simply me

20 - 25% OFF today only!

20 - 25% OFF

all NEW ruffle purses and totes

Today ONLY while supplies last!

start shopping now

Featured Artist - Maria McGuire

I want to introduce you to a talented designer Maria McGuire. She used products from the studio and rocked out some stunning projects! With Valentine's day right around the corner I thought this was the perfect tag to share first. 

Tag was painted with watered down Americana Paint.

The Crafter's Workshop Stencil was placed on the bottom half of the tag and the entire tag was sprayed with Graphite Glimmer Mist. The excess was blotted off with a paper towel.

A Heart was hand drawn on a piece of chipboard and cut out.

Washi tape was torn and randomly put on the chipboard heart.

The excess was cut away. A Faber Castell Pitt Artist Pen was used to color over the heart and immediately wiped away to leave a distressed look.

The edges of the tag were inked with Distress Ink in Black Soot. The Pitt Pen was also used to outline the edges of the heart.

Using VersaMark and Silver Embossing Powder the Stamp was stamped on the tag.

Using an excess piece of tag, a 1/2" paper punch was used to cut circles for the bottle caps which fit PERFECTLY! The word love was stamped with a old letter set on the circles. Glimmer Glam was painted over the letters and allowed to dry. Glossy Accents was used to adhere the letters in the caps and then a layer was put over the letters and allowed to dry.

Two more hearts were hand drawn and cut out. Washi Tape was again randomly placed on the hearts, but this time only outlined and not distressed. The hearts were adhered with pop dots.

Products Used:

• Delicate Flower Wood Mount Stamp
• Crafter's Workshop Stencil-Mini Flower Frenzy
• Glimmer Glam-Pink Lipstick
• Glimmer Mist-Graphite
• Mini Bottle Caps by Darice
• Ranger Embossing Powder--Silver
• Washi Tape
• Faber Castell Pitt Artist Pen in Black
• Ranger Distress Ink in Black Soot
• 1/2" circle punch
• Glossy Accents

 

NEW donna downey stamps!

NEW!! donna downey RUBBER STAMPS

my beloved poppies are now stamps!

check out ALL my new designs and get ready to create because i have big plans for these big and bold new images in the upcoming months!

"poppies" stamp set

just wait until you play with the possitive and negative possibilities of layered stamping with theses beautiful blooms and be sure to stop by for inspiration wednesday to see the layered look in action as i use them with gelatos ...HAPPY PLACE!

"peonies" set

i love my 2 new 8" wood.......mounted stamps :)

"hollyhocks"

"whispy blue bell"

"open bloom" background

"create to breathe"

"adore" words set

"inspire" words set

"art & possibility" set {my personal favorite from the release}

pre-order yours today and be the first to get them hot off the presses!

NEW donna downey: "Poppies and Peonies"

a NEW line, a NEW logo, a NEW look!

pre-order yours today!

{please note: this line is shipping late feb/early march!}

i have been so excited for this release and i cannot wait to see it displayed on the CHA showroom...like seeing your child in a school play...i am going to want to stand up and clap seeing it on "stage".

so whats coming out in the Poppies & Peonies line you ask?

• not just "brown holes" anymore...lots of happy colored holes!
• new cabachons (i even made purple ones...but they are so pretty:)
• fabric banners - raw canvas as well s pre-printed in large and small sizes)
• new albums - 6x6 album with one of my favorite pieces of poppy art and a raw 7 x 9 (more the size of a real journal)
• canvas atcs
• layered poppy flowers!!!
• new perfect bound jourals with heavy weight paper so we can get messy!!
• and my new canvas 12 x 12 pages...HAPPY PLACE!

whats your number?

recently bill and i downloaded the movie "whats your number?" its a cute romantic comedy that has nothing to do with my post today outside of the fact that i was giggling to myself as i was cleaning out my closet last night and well lets just say my purse + matching wallet number is way above anna faris's number in the movie!

my number is...

thats crazy! i have 34 purses + their matching wallets in my closet and my closet isnt that big!

you know, no matter what size i am i can always fit into a purse...i am drawn too the bold colors, the styles, big ones, little ones, i am an equal opportunity purse lover and quite frankly i cant buy a purse without the matching wallet...the really scary thing, many of them have barely been used!

so in efforts to ween down my number i am listing some of favorite purses on my website today (because i am too lazy to do ebay) and i'm hoping that they find new happy homes!

BUY MY BAG

(and maybe with the money i can buy a new bag, LOL)

*** EDITED ***

all the bags have sold out!

thanks for giving them good homes!

2 words: WASHI TAPE!

OMG I am SO IN-LOVE with TAPE right now!

and dozens and dozens of colorful washi tape just arrived from asia and are at my studio NOW!

must go hoard the new tape!

check 'em out!

thought i'd reminisce about my addiction to tape...HAPPY PLACE!

collage monday & more

worked on this one yesterday...it kinda sat for most of the day without direction and then just came together with the addition of the photo.

the main background image is a picture of fabric swatches from a House Beautiful magazine. i was sewing all day yesterday and thought it fitting.

then i began layering tapes, tags and text i cut from the same magazine. that lattice piece is a die cut (i think it is a quickutz die)

i think the photo finished it...i often buy pictures of other peoples family members on ebay 1) because i feel bad for them and 2) because they make for the best collage images, i mean check out how cool these ladies are!

*** DON'T FORGET! ***

TO SNATCH UP THE LAST OF THE 40% OFF DEALS in THE SHOP BECAUSE ONCE THEY ARE GONE...THAT'S IT!

use coupon code: shop40

also make sure you sign up for the online holiday "ARTSY ORNAMENTS" workshop

it is one pretty flippin AMAZING class.

check out the sneak peeks!

Donna downey linen, burlap and twin wrapped Balls 

Alisa Burkes Water Color Ornaments! yum!

Jeanne Oliver's 12" Vintage Burlap wreath.. seriously in love with all the balls on there and the roses! ahh!

In true junelle style.. colorful whimsy canvas ornaments (plus she made som adorable house ones too! She just simply rocks!)

Margie's adorable Vintage Bird ornament.. complete with it's own nest, party hat and everything! 

Just in time for the holidays..

12 Artsy Ornaments of Christmas... a five day mini workshop!

I am super excited about this workshop because it is like NO other workshop i have done before! 10 of my artiest friends from all over the globe to participate in this workshop with me! We will make ornaments and home decor projects for the holidays getting creative with paint, fabric, glass, glitter, metal and more! Each day for the first 4 days, 3 new ornaments will be posted by 3 of the teachers! On the 5th day.. there a few surprises in store with more artsy projects as well as fun PDF's and clipart for the holidays as well! Exclusive to this class!

The fabulous friends I have joining me are

Christy Tomlinson, Margie Romney-Aslett, Danielle Donaldson, Junelle Jacobson, Kaari Meng, Shea Fragoso and Debbie Murray (the gilded girls!), Chrissy Gardner, Kelly Barton, Jeanne Oliver, and Alisa Burke!

So come join me on December 5th.. for a fun filled mini workshop just in time to get your holiday juices flowing! Registration starts NOW!! Can't wait to see you in the classroom!

12 Artsy Ornaments of Christmas 

a five day mini workshop

$19.95

You will receive your welcome for registering email withing 2-3 business days. The class will officially start on December 5th and you will receive your log-in and official welcome email with class info on the morning of December 5th. You will receive your supply lists in the classroom. Acess to workshops and classroom will be available for 6 months.

black friday - cyber monday blowout SALE!

tis the season to clean house and make room for more in 2012!

i cant think of a better way to do it than offer one hell of an amazing sale!

take an incredible 40% off

EVERYTHING in our specially listed BLACK FRIDAY category in our shop!

use coupon code: shop40

but you better be quick because the first ones get the best deals

and supplies are limited!

over 100 items listed including...

tim holtz

stickles

jenni bowlin

atc's

7 gypsies

Prima

ranger

glitters

bling

punches

and so much more!

SHOP NOW!

 

whats in my bag?

i call this my "ARTIST on the GO" case. essentially it always remains packed and with the exception of swapping a few things in and out of it depending on my mood or what i am working on it essentially is always "READY TO GO!"

it is a small vintage suitcase from the 70's...i love it, it has personality. the uglier the better!

everything in my case is also airport security/flight approved. i have traveled across the globe with these supplies and have yet to have anything confiscated, however, twice i have been asked to "prove" i was an artist going through security having to actually show the journals i work in on the plane. it always ends well and the conversation is fun!

right now inside my ARTIST on the GO bag is the following...

i have been traveling lately with my collage journal. many of you email me to do videos for the collage journal, but the true purpose of the journal for me is to be able to create on the fly with whatever scraps you can find and a glue stick. keeping it simple.

under the journal is where i keep "the color".

you can fit 10-1 oz. golden fluid acrylics in a quart size baggie. when i go through security instead of carrying on shampoo and toothpaste, i check those items and place my baggie of paint in the bin. usually no one even looks twice...at least i haven't noticed.

i always travel with a brush roll filled with pens, water soluble graphite pencils, charcoal pencils, waterbrushes, regular brushes and a scissor. the brush roll serves several purposes.

1. it allows me to see and access all my tools in a cramped airplane seat without them rolling off my tray table.
2. the canvas flap gives me a place to wipe my brushes as i paint.
3. it is extremely flexible depending on the space i have to work in.

NOTE: people always ask me how i get scissors on the plane, but the TSA allows up to a 4" sharp on the plane. the cutterbee scissors are the perfect traveling scissor for that!

i always bring my travel palette of winsor & newton watercolors...perfectly sized and easy to paint within a small space.

a black stazon + a few new or favorite stamps at the time...this changes and sometimes i buy a stamp to play with on the road.

masking tapes...I LOVE MASKING TAPE!

i also have in there now some gelatos, because they are super easy to create with on the go,

bubble wrap because it is FUN to brush some paint onto and stamp,

and a glue stick...i try to find a super-sized one for my travel bag because it is always deceiving how little glue is truly in a normal sized glue stick.

in the front zipper pocket i keep any scraps i have cut/collected from magazines, bits of travel maps, brochures, business cards, anything collage worthy really.  i also have a few stencils tucked in there as well, they are thin and perfect for travel.

so why the case and not a bag you may ask? great question!

the case is flat so i can open it up on my tray table, access everything without digging around in the bottom of a bag and i can actually close it up and work on top of it on the plane without needing a whole lot of room. sometimes i get lucky and i have an empty seat(s) next to me and i can really spread out!

i will admit i always get weird looks, probing questions and a million compliments when i create on the plane. as an only child i secretly like that attention, kinda reaffirms my joy for creating. often times the flight attendants will even bring me an extra cup of water or napkins if they see me dipping into my water cup while i am painting. it REALLY helps pass the time too. it is like creating your own personal in-flight studio 30,000 feet up in the air!

i know many of you have emailed over the past several months about my travel supplies and i hope that answers all your questions...if not feel free to post some of your questions here.

over the past couple of weeks i have been collecting/searching out similiar style cases and putting together "ARTIST on the GO" cases preassembled. these of course are all one of a kind kits because of the vintage cases and i have already sold the ones i put in the shop the other day, but am continuing to be on the lookout and will be adding more of them to the shop next week and as i find the cool cases.

DEAL of the day FRIDAY!

every friday we will debut a new deal of the day.

for our week 2 launch of the discounted fun we are going to do something crazy!

ALL DAY, while supplies last

receive 40% off

all scrapbooking papers

use coupon code: deal722

the early birds gonna get the pick of the papers on this one...

super chance to stock up on some bazzill cardstock goodness, hambly transparencies and some of my favorite patterned papers on the market today!