Alpha Stamps: Two Holiday Swaps (and new Tim Holtz stamps and...)

	October 31, 2010

Two Holiday Swaps (and new Tim Holtz stamps and...)

I've tracked down lots of beautiful embellishments in anticipation of the new swaps. Plus there are 6 new collage sheets.

Alpha Stamps Annual Ornament Swap!

Here's a bit of the info from the Swap Specs (that's a link to the Yahoo Group, where you can also sign up for the swap):

Theme and Requirements:
Create 2 Angel/Madonna themed ornaments and receive 2 in return, both by different artists! You are required to use the Large Square Ornate Brass Frames (more on that below). You are also required to use at least one Alpha Stamps angel or Madonna image (collage sheet image or rubber stamp) and a dimensional embellishment.

Need inspiration? Check out the Annual Ornament Swap Gallery!

Fabulous sample artwork by Design Team Members Shannon Sawyer and Kristin Batsel.

Large Square Ornate Brass Frames
Nice, large pendant frame; perfect for ornaments. Outer dimension of the square is 2-1/2" x 2-1/2". These raw brass frames can be patinaed with Liver of Sulphur, painted (see the artwork by Lynda Roddy Ozzauto at near right), gold leafed or tinted with alcohol inks.

4 New Collage Sheets
All sized to fit the new square brass frames
Beautiful angels and Madonnas from paintings and vintage prayer cards.

Jolly Old St. Nick Tag Swap!

Here's a bit of the info from the Swap Specs (that's a link to the Yahoo Group, where you can also sign up for the swap):

Theme and Requirements:
Create 4 Jolly Old St. Nick themed tags and receive 4 in return, all by different artists! You are required to use the Ornate Chipboard Tags. You are also required to use at least one Alpha Stamps Santa Claus image (collage sheet image or rubber stamp).

Need inspiration? Check out the Jolly Old St. Nick Tag Swap Gallery!

2 New Santa Claus/Words Sheets
- Holiday Disguises
Cute Santa & elf hats, Santa beards, candy canes and reindeer hats to decorate collages (or your family photos).
- Holiday Words & Cards
Phrases including "let it snow," "Merry Christmas," "Deck the Halls," "Joyeux Noel" and the first stanza of "Twas the night before Christmas."

Beautiful sample artwork by Design Team Member Teri Calia.

More Christmas Goodies

Christmas Past Scrapbook Papers + Die-Cut Tags
Six 12" x 12", double-sided heavy sheets with lots of Victorian postcards and images of Santa Claus. And a die-cut sheet of matching tags in lots of small sizes (also double-sided, and on heavier cardstock). The little hole in each tag is also die-cut (for hanging on a string or other closure).

Christmas Past Ribbon Set
8 gorgeous, richly-colored ribbons (including silks and iridescent taffetas).

Christmas Past 8x8 Paper Pad
8" x 8" double-sided, heavy sheets; 2 each of 14 designs.

4 New Gold Dresden Trims
- Laurel Wreath
- Harp
- Ornate Hinges
- Small Medallions
The artwork shown at right (using the Harp Gold Dresden) is by Design Team Member Teri Calia, also using images from the Art Nouveau Angels Collage Sheet, Angels we have heard on high... Rubber Stamp Set and Christmas Past 8x8 Paper Pad.

Christmas Wrap Paper Tape
Set of 3 rolls, each 3/4" x 5 yards. Music notes, polka dot and stripe designs.

ATC Kit: 12 Days of Christmas
Set of 21 (12 ATCs plus 9 smaller greetings/text phrases).

Christmas Greetings Clear Stamp Set
Set of 21 stamps.

Red Stockings Satin Cutouts Ribbon
Aw... cute little stockings (to hang by the chimney with care) or are they Santa's boots? Embossed with little lines for the heel and toe (and tiny little stars). Sold by the yard.

New Colors of 2mm & 4mm Silk Ribbons:
- 2mm Buttercup
- 3 new 4mm Ribbons:
- French Blue
- Buttercup
- Rosewood
The artwork at right (using the new 2mm buttercup ribbon) is by Design Team Member Lynda Roddy Ozzauto, also using a Large Square Ornate Brass Frame, an image from the Choirs of Angels Collage Sheet, butterflies from the Botanicabella Paper Set and 4mm Plum Silk Ribbon.

Miscellaneous

3 Tim Holtz Cling-Mounted Stamp Sets: Haunted Mansion, Odds & Ends and Postcards
I've been anticipating these... the Haunted Mansion set has 4 spooky images for Halloween and beyond: a skeleton, raven, witch hazel label and an ornate design with an owl.

The Odds & Ends set has a total of 13 stamps: 6 "finished" tickets (mostly filled in, though 2 have places to fill in your name and details of your artwork) and a blank ticket with 6 phrases you can stamp inside the outline. Also includes Valentine's Day, Halloween and Christmas tickets.

The Postcards set has 10 different treatments of the word "Post Card" from vintage postcards. One of them is also available as a single image and is

Each set is trimmed on cling foam and comes on a plastic sheet (for storage).

Cambridge Post Scrapbook Paper
Double-sided sheet with a distressed coat-of-arms print over text on one side and a faded red pattern on the other.

Wicked Witch Cards
Die-cut card with envelope.

Mini Inkwell Bottles
Short little bottles with corks.

The Bohemian Gothic Tarot
80 beautiful cards in a dark, Gothic theme (78 standard cards plus bonus Memento Mori cards). Includes an instruction booklet and comes in a sturdy box with a hinged lid. Imported from Prague.

ATC Kit: Conservatory
Set of 27 pieces. Coordinates with the Conservatory 8x8 Paper Pack, Round Tags - Conservatory and Conservatory 12x12 Paper Set.

New on Sale!

Angels we have heard on high... Rubber Stamp Set
Beautiful set of woodcut angels and blackletter text. Also includes some 16th century music. Good background/texture stamps (and perfect timing for the current swaps).

Artwork using this stamp set, at left, by Design Team Member Kristin Batsel also using a 1" Square Frame and the Marigold Collage Sheet.

Pearl Mixes in Tins
Exclusive mixes of cultured fresh-water pearls (dyed) and imported Czech glass beads (packaged in metal/glass jeweler's tins). Beautiful, rich colors: - champagne
- olive
- blue
- copper
- garnet