Nine new Circus and Fortune Teller collage sheets have just been added, specially designed for the ATC Paper Doll and Fortune Teller Spinner swaps due late Summer (postmarked September 6th and September 13th, respectively). The ATC Paper Dolls' extremities need to fold down onto or behind the ATC "body" (so your doll will fit within a "regular" 2-1/2" x 3-1/2" ATC size when folded closed).

The Fortune Teller Spinners must include something that spins (something of your own manufacture or something purchased — an arrow, a pointing finger, etc.). "Fortune Teller" could be interpreted as a classic circus sideshow or mystical fortune teller. It could also be interpreted as the fortunes told in the text messages in the spots where the spinner stops.

The spinner sample at right is by Wendy Anderson (using one of the metal Game Spinners mentioned below). And the adorable elephant ATC Paper Doll is by Design Team Member Sarah Whitmire. Visit the Yahoo Group for more details on the swaps (and more sample artwork).

New Fortune Teller-y Things

- Firelite Fortune Teller Set. I'm kind of in love with the envelope this set comes in (a large, 7" x 10" envelope). Inside that envelope are instructions and stickers for turning a "normal" set of playing cards into a fortune telling deck.

- Clocks Rub-Ons. Lots of round clocks and some clock hands that could be used in your spinners.

- "Turning Faces" Antique Reproduction Postcard. Turn 3 wheels to change the faces. (Could give you ideas for the spinner swap.)

- Phrenology Head Card/Envelope. Die-cut card. Includes a list of Phrenology traits on the inside. 6-1/2" tall.

- Die-Cut, Self-Adhesive Chipboard Spinners. The spinners and arrows are self-adhesive (they're temporarily adhered to a 12" tall piece of acetate — in a large, clear envelope). The (working) spinners have a center brad to hold the layers together (but you can't access the back of the brad as it's under the self-adhesive foam). One spinner has the months of the year, others include sayings like "From my point of view today:" (with an alphabetical list of options from "amused" to "zany") and "Situation Description: Going from better to best."

- Game Spinners. Metal spinners in 4 sizes in 2 colors (plus matching brads) by Tim Holtz. Lots of pieces. Vary from 3/4" to 2-1/2" long.

- Brass Arrows. Nicely detailed brass stampings. 1-3/4" long.

- Artful Paper Dolls. What a fun book! (With lots of ideas  — including that Queen of Hearts paper doll made from cut up playing cards, at left — in case you'd like to join the ATC Paper Doll swap.) The book starts with a short (illustrated) history of 20th century paper dolls, then proceeds to many, many examples of creative paper dolls by contemporary collage artists (including some examples of using family photos for the basis of more personal doll stories). And there are printed templates in the back of the book if you'd like some help getting started.

More Halloween-y Goodies

- Halloween Clear Stamp Set. This is a small set packaged in a plastic compact/container (4" diameter). Includes a black cat, a bat and a jack-o-lantern; the widest is approx 1-1/4" wide.

- Macabre 2-Sheet Paper Set. 2 doubled-sided Halloween/raven/bat themed sheets. Shown at right.

- New Altered By Design Collage Sheet Page (with 2 exclusive sheets). A whole page of collage sheets by Carol Murphy at Altered By Design. Some of the sheets are exclusive to Alpha Stamps (so are available printed on a wider variety of media). Two Halloween designs are shown at left.

New Miscellaneous Supplies

- Housewives Tarot:
"A Domestic Divination Kit." A witty deck in a box with dividers that look like a 1950s recipe box. The 4 suits are Pentacles (dishes), Swords (steak knives), Cups (goblets) and Wands (brooms and mops).

- Elemental Hexagon Tarot:
A uniquely shaped deck by Calyxa Omphalos, inspired by the Period Table of the Elements. 60 cards. Includes the artist's instructions for a custom hexagonal layout. The imagery used includes symbols from the Ancient Egyptians to Medieval Alchemists to current scientific thought.

- fast2fuse:
"Heavy craft pack" (14" x 18" sheet) of heavy interfacing with fusible web already "fused" to both sides (so you can sandwich the fast2fuse between 2 pieces of fabric, iron, and your're done). This is really heavy interfacing; good for purses, hats, fabric postcards...

Design Team Member Lori Loney
Lori Loney has created some beautiful things with the Brothers' Grimm Collage Sheets, including the lovely fairy (who folds into a decorated "dream box"), shown below. See a preview or to see all the pieces, please visit the Gallery!

- Black/Floral Jacquard Ribbon:
Woven jacquard with red and pink roses on black.

- Black on Black Jacquard Ribbon:
1-1/2" wide.

- Die-Cut Black Scroll Sheet
Die-cut plastic (good for jobs where you'd need an indestructible surface... maybe like an outdoor project). 12" x 12". Used in the collage (shown above right) by Wendy Anderson.

Back in Stock

3 Tarot Decks:
- Fantastic Menagerie Tarot
- The Baroque Bohemian Cats' Tarot
- Flower Oracle Deck of Cards

4 Dresden Scraps:
- 4 Black Dresden Shrine/Windows
- Dresden Blue Shell Border Strips
- Large Sheet of Black Dresden Borders
- Gold Dresden Crowns

3 Ribbons:
- Leaf Ribbon
- Red Ric Rac
- Dark Red & Brown Velvet Ribbon

New On Sale

- Cowgirl Cupid Rubber Stamp
2" x 3-1/4"

- Pram Rubber Stamp
2" x 2-1/4"

All Bathing Beauties/Beach Collage Sheets

 
Thanks for taking the time to read another newsletter,
Leslie