simply me:

November 17, 2011

Sponsor Spotlight: Boys Rule Scrapbook Kits

Got boys? If so, you will adore this kit club designed especially for the little man in your life.

Boys Rule Scrapbook Kits is a monthly scrapbook kit club for those of you who love to paper craft boy subjects. Care and consideration is key as each kit is assembled for the boys. Cool embellies are paired with handsome papers you will love to create with each month.

Boys Rule Scrapbook Kits also comes with exclusive embellies for each kit....they are all different and very unique, and are included each month just for you.

It's fun to create when you have a complete kit that is designed for the memories of dirt, grunge and smelly things! And to make things more fun, how about a sweet deal on these kits? Buy any previously featured kit at the non-subscription price and receive another kit of your choice ½ OFF! This offer is good thru Nov. 30^th, one offer per person.

For design inspiration and to get the latest details on new kits, follow the Boys Rule Scrapbook Kits blog and check out the gallery!

Nov 17, 2011 9:00:00 AM

November 16, 2011

inspiration wednesday + video + holiday workshop

i am feeling a bit under the weather today and am sporting my "sexy" voice for the video, but i really love the way the watercolors turned out!

watch the video...

supplies:

The 12 Artsy Ornaments of Christmas ...

a 5 day mini workshop!

Introducing my newest on-line workshop!

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.

Nov 16, 2011 2:07:47 PM | inspiration wednesdays, online workshops

Twice As Nice!

The lucky winners of the journal kits from handmade:modern are:

Comment # 31 - Debi Minter said...

Wow, sounds like a fantastic project to do with my granddaughter!!! Thanks for the opportunity to win one!!!
HuGGs!

Comment #56 - Lilly M. said...

What an AWESOME prize!!! Thank you so much Donna & Elizabeth...

Thanks for your comments and congrats! Please email [email protected] with your name and address to claim your journal kit!

A special thank you to Elizabeth from handmade:modern for a wonderful spotlight post and giveaway!

Nov 16, 2011 10:31:52 AM

November 15, 2011

sponsor spotlight: handmade:modern

I am so happy to introduce you to one of my newest sponsors who happens to run a great Etsy shop, handmade:modern.

Owner Elizabeth says handmade:modern came about due to her obsession with notebooks and journals; and once she taught herself how to bind books, everything just came together.

Just released are the 2011 holiday journal kits, which are perfect for documenting the rapidly approaching holiday season. These ring-bound journals come in 2 sizes (4x6 and 6x8) and feature a fabric cover which is solid on the outside and patterned on the inside. The kits come with a wide variety of paper and ephemera so you can make each one your own design. Each kit also includes a packet of embellishments to help you finish off your project in style.

To kick off your holiday season, handmade:modern is giving away TWO holiday journal kits in the size of your choice! Just leave a comment on this post before 10am. tomorrow and you will be entered to win. Also, all of my blog readers can save 20% off of your entire order with this exclusive coupon code: DONNADOWNEY. Offer valid through Wednesday November 16 at 10pm EST.

Make sure you check out handmade:modern’s blog, and to follow them on Twitter and “like” them on Facebook to stay informed of the newest releases!

Nov 15, 2011 7:47:17 AM

November 14, 2011

collage monday

this was fun,

the background is the paper towel i was wiping my brushes on as i painted yesterday (check out my facebook page to see the 2 canvases i made). i simply glued down the paper towel across the background with gel medium and stamped with stazon.

STAMPS: the image of the 2 girls is one of my favorite Paperbag Studios stamps and the script stamp is one of the new Dina Wakley stamps.

i have a drawer of what i call "collage possibilities" and i rummaged through it and found this number 2 stencil, i liked that you can see the paint through it and finished it with some number tape...i have only about 6" left...i was trying to use it all up! NEXT TIME!

i am about half way through the book, so next week i will post some pictures of the moleskines profile...i love it when they start to burst with creative goodness!

Nov 14, 2011 8:21:17 AM | collage monday

November 12, 2011

leaving the single digits behind...

Payton turns 10 today...

happy birthday my love!

Nov 12, 2011 8:26:09 AM

November 11, 2011

DEAL of the day FRIDAY!

Visit my shop every Friday for the " Deal of the Day ". Each Friday I'm going to feature a product from the shop at a great discount or a shopping special.

Today I'm offering 15% off

all Crafters Workshop templates

STOCK UP NOW!

and just my 2 cents...get your favorite color of PanPastel and a Sofft tool sponge just to try them out in your new stencil...THEY'RE AWESOME!!!

Nov 11, 2011 8:30:15 AM

November 09, 2011

inspiration wednesday + video

i got up and created...however it is not my favorite page, it represents forward motion. if i pass along any message it is never give up on your art, by sticking with it you may learn a whole lot more!

watch the video...

supplies used:

inspiration journal
FaberCastell gelatos
shipping tag
heat gun
dr martins black india ink
dr martins white india ink
nib + pen
crafters workshop 12 x 12 stencil
muslin
black soot distress ink pad
foam blending tool
Golden gel medium
Golden titanium white fluid acrylic paint
bubble wrap
book text
black stazon
tiny attacher
date stamp

Nov 9, 2011 2:05:51 PM | inspiration wednesdays

November 07, 2011

"inspired studios" weekend...OMG!

anytime you do something for the first time...its exciting, scary, exhilarating.

the tables were set.

the supplies were ready.

and the handmade personal touches i really wanted to give were in place.

then you wait. wait for the students. wait for their excitement and wait for their excitement to only multiply your emotions 10-fold.

every event has a dynamic, its own personal and intimate energy about it.

the energy is nothing you can plan for or define, it is unique to the 20 woman that participate in the creative exchange of ideas and contribute to the stories that carve out the journey we all take together throughout the weekend.

to watch these 20 beautiful woman begin on thursday with a portfolio of blank pages in hand and end the weekend with the bound piece of artwork is like the best feeling i have ever experienced.

i have never been able to spend 4 days building, guiding and watching the creative process unfold in the hands of others...i am not kidding when i say it is magic.

my first instruction...

make as many mistakes as possible but play with everything

that first night, there was literally dozens of pages of mediums, gels, textures, colors and pastes everywhere! it was awesome!

the idea that they didnt have to know what they were creating and that they could just play knowing that their creativity would evolve and unfold if they just opened them selves up to it over the course of the weekend was LIBERATING!