"Altered Canines"

I've started a new line of altered dominoes I call "Altered Canines". They're made from large 1" x 2" x 3/8" dominoes which are first colored with alcohol inks. Then they're stamped, fixed, and sealed with acrylic sealer. Some have eyerings, and some have attached wire bails or chains. They can be used as a pendant, or attached to a pin or keyring. Presently I'm limited in breeds to German Shepherd, Great Dane, Dalmation, and Siberian Husky, but I will be increasing my inventory shortly. If you have a breed you'd like to see, send me an email - cardsbypatzee@embarqmail.com. You can find more examples at my Etsy shop but don't forget to look in my sold items, because they go fast.

Frugal - Not CHEAP!!! Frequent local Garage Sales....

Craft stores are filled with thousands of cardmaking embellishments. You can usually find anything you want to finish that special card. But if you want to be truly unique, bypass the ready made embellishments, and dare to be different. Some of my favorite places to search for one of a kind items for my cards are flea markets and garage sales. They're also the best place to find alterable items. Look for vintage photographs and postcards. You'll be amazed at what people are giving away for almost nothing. Vintage ephemera - newspapers, magazines, books, menus, maps, travel brochures, etc. can all be used in your creations. Don't overlook things like small hardware and jewelry pieces. They can be attached to almost anything. Rip things apart - don't always look at the whole piece - there are some extremely interesting components to other people's "junque". Old games - scrabble, dominoes, mahjong, etc. provide alterable items as well as embellishments. Look for inexpensive books, records (if you're old enough to remember what they are!), boxes, tins, clipboards, picture frames, and anything else that you can recycle. To create successful altered art you must see things not as they are, but as they could be. One final thought - my rule which I have broken too many times and regretted it: If you pick something up twice it better go home with you. You'll be sorry later that cheap treasure got away!