
Canvas Corp will soon be publishing a plethora of 4 x 4 canvases, uniquely created by each of their design team members. Since the canvases are supposed to reflect the designers in some way, I decided to create a vintage circus meets industrial canvas.
Nov3
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.
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.
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
Oct20
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
Jun28
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.
Jun18
And they called it puppy love
This project takes whiskers to a whole new level. To show off our new puppy in an adorable DIY frame, I combined my love for vintage products*, with some fantastic Whisker Graphics products. Read the rest of this entry
May28
All aboard for the circus altered art train
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
