Tag Archives: Tutorials

Hop to it and create some springtime decorations

Hop to it and create some springtime decorations

Paper-Calliope-Whisker-Graphics-two-bunnies

Beginning this project was scary. Burned into my memory is the clay dog I proudly gave my mother when I was in elementary school. Purple, with orange zig zags and green dots, it was supposed to be an artsy rendition of our Golden Retriever. In reality it looked like it have five legs and a mass of tumors. I guess I really can’t blame my mom for her less than enthusiastic reception–or at least that’s what I have been telling my analyst every week since 1979.

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Paper Calliope makes its first…are you ready for this…paper calliope

Paper Calliope makes its first…are you ready for this…paper calliope
Paper Calliope makes its first…are you ready for this…paper calliope

So, by now you probably know that I love making vintage circus art. It probably has a little something to do with the fact that my kids have gone to a circus performing arts school since the youngest was still in diapers. Yep, The Daughter™ hung from a trapeze, even before she was out of Pampers.

Aside from my kids’ involvement, I also like making circus-themed art because of the vibrant graphics and the endless opportunities for whimsy and creativity. Over the last week,I have been laboring over a special project that has been on my to-do list for a long, long while. It was finally time to make a paper calliope.

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Make a Valentine pop-up box

Make a Valentine pop-up box
Make a Valentine pop-up box

 

 

Be still my heart–at least until I get my heart rate down. There’s been such a flurry of Valentine projects underway at Paper Calliope that I haven’t had a moment to blog.

That changes today however. Please stop by the Robin’s Nest and see a tutorial for this fun little box I created using paper and the spring from an old ballpoint pen. Read the rest of this entry

Robin’s Nest Blog Hop–Check out this altered Altoid tin Christmas Ornament

Robin’s Nest Blog Hop–Check out this altered Altoid tin Christmas Ornament
Robin’s Nest Blog Hop–Check out this altered Altoid tin Christmas Ornament

Welcome to the Robin’s Nest Christmas Blog Hop.

Make sure to visit each of the stops on the Design Team blog hop because the Robin’s Nest is giving away a fabulous prize–a bottle of Christmas Dew Drops–at every blog stop. To enter the contest begin at the Robin’s Nest, follow the links and leave a comment on each blog site. Also make sure you follow the  Robin’s Nest Facebook page.  

christmas blog hop button

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Alter a tin with silver and gold

Alter a tin with silver and gold

Paper-Calliope-Silver-And-Gold-ornament-2

“Silver and gold
Silver and gold
Mean so much more
When I see
Silver And gold decorations
On ev’ry Christmas tree
Silver, silver and gold”

Good ol’ Burl Ives. I still picture him as a claymation snowman strolling through 1970s Christmas specials.

As you guessed by now, silver and gold is the focus of today’s project. Two of my bestest, mostest, funnest and favoritest crafty activities are altering tins and books. As a result, I decided to turn an Altoid tin into a Silver and Gold ornament.

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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.

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Make a vintage Halloween wreath & fa la la all the way into the holidays

Make a vintage Halloween wreath & fa la la all the way into the holidays

 

Paper-Calliope-straw-wreath-cat-hat

It is the end of October. Tomorrow is Halloween. Yet, my Pinterest feed is inundated with Christmas projects. When I head to Target, I make a beeline to see what’s new in the the Christmas section. The Daughter™ has even begun singing Christmas carols.

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Make a cutie pie pumpkin centerpiece from bags

Make a cutie pie pumpkin centerpiece from bags

Paper-Calliope-pumpkin-rosette-2

It is Day 11 of Paper Calliope’s 13 Days of October and today’s post offers a little treat for the center of your table. Remember the rosette party decorations we made way back in Day Two? Well, to make this pumpkin centerpiece, you are going to follow most of the same directions. Read the rest of this entry

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