Alpha Stamps: Run away and join the circus (2 Circus Swaps!)

	June 12, 2011

Run away and join the circus (2 Circus Swaps!)

Before I dive into all the amazing, colorful, fun (and some nostalgic) circus goodies I've collected, let me announce the swaps!

Two Circus Swaps!

We're hosting 2 Circus-Themed Swaps:

- A Circus Book Swap, using the Afternoon Muse Chipboard Album.

- A Circus Train Swap, using Blank Altoids Tins as cars in a circus train!

For more information on both swaps (and to sign up for either — or both — by July 24, 2011), visit the Yahoo Group.

View more art samples in this newsletter, on the Circus Collage Sheets page and/or in the Circus Book or Circus Train galleries.

Artwork by Design Team Member Teri Calia, who is also selling this book in her Etsy store.

8 New Circus Collage Sheets!

Trust me, if you like this circus theme, you'll want to check them all out. But here are a few highlights:

Tiny Circus
Adorably tiny circus performers (some of them human). Nice, small sizes work well in Blank Altoids Tins. Includes lions, elephants, clown, horses, a monkey, a duck and a rabbit. Artwork by Design Team Member Teri Calia.

2 gorgeous Art Nouveau-inspired collage sheets
Both includes some Arabian Nights Pantomime posters plus one has posters from Humpty Dumpty, which was a popular series of Victorian plays only vaguely related to our idea of Humpty Dumpty.

A snippet from a circus train using both of these sheets, at right, is by Design Team Coordinator Miz Bella (Kim Ayers).

Scrapbook Papers (and related embellishments)

There are 2 large sets of coordinated papers; one includes the blank-ish book we're using for the Circus Book Swap:

Afternoon Muse:

Chipboard Album
Not only do you get die-cut, printed front and back covers, you also get three stunning book pages that fit perfectly inside your album.

Each package includes one 5" x 7" album, three inside pages and two metal binding rings. The covers are printed on one side only; the inside pages are printed on both sides (and have different designs on both sides, so 6 circus-themed designs).

Carte Postal Scrapbook Paper
12" x 12" double-sided sheet with a circus-parade theme against distressed harlequin patterns.

Clear Stickers
Nicely detailed, with subtle dots of silver glitter around the edges. Each package includes one 6" x 6" sheet of die-cut clear stickers.

Paper Layers
Subtly-colored printed sheets that looks like old book pages (or sheet music) with overlaid images. Set of 6 pages (5" x 7")

Whatnots
Set of printed, die-cut cardstock "ephemera." Set of 12.

Clear Stamp Set
6" x 9" set includes a hot air balloon, ferris wheel, elephant, ornate sheet music cover, ampersan, card suits and the text "Whatever you are, be a good one."

Le Cirque:

6 Scrapbook Papers
All the designs are beautiful! 12" x 12" double-sided scrapbook papers.

Printed in the USA (that's a rarity with large scrapbook paper companies). Artwork by Design Team Member Amy Rozeboom.

Die-Cut Tags
The tags are die-cut in lots of small sizes (on heavy cardstock). The little hole in each tag is also die-cut (for hanging on a string or other closure). 12" x 12" double-sided sheets. Artwork by Design Team Member Lynn Stevens.

8x8 Paper Pad
8" x 8" double-sided, heavy sheets sheets; 2 each of 10 designs (miniatures of the 12" x 12" papers). Sample by Design Team Member Kristin Batsel.

2 Cling Stamp Sets
The sets are 4-1/2" x 4-1/2". Available mounted on cling-foam only.

A nice trend in cling-mounted rubber stamps: the image is printed on the back side of the grey cling foam (so you can see the image through the clear mount - when you've got the stamp mounted on a clear acrylic block).

More Circus Rubber Stamps

Circus Alphabet Set
The entire sheet is approx. 8" x 3"; the individual letters are 1/2" tall. Available unmounted only (sorry, but too many small pieces to trim on cling foam, but you can mount on cling foam). See the product page for 2 art samples.

Scary Clown
The first of my favorites in this section: scary clowns. This one is sized to bleed off an ATC (to run off the left, top & bottom edges). Also large enough for the side of a standard envelope. Approx. 1-1/2" x 4"

Coin Bank Clown
Another fairly scary clown. Approx 1-5/8" x 2-3/4"

You will be Surprised
Approx. 1-3/4" x 2"

2 Tickets from Tim Holtz
The one at right is approx. 1-3/4" x 3/4". Both are wood-mounted only.

3 "Big Top" Stamps
A monkey, a seal and an elephant. Also wood-mounted only.

2 Tiny Clear Stamps
Both are about 2" wide.

And related Silly Circus Scrapbook Paper (at far right)
Spot-varnished, double-sided 12" x 12" scrapbook sheet.

Miscellaneous (but still pretty circus-y)

2 Sizes of Circle Shrine Kits
and small size
2 kits to put together little laser-cut shrines with circles around the edges. The cut-out windows have about 1/4" depth. Instructions included.

Sample art by Design Team Member Teri Calia (see the product page for more info on the other goodies Teri used).

Arched Chipboard Pennants
9 per package; 4 x 6". Used by Guest Design Team Member Laura Carson to make another version of a circus train! See more photos in the gallery.

Red Glass Star Beads
Imported Czech glass beads. Shown at right on the flipside of that cool circus train Laura made.

Baker's Twine Set
Really colorful. 40 yards (10 each of 4 colors)

Love Games Whatnots
Another set of printed, die-cut cardstock "ephemera." Set of 12.

2 Sets of Alpha Letter Stickers
Both are 6" x 6" sheets.

Frippery Hat Die-Cuts
Fun hat shapes laser cut from patterned chipboard.

Die-Cut Mustaches & Eyeglasses
The first is a package of 26 mustaches and, yes, even a few goatees! There are 6 different styles (plus a goatee) and you will get 3-4 of each style in different sizes. You will be impressed with the detail of these. Great for a steampunk collage or a sideshow barker.

The second is a package of 31 amazing eyeglasses and monocles. There are 8 different styles and you will get 3-4 of each style in different sizes.

Wood Flourish Frames
Ornate frame laser-cut from 1/6" thick masonite. 3 per package. One is used to great effect by Design Team Member Kristin Batsel in an example of a train car for the Circus Train Swap!

Tiny Faux Ring Handles
Lead-free raw brass stampings. The rings do not move. Sample by Design Team Member Lynn Stevens (see the product page for more info on the other goodies Lynn used).

Mardi Gras Beads
Acrylic, 7mm faceted-look rounds on 33-inch continuous loop (not separate beads... beads were formed around the string though you can cut them apart to use them separately). Used in an amazing Circus Diorama by Guest Designer Laura Carson.