All images and poetry on this site are the property of Carol Murphy / Altered By Design © 2006. Do not copy, download, or in any way use the images or poetry on this website without written permission from Carol Murphy. 

About Online Classes~They are not quite as impersonal as you may think. The classes are posted at http://rd.joggles.com/?pt=75 526 and you purchase them just as you would an item. You are sent a list of necessary supplies about 2 weeks before class begins. The classes are broken up into lessons, usually 2 weeks for the mini classes and up to 6 weeks for the more involved classes. Once a week you will rerceive detailed (and I do mean DETAILED) instructions and lots of pictures to help you along. You can download the lessons and work on them on your own time, whenever you want to. There is a forum set up where you can ask me questions and exchange ideas and info. with other students in the group. This participation is COMPLETELY voluntary and you do not have to participate in the forum if you don't want to . The forum stays open for a few weeks after the class has ended and I check back frequently - so if you haven't had time to finish up, I'm still available to help you along. It's so convenient and perfect for people who can't get out much or for those of you who are just too busy to attend classes in person. My classes have been filled with students from the UK, France, Australia, Germany, and Canada. It's so interesting to share ideas and a love of art with people from all over the world. If you're on the fence about online classes, I urge you to sign up and just give it a try. My mini classes are inexpensive and lots of fun!

Angel Policy:  Please read through my angel policy before taking classes- I think it is very reasonable. It's so funny nowadays when everyone thinks they can copyright every single idea and technique ~
All I ask is that you don't teach my classes or any part of them and that you NOT send in anything in for publication to any mag. or book. (Obviously because I'm planning on doing that) Please feel free to make and SELL the items you create giving me credit when possible. You could just say- inspired by a class I took with Carol Murphy and then give my website or something like that. That would in turn make money for both of us as I might gain some new students and you could sell your items made in my classes. Also, please try to change things up a bit and maybe use a different face, fabric, fibers, etc. People shouldn't look at your dolls and say," Oh that's one of Carol Murphy's pieces."  I want to inspire you to explore techniques, products, and ideas. All I ask is that you please respect my art and my time. Hopefuly this seems fair to everyone. Let's be honest here- I know times are hard and we're all looking for ways to broaden our income. I know that most of you are not taking my classes to make a piece to give to Aunt Matilda. Just try to remember the above mentioned stipulations and feel free to SELL, keep, or give away your creations made from my classes.

 "Lyric and Laurel"
Bottle Doll Class
Coming soon!!!!
4 Lessons   $46.00 

Lyric and Laurel are the first in a series of mixed media bottle dolls. I invite you to join us in this fabulous journey while we explore a mixture of paints, inks, fabrics, glass, stamping, wire, metal, recycled bottles, and much-much more. Create two fanciful art dolls in all their finery adorned with hats, purses, bags and baubles, tiny bottles, wings, assorted ephemera, and of course, their own little set of jewelry. With over fifty pages of instructions and images, this class is packed with techniques and ideas to jump-start your creativity.

Lesson One: In our first lesson, we will learn a bit about different bottles and how to decorate them. Experiment with molding paste, fabrics, gesso, paints, and more to create lots of texture for your beautiful dolls. Play with several layering techniques and distressing techniques to add depth and interest to your pieces. We will construct both doll bodies during this lesson.

Lesson Two: This week we will continue adding texture, using buttons, pearls, and more to adorn our little ladies. Learn how to distress and apply some antiquing techniques to keys, letters, and other elements. Create two faces, one for Lyric and one for Laurel and learn a few ways to paint them up.


Lesson Three: This lesson will focus on putting it all together. Type up some positive affirmations, quotes, or happy thoughts to add to the bottles. Inspiration and Art quotes will be included for your convenience. Several ideas will be offered if you want to write something more personal. Learn some simple assembly techniques, add the heads to the bodies and learn how to give the dolls some” attitude” with head and arm placement., the creation of wings, etc. A few ideas for varied arm construction will be shown as well as incorporating pearls and beads to the wing design.

Lesson Four: Our last lesson will focus on finishing up our bottle dolls of HOPE, PEACE, FAITH, and LOVE. . Learn different techniques to create antennae to adorn Lyric’s sister. Add some more fabric, maybe some extra buttons, and fibers, ribbons, a shawl, what have you. Learn several different no sew and sewing hat techniques sew or no-sew purses, and jewelry.


Beautiful dolls for gift giving or just to have close by- Lyric and Laurel will certainly bring a smile to your face every time you look at them. Only you will know the messages left inside the bottles- messages of HOPE and LOVE.