AlteredPages Artsociates

A handwritten letter , in my mailbox, envelops me in warmth; as if my late Grandma had scooped me into a tight hug, smelling of sugar cookies. Seriously. Who wouldn't rather find a hand-lettered envelope instead of bills or junk mail?  Knowing that time was spent writing each word, addressing the envelope, and adhering the stamp.  Even the walk to post the letter says something about the value that person gave us when we receive a handwritten letter or card. It says we matter.  Don't you know someone who could use that handwritten hug ? I know I do!  Let us revive the retro art of mailbox hugs !! To make this happen more than the one time, I created a letter box to store my letter writing supplies and give me the ability to transport it. Think of waiting rooms, etc...great down time for catching up on correspondence. My tablet Christmas gift came in just the perfect box for the job. So I repurposed the trash to contai...

A retro finish to a summer bash!  Upcycling is always in people.  I love the challenge of "making do", don't you? Here is my repurposed caddy; inspired by @drawbertson and his ability to turn even a brown paper bag into kitschy collectables. The supply list is as follows: Dixie Belle Paint     Dixie Belle Swamp Mud    Dixie Belle Satin Clear Coat Sealer       Retro Collage    Dye Ink Spray    Stencils    Spatula    Paint Brush   One cardboard caddy Scrap of fine grit sandpaper The store I shop at offers these sturdy caddies for single choice beverages.  (I just had to use Dixie Belle's Flamingo for my retro caddy): I placed a thin coat of the paint to cover most of the bold graphics and create a surface with some tooth. This is with two thin coats: Don't worry, the best is yet to come. Swamp Mud!  ...

Hello! I'm Betsy Skagen of Paper Calliope and I'm thrilled to be joining the Altered Pages Design Team. Just before I joined the team, my family embarked on a quintessential American roadtrip traveling across Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and South Dakota. We saw some of the United States' most beautiful landscapes and national parks including Glacier National Park; Yellowstone; the Grand Tetons; the Badlands of North and South Dakota; and Mount Rushmore before returning to Minnesota, the beautiful land of 10,000 lakes. Since we are never ones to do things the easy way, we squeezed into two adults, two teens, a 12-week-old Golden Retriever puppy and a 90-pound bluetick coonhound (who did not want to be in the same state, let alone the same car, as the puppy). What's more, at least three of the occupants have ADHD, which could make managing the puppy's behavior seem like a walk in the (dog) park. Crazy? Maybe. Would I do it agai...