simply me

BLACK FRIDAY DEALS + MY NEW APRON

WINNER: congratulations to Kathy Robinson, post #210.  You win the Kinnon Keepsakes giveaway. email me (donna@donnadowney.com) with you address and we will get your prize to you!

incredible deals at the shop today up to 78% off
for BLACK FRIDAY ONLY, go shopping NOW!

while supplies last

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WOW! What a giveaway! Our friend Amy from Kinnon Keepsakes is giving away the latest and greatest tool from QuicKutz, the Epic 6. The Epic 6 features a 6"x13" cutting platform and will cut all dies on the market. (Yes, all of them even the fat old Sizzix one.) This is a great tool retailing at $89.99. Thank you Amy for this Fabulous giveaway. Please be sure to visit Amy's blog and tell her Donna sent you! 

 

In addition to the giveaway, Kinnon Keepsakes has amazing specials going on through the weekend at www.lovemyqkutz.com. All their 4x4 shapes are on sale AND if you spend $125 or more, you get to choose a FREE Mary Jane ($139.99 Value). All Donna Downey blog readers get an extra 10% OFF all purchases in November by using coupon code DDNV09.

Kinnon Keepsakes is a online QuicKutz Superstore who carries their complete line, includin the new L Brand. The L recently launched it's Letterpress products which is just one of the coolest things I have seen. Letterpress allows you to create the antique look of debossing and inking paper. Great for high end stationary and invitation projects. Letterpress is in stock and ready to ship! For more information on this amazing product, visit www.lifestylecrafts.com.

Be sure to leave your comments now, this is awesome!

1. Leave your comment today before 10 PM (EST).
2. To double your chances tweet, blog or post on your facebook about this giveaway and come back and leave another comment.
3. Winner will be announced on the blog tonight.

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MY NEW "garden" APRON

{before + after}

*see more photos of my new "garden apron" here as well view my quick circle bunch flower tutorial and purchase pre cut circle bunch flower kits.

i am thankful for YOU giveaway basket!

congratulations and a very special happy thanksgiving to LISA YOUTZY! 

lisa you win today's blog giveaway! email me (donna@donnadowney.com) with your address and we will ship your prize basket right out to you!!

 

a cornucopia of giveaway goodness!

i want to thank you this holiday for being such a big part of my daily life. you inspire me in ways unimaginable.

so today i would like to give one of you a very special thanksgiving giveaway prize basket!

included inside is:

• over $200 of creative supplies including: thickers, alphabets, embellishments (metals, fabrics + papers), mini albums, stamp sets and alterables.
• my 8x8 fabric scrapbook
• 2 pair of "live inspired" socks
• "stream of passion" - framed original artwork
• inspiration journal
• and a voucher for $100 off your inspired admission

 

Leave your comment today to be entered to win this AWESOME giveaway.

1. leave your comment today before 11 PM (EST). Go do it now!!
2. invite your friends and family members comment!
3. To double your chances tweet, blog or post on your facebook about this giveaway and come back and leave another comment.
4. Winner will be announced on the blog tonight.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

a special thank you to all of my sponsors!

dont forget to check back tomorrow for the black friday sale at the shop

lots to share, mark your calendars!

this weeks inspiration wednesday is about simplicity. i think that is why it was so important to redesign my studio. too much clutter, too much "stuff" can suffocate me sometimes. a good purging and simplifying my life helps me find clarity.

here's the how to in my inspiration journal this week.

• i used black gesso to paint the background (it looked like chalkboard paint, it was kinda cool!)
• created fabric flowers (going to take a couple of these flower kits with me next weekend to groves)
• added white ribbon stems
• scrunched booktext leaves
• sewed black buttons in place.
• added sticker title
• folded black gaffer tape around the page edges

studio update:

 

my new imac is here and my studio is FULLY functioning!!

Tango still likes to sit on my chair with me, some things never change.

TOMORROW!

as a thank you to my amazing blog readers tomorrow i will be giving away an extraordinary prize package of product and inspiration. i promise you are not going to want to miss this!

i will also be conducting a huge Black Friday sale on several items in my shop. i will be offering 60% off many items. please be sure to visit my online shop this Friday!

APRON UPDATE + SNEAK PEEK...

also, check back on friday when i post photos of my brand new apron! i think it is even more beautiful than the first ones! here is a sneak peek!  

ornament ADVENT CALENDAR UPDATE + sneak peek...
 

BE HERE on tuesday (dec 1st) i will give a simple tutorial on the advent ornament project. i finished them last night. they are simple and i am kinda excited to start this new tradition!

 Also be sure to visit this Friday as our friend, Amy Kinnon, from Kinnon Keepsakes is going to have an unbelievable giveaway for Black Friday. 

She is going to be giving away the latest and greatest tool from QuicKutz, the Epic 6. Can you believe that? '

In addition to the Epic 6  giveaway, Kinnon Keepsakes has some amazing specials going on through the weekend. Please visit their website to take advantage!

SEE YOU TOMORROW!!

WINNER: congratulations to Kellie Lund, post #4.  You win Coordinates Collections giveaway. email me (donna@donnadowney.com) with you address and we will get your prize to you!

Look what Jamie from Coordinates Collections is giving away today. She is giving away one of her November Lemon Merinque kits to a lucky blog reader!

Here is what is included in the November Lemon Meringue kit:

1 Crate Paper bliss spirited
1 Crate Paper bliss impulse
1 Basic Grey lemonade tee time
1 Basic Grey lemonade sunshine
1 Basic Grey euphoria utopia
2 Bazzill london fog
2 Bazzill sweet tart
1 Pink Paislee expressions cardstock alphabet, pear
1 Crate Paper bliss journal stickers
1 Maya Road  sheer flash cards, black/white
1 Basic Grey lemonade green canary rubons
4 Prima country elegance flowers, rose
4 Prima country elegance flowers, chartruese
2 Prima sultan centers, pink
Maya Road mauve velvet scallop ric rac

You can visit their website to get great kit ideas by their design team. Also be sure to check our Coordinates Collections blog. 

Leave your comment today to be entered to win this AWESOME giveaway.

1. leave your comment today before 10 PM (EST).
2. To double your chances tweet, blog or post on your facebook about this giveaway and come back and leave another comment.
3. Winner will be announced on the blog tonight.

a weekend in review

 payton had her first slumber party...they had a great time, we were exhausted. they were up until 1:30AM!

lots of crafts, lots of food, smores over the fire pit, even mckenna got in on the fun and she hates the girly pink stuff. 

inside the NEW studio...

a couple ideas and works in progress.

i sketched out some ideas in my idea journal while the studio was in transition. i like the idea of sentiments on our christmas tree this year. the original idea was to create an advent calendar for the tree, so that everyday the kids would hang an new ornament on the tree with a special gift to give like honesty, generosity, charity, etc. however, i wanted to try out the idea first. design wise i think i might make them a bit more "beefy-er". i used only one layer of batting and i might add 2 or 3 between the layers.

 

• i used muslin and literally put it through the typewriter to write the sentiments.
• cut out the circles
• then stamped the holiday images
• pinned the layers of fabric and batting and sewed around the outside
• set an eyelet to hang

{STAMPS: reindeer, santas sleigh/inkadinkado, ornaments/hampton art, tree/hero arts, believe/river city rubber works}

 also am in the process of playing around with this idea...

 

 

stamped the background (i am not at liberty to say anything about the stamps, soon though i promise!) and brushed layers of white washed acrylic over them.

 

nothing is adhered down yet just positioned...i am not ready to commit yet, got a couple more ideas floating around. i am really loving the canvas button centers and the dimensional pops of color and fabric of the whole piece.

 

going to spend a little more time on it today and possibly finalize the design.

check back tomorrow for another awesome sponsor giveaway and fingers crossed an apron update!

All I can say is.....WOW!!! Can you believe what our friends at polka dot potato are exclusively doing for my blog readers? They are actually holding a Private Sale that is only available to you! Thanks Ashley and Ben.

Many of you fell in love with Christine Borgfeld's brushes when they first showcased on Polka Dot Potato last month.  Well, now you can enjoy 40% off her amazing brushes, but it's only through November and it's only for Donna Downey blog readers! Be sure to hurry since November is almost over.

All you need to do to take advantage of this awesome deal is use the coupon code: downeydealnov09 when you check out at Polka Dot Potato.  You can shop for her brushes HERE.

Not sure how to use brushes?  No worries!  Christine has put a TUTORIAL together just for you.  It's completely free.  Just add it to your cart and enjoy!

Please be sure to leave a comment and let them know how much you appreciate the private sale!

You can also follow polka dot potato on their facebook and twitter pages. Stop by Ashley's blog and leave her a comment. Let her know Donna sent you!

WINNER: congratulations to Savannah O'Gwynn, post #29.  You win Crazy Daisy's giveaway! email me (donna@donnadowney.com) with you address and we will get your prize to you!

Look at what our friends Kimberly and Jennifer from Crazy Daisy are giving away. They will be giving away one of their absolutely GORGEOUS November Main Kits plus the November Add-on with a Kick Kit to a lucky blog reader! What a awesome giveaway, thanks ladies!

SInce they want all of our readers to be a winner, they will also give $10 off to anyone who places a order before Thanksgiving. Just let them know Donna sent you and use the code "jointheclub"!

November Main Kit:
Join the only club with a min-book in every kit! This month's Crazy Daisy main kit oozes the warmth and comfort you feel when surrounded by your family at your Thanksgiving dinner. Browns, grays and oranges dominate the color palette, making for a delicious crafting combination to record all the things you're grateful for this Thanksgiving.

November Add-on With a Kick Kit:
All new for November, the Add-on with a Kick Kit is bigger than their traditional add-on kit, but smaller than their main kit. They wanted to offer something amazing, but that was a little smaller for all you busy ladies who can't scrap as much as you'd like. This kit is still packed with lots of crafty goodness, so you won't be disappointed.

Be sure to leave your comments now, this is awesome!

1.  leave your comment today before 10 PM (EST).
2. To double your chances tweet, blog or post on your facebook about this giveaway and come back and leave another comment.
3. Winner will be announced on the blog tonight.

Dont forget about Craft-e-Corner's Machine Madness Sale starting Midnight CST Black Friday November 27th till 11:59 CST Cyber Monday November 30th. No coupon code is necessary to take advantage of these unbelievable deals since these machine prices are already rock bottom!!! 

Check out this deal they are offering on the Cricut Expression Machine with 2 cartridges during their Machine Madness Sale! 

MSRP- $499.99

Sale Price - $219.99

You Save over 55% the retail price which is $280. 

Dont forget to get your Paper Dolls Dress Up, Stretch your Imagination, and Accent Essentials Cricut Cartridges. 

day 25: the studio redesign is complete

{well except for the computer, which is due to arrive early next week}

finally after almost 3 week the new studio is complete and the perfect, bright creative space i had envisioned. i love every single drawer and item in there, right where they should be, lol!

i have also uploaded the individual shots of each drawer and a brief explanation of how i organized my space.

i purposely designed the space so that all of my storage was below, i wanted only art and color on my walls. although i really did like the functionality of my space before, it was beginning to feel too dark and claustrophobic. the redesign is in direct contradiction of how i felt in the room before.

the entire room is basically from ikea: red shelf, island, cabinets, photo ledge, chair, dog bed, rails and hanging baskets.

 

{paisley was a big help!}

i know you want to ask this, so i will just put it out there. How much did it cost?

total cost was around $4500 (includes electrical outlets, painting, window framing, molding/ledge, counters/island and countertops) which i think is an amazingly great price!

feel free to email me any other questions about the redesign, organization or the process, but first check out the photos here. there is a lot of tidbits of info in the descriptions of the space.

WINNER: what an awesome giveaway day and i loved that we got so many comments!  however it is time to crown the winner of the Craft-e-Corner holly frickin cow spectacular cricut giveaway.

chosen by the random integer generator, the winner is congratulations MISTY, YOU WIN!!! email me your address at donna@donndowney.com and we will get your new cricut out to you!!
 

this weeks inspiration wednesday was created on the road. i would consider this page in progress. i drew out the design using one continous line of motion 9never lifting the pen from the page) and used my travel watercolor set from my purse to color it in while waiting for my flight connection to illinois this weekend.

what did you create this week?
what do we need to see...leave a post and share your inspirations!

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day 24 : studio redesign

i have gotten a lot of emails asking what the final studio redesign looks like. finally today the guys are here installing the last hold out design element of the room, the countertops!

 

 

tomorrow i will have the big reveal and the studio walk through...stay tuned!

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this is a special, HOLY FRICKIN' COW, spectacular giveaway announcement! Craft-e-Corner will be giving away on my blog this Cricut Create Machine with Don Juan Cartridge.

oh my goodness, leave your comments now, this is awesome!

1.  leave your comment today before 10 PM (EST).
2. To double your chances tweet, blog or post on your facebook about this giveaway and come back and leave another comment.
3. Winner will be announced on the blog tonight.

Craft-e-Corner is a family owned business that began in early 2008 when Carrie and Dean Duehring took their hobby of scrapbooking to a new level. With three young children and a love of preserving their special moments, they launched the on-line scrapbooking e-commerce store, Craft-e-Corner.

In addition to this giveaway, Craft-e-Corner with also be having a huge **Machine Madness** sale from Midnight CST Black Friday November 27th until 11:59 PM CST Cyber Monday November 30th. You can not afford to miss these awesome deals. Just tell them Donna sent you and use the SIMPLYME coupon code and receive 10% off your purchase!

 

Please dont worry if you dont win the giveaway because Craft-e-Corner will also have this Cricut Create Machine with Don Juan Cartridge available for a unbelievable price starting on Nov 27th thru Nov 30th. Check it out!!!

MSRP: $399.99
Sale price: $129.99
Save Over 65% off regular retail price
You save: $270.00
Sale runs from Nov 27th till Nov 30th

Craft-e-Corner also carries all the Cricut Cartridges you need: Joys of the Season, Christmas Cheer, Tags, bags, boxes and more.  

Stayed tuned over the next week for announcements about Craft-e-Corner exciting specials.

 

congratulations to Laura Toriello.  You win Benzilla Scrapping's giveaway! email me (donna@donnadowney.com) for your prize!

The Holiday season is here and I'm excited to announce that our sponsors will be offering some awesome giveaways and specials to all you readers leading up to Christmas! Let the specials begin.

To help kick things off, our friends Carrie and Dean Duehring at Craft-eCorner will be featuring a Cricut Create with Don Juan Cartridge giveaway tomorrow here on my blog!  How exciting is that? In addition to the Cricut Create giveaway, they will be running a week long of specials on my blog for the Cricut Expression with cartridges, Making Memories Slice Machine, & the Silhouette SD.

Today's meet our sponsor is BenzillaScrapping and look what Michelle is giving away! 

Michelle started BenzillaScrapping about 8 years ago. She got the name from Ben, her firstborn, and how “destructive” he was as a baby (think a cross between a baby Ben and Godzilla)   

She first sold premade paper-piecings and page kits on eBay and then started her own website. Everything she sells she makes in her home studio.  Many items she also offers the same product in a digital counterpart, through her BZ Digital Designs. So if you’re a digiscrapper, or hybrid, just shoot her an email at benzillascrapping@gmail.com and she can get you hooked up.

You can stay current on the shop goings-on at her blog, BenzillaScrapping on Facebook, or BenzillaScrap on Twitter.  She is also always open to thoughts, suggestions and ideas, so drop her a note sometime. 

This giveaway includes the following items.......

• Set of black CoaterBetZ
• Set of fall themed scallop Journal SpotZ
• Set of fall themed Journal SpotZ
• Set of fall/thanksgiving themed NoteZ in brown
• Set of fall/thanksgiving NoteZ in black
• Set of fall/thanksgiving BingoZ
• Set of month themed Bracket FrameZ
• Set of days of the week themed Bracket FrameZ
• 2 8x8 fall themed OverlayZ
• 2 4x4 fall themed OverlayZ
• 2 4x6 fall themed OverlayZ
• Set of Journal SpotZ
• Set of scallop Journal SpotZ in brown
• Set of scallop Journal SpotZ in black
• Set of fall themed CoasterZ
• Set of fall themed IconZ on white
• Set of fall themed Iconz on ivory
• Set of full color fall themed Iconz on ivory

Don't worry if your not the lucky winner. In addition to the giveaway, Benzilla Scrapping will also give anyone the kit 20% off who emails Michelle at benzillascrapping@gmail.com. 

Also be sure to check out Benzilla Scrapping's blog, shop, Photo Gallery and Layout Gallery

Leave your comment today to be entered to win this AWESOME giveaway.

1. leave your comment today before 10 PM (EST).
2. To double your chances tweet, blog or post on your facebook about this giveaway and come back and leave another comment.
3. Winner will be announced on the blog tonight.