Alpha Stamps: Two Valentine's Day Swaps (and lots of birds & nests)

	January 9, 2011

Two Valentine's Day Swaps (and lots of birds & nests)

I've tracked down lots of beautiful embellishments (and papers... oh, are there some great papers!) in anticipation of the new swaps. Plus there are 9 new collage sheets!

We're hosting 2 Valentine's Day Swaps

Feather Your Nest, using pages from the Chipboard House Book. Think outside of simple birds and feathers — although they’re always welcome in just about anyone’s home! Romantic homes, fairy homes, homes made from roses and angel wings, a home just for lovers, a gilded home for birds who wear crowns, or a home where tea reigns supreme!

Classical Romance, using die-cut Chipboard Hearts (like the one used in the fabulous sample art, above right, by Design Team Member Shannon Sawyer). You can interpret the theme in various ways:
- classical paintings, like the Venus Collage Sheet or the new Stolen Moments Collage Sheet or
- classic Cherub images, from the mythic to the (lower-case) romantic.

See more details or sign up (by January 23, 2011) on the Yahoo Group. View art samples on this page and/or in the Classical Romance or Feather Your Nest galleries.

New Collage Sheets

All in keeping with our swap themes: from Victorian valentines to vintage postcards of love birds to lovers from Rococo paintings.

Blue Birds
Shown in the artwork, at left, by Design Team Member Kristin Batsel.

Victorian Garden
Exclusive to Alpha Stamps by Polliwog & Dragonfly (as are the 2 Love Letters & Blue Birds sheets).

Love Letters #1 & #2

Dapper Dudes

Bird Words
Licensed from the fabulous Teri Calia, as are the next 3 sheets).

Victorian Sentiment (shown in the artwork at right, by Kristin)

Stolen Moments

Fragonard's Lovers

Scrapbook Papers & Stickers

Curio Scrapbook Papers, Stickers & 6x6 Paper Pad
Sweet, double-sided 12" x 12" papers with a wonderful collection of items you would expect to find on a lady's dressing table; postcards/letters, butterflies, lace and roses, all in beautiful, soft colors. The 'Feather Your Nest' swap sample page, at right, using one of these papers is by Design Team Member Lynda Roddy Ozzauto.

3 Glittered Scrapbook Papers
Beautiful, double-sided 12" x 12" cream-colored scrapbook paper with love birds, postage stamps and markings, and a "Celebrate" banner. All are accented with fine silver glitter.

Glittered Alphabet Banner Sticker
Charming sheet of 45 die-cut alphabet banner stickers on cardstock. Each sheet has 2 of A, B, E, I, J, M, N, O, S, and Y, 1 each of the remaining letters, and 1 each of numerals 1-9. Each sticker measures approx. 1" x 1-1/2". The background features a lovely bookprint.

Love Letters Scrapbook Paper
Lovely single-sided print of... love letters (and roses).

Birds & Blossoms Scraps
8" x 19" sheet (folded in half for shipping) double-sided scrap sheet with beautiful images of a variety birds, flowers, and words. Very soft and romantic, perfect for Valentine's Day or Spring projects.

Reverie Birds & Bees Scrapbook Papers
Doubled-sided 12" x 12" papers with a collage of song birds (or bumble bees) in sepiatone (over a ledger paper print or calligraphy, respectively).

3 Flora & Fauna Scrapbook Papers
All 3 are single-sided 12" x 12" papers. One is printed with beautiful copper foiling.

Flora & Fauna Grand Adhesions (Birds/Nests)
Die-cut, copper foiled stickers on little foam risers to make them look like they float a bit above your artwork (embellished with a few tiny rhinestones in the centers of the flowers or on the banners).

2 Flora & Fauna Die-Cuts
Die-cut, self-adhesive cardstock borders with iridescent glitter (12" wide). Just peel off the backing paper and stick onto your project.
and
A set of 40 die-cut (mostly cardstock) ephemera reproductions, but also includes real feathers and velvet leaves.

More Valentines & Birds

Adhesive-Backed Pearls
These self-adhesive (plastic) pearls are perfect to use for any flat project that needs dressing up (they're half-spheres). There are approximately 110 pearls in a package. 3/16" (5mm) diameter. Artwork at far right by Design Team Member Shannon Sawyer using these pearls with a Chipboard House Book and Blossomwood Grand Adhesions.

Pearlized Stick Pins
Not long enough to be hat pins (because I know you wear a hat) but beautiful! Colors: Ivory Pearls, leaves, red hearts, cream hearts.

Variegated Silk Ribbons
Beautifully hand-dyed silk ribbons in 7mm and 4mm widths.

Naked Manila Pockets - Small
10 heavyweight ivory cardstock pockets for ATCs or manila tags. Each ATC pocket measures 2-3/4" x 3-3/4". Neatly notched at top to access contents. Artwork at right using these pockets (and about a zillion other art supplies) is by Design Team Member Teri Calia.

Mixed-Color Rose Dresden Scraps
More roses! Beautiful 6" x 9" sheet. Die-cut and embossed. Imported from Germany.

Bird Cut-Outs
Laser-cut, 1/8" masonite. Sturdy enough to stand up to almost any arty abuse. Flip them over if you'd like one facing the other direction. Set of 10.

3 Sets of Tiny Birds
So sweet! Little birds made for floral arrangements (painted flocked styrofoam?). Approx. 1/2 to 1-1/2" long (3 different sizes and colors).

Straw Nest
Approx. 2-1/4" diameter.

Nest Rubber Stamp
Wood-mounted only.

Fancy Heart Charms
Beautiful, fancy puffed heart charms in lead-safe antiqued silver- or gold- plated pewter. Each measures 11x10mm. Shown in the artwork by Design Team Member Kristin Batsel.

18mm Antique Gold Heart
Antiqued gold-plated plastic (so quite lightweight for the size). Double sided.

Reverie Baubles Charm Set
6 each of cabochons, flowers and dangly beads. Coordinates with the Reverie Birds & Bees Scrapbook Papers.

Antique Heart Charms - New Gold Color
A sweet & simple heart charm. 1/2" tall (including the loop).

Miscellaneous

Vintage Office Collage Sheet
Handsome assortment of vintage office items including a rotary payphone, rubberband ball and a beautiful Underwood typewriter, all on an 8-1/2" x 11" cardstock sheet.

Vintage Technology Rubber Stamp Set
A fantastic set of four 2" x 2-1/2" wood-mounted stamps depicting funky vintage objects, perfect for office or home-themed projects (or letter-writing or communications).

25mm Spoke (Vintage Brass)
Nice lightweight (but sturdy!) gears. Vintage patinated brass. 25mm (1") diameter.

Mini Pennant Banner Set
Die-cut chipboard set of 30 pieces (2 designs). Plus a few extra doo-dads (click the photo to see the entire set).

Elephant Ribbon
Adorable. Limited availability.

Chamois Stripe Ribbon
3/16" wide. Center stitched in rust. Imported from France.

Seaweed Fiber Set
10 yards of beautiful fibers! Soft and furry... includes chenilles, fringes and eyelash.

Crepe Ribbons
9 colors! Soft & crinkly ribbons in beautiful, bright colors. 3/4" wide.

Mini Lilies
These have an odd texture but I love them. The mulberry paper petals were dipped in latex (before assembling) which gives them a "real flower" feel (velvety soft, not sticky). Cream or mauve.

Not New to the Site, But Newly On Sale!

Seam Binding: Art Nouveau Colors
A beautiful, subtle palette. 100% rayon. Silky and drapey. 9/16" wide.

Metallic Iridescent Ribbons
Gorgeous ribbons! They have wired edges but as the full width is metallic, they are very bendable (60% metal; 40% polyester or nylon). You can crimp them and they will retain the shape.

Alphabet Playing Card Stickers
Die-cut cardstock stickers with rounded edges (based on vintage Victorian scraps of children, flowers and women). Full sheet is approx. 9-3/4 x 10-3/4".