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In This Issue
inside the studio
inspired by
trash to treasure
the D.O. corner
find out more about...
upcoming workshops...
3/2-4 MEMORY LANE PA
quakertown, PA
Greetings!
Isn't it March that comes in like a lion and out like a lamb?
Not sure how that applies to this month's newsletter, but it is a good way to think of starting out the month!

Oh, and make sure to check out the bottom of the newsletter for a new addition to the Creative Playground by the "D.O."
inside the studio...
inside trhe studioEveryday there is a new idea or a new direction that I seem to want to move in, some days i am knitting bunnies, others I am crocheting turtles (i just taught myself how to crochet last week!), but for the most part I have been spending my time working on layouts and projects for my new books expected out sometime in 2008.

Inside the studio i have added a new cutting mat. my neighbor Heather, had told me about this company after ordering one of their 4 x 6 cutting mats for her sewing table. I chatted with them and found out that they will custom cut any size mat down to whatever measurements you need for FREE!! My table measures 64" x 27 3/4" so I ordered a 6' x 4' and they even offered cut the remaining pieces down to four 13 x 13 cutting mats that I can use for whatever I want.

And for no other reason than I think this site is dang cool...check out this site for a cool digital catalog card generator!
inspired by...
This month I am inspired by color. I would not have ever considered myself a "colorful" scrapbooker, quite the contrary. but lately I have found color inspiration just about everywhere. Here are some of my favorite colorful inspirations.
- Crate Paper's - Birdie Collection
- check out Heather Bailey's studio - she is also the designer of this amazing line of fabrics called Freshcut.
- Basicgrey's new paper lines are rich with design and color: Stella Ruby & Perhaps
- tons of colorful and inspiring design pieces here on this "Design Sponge" blog.
- I absolutely LOVE this quilt design from A Ervilha Cor de Rosa
- and this shot of multicolored fabric piled high on shelves, the beautifully attired dressform and the cool framed colored collages on the wall - Posie gets Cozy blog
trash to treasure...
tttpackageLast month's trash to treasure challenge was product packaging...check out author Keri Smith's creative use of product packaging.
dish liquid bottle
toothpaste
peanut tin
soap, lotion and mouthwash bottles
And even more resourceful is this...
I always throw out the challenge to my classes about using those annoying little strips that we cut off of the bottom of our pattened papers and Michelle from VA was up for the challenge. check out the design ingenuity of michelle and others as they turn their trash into treasure.

So as an extention of michelle's creativity, this month what can you do with those annoying little strips? as i challenge you to create with trash in your own creative playground!

Please share the ideas you come up with by emailing your ideas to donna@donnadowney.com with the subject line TTT:paper strips so i can feature them and possibly you in my next issue of the Creative Playground newsletter.
the D.O. corner...  
the d.o.
Hi all. Just wanted to let everyone know that I'm starting a monthy 
Q&A section of Donna's newsletter where I can offer an opportunity for 
everyone to send in questions you have for Donna or myself to offer a
inside view of her world. Everyone can please feel free to email me 
directly with your questions at bill@donnadowney.com. I will respond to
everyone and we will also post some of the questions in the following 
month's newsletter.

Thank You,
Bill "the D.O." Downey
donna downey
donna downey, llc