Vintage Altered Art Using Old Bingo Cards And Parts

Growing Up In A Family Of Bingo Addicts

I grew up in a family of Bingo Addicts who played the game two to three times a week. My grandmother Esther, a.k.a. "Shabby Granny" (see Hot Cottage Collectibles For Vintage Style Home) decorated her entire apartment in the prizes she won at Bingo.

Bingo Prizes Are Now Kitchen Collectibles

While some of the Bingo games she played gave out cash prizes, most of the games she enjoyed gave the winners usable items such as coffee cups, salt and pepper shakers, cheese and cracker boards etc. Many of the " kitchen collectibles" we all buy and sell today, were once Bingo prizes.

Altered Art Bingo

"Bingo Games" are still popular today, but in a much different way. "Bingo" has been elevated from a parlor game to an art form. For many, "Altered Bingo Art" is the latest passion. Crafters are collecting vintage Bingo cards, tokens, markers etc. and transforming them into mixed media art forms. Many artists also incorporate sewing notions as well as vintage images from magazines or cards into their Bingo art.

Collectors And Artist Want Vintage Bingo Sets

This trend affects vintage sellers because it means that there is a new market out there for these vintage games. Even incomplete Bingo sets are of interest to altered art creators. Many artists use the Bingo cards as "supports" (surfaces) to create their projects, adding embellishments, trim, stampings, paintings, wax resistance, gold leafing, calligraphy etc. Some artists even make three dimensional assemblages out of Bingo materials. The Bird House shown here is a good example of a whimsical use of Bingo parts. Do sellers..never throw out anything!

You can find lots of vintage game parts, embellishments and completed Vintage Altered Bingo Art on Etsy.com and other on line sources.
Also keep on eye out for these items at Flea Markets, Thrift Shops and Antique Malls.

Photos courtesy of:

http://www.artchixstudio.com/
http://shessewpretty.typepad.com/
http://katiebeecreative.com/


C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.

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