where in the world is donna?
|
booking now for 2008
email me for more information!
donna@donnadowney.com
|
INSPIRED. artist workshop
|
|
|
ART JOURNAL: 101
|
download now!
13 page/60 full color handshots walking you through creating your first ART JOURNAL!
|
downloadable font
|
ddwords
|
|
|
Greetings!
Brace yourself this is a long newsletter!!
Happy Novemeber!
|
inside the studio
|
|
 good reading, carefree painting and emails with rosie!
i have just made the time for some very good reading this past month. i just finished EAT, PRAY, LOVE by elizabeth gilbert last week and is was such a good read for me on the heals of reading THE SECRET.(which by the way if you haven't read the secret yet, you so should it changed my whole perspective.)
I have been painting like crazy and enjoying every single second of the paint on the canvases. I have mailed out my package to rosie including the painting I made for her and I am hoping I hear back from her in some way. Wouldn't it be great to collaborate somehow with her artistically to do an event or a book...? I am going to keep dreaming and believing!
Also made the time to scrapbook just for me this month, you can see more pictures of my "fly" album here.
|
inspired by...
|
|
technology and then some!
I always get lots of questions about my technology stuff, so I thought this month I would do a little technology share, just in time for your holiday wish lists for santa!
My very favorite printer company is epson and when I decided to make the switch from 8.5x11 to 12x12 the first thing I researched was a wide format printer. I wanted one I could use to print directly onto my pages but also a quality photo printer for printing enlargements. I have had my Epson R1800 for 2 years and not a problem, I recommend it to everyone!
last year I got the epson Picturemate 4 x 6 printer and again the quality is unbeatable by the convenience is priceless. I printed over 1000 photos on that little guy for my book and just the fact that I did not have to wait for developing was worth it! I am an immediate gratification kinda gal!!
I also just got this strap from Emily Falconbridge's etsty shop for my camera
and for the crem de la creme of technology, I DID IT..."HELLO!"
I ordered the iphone. it is official, I am in love! I totally gave in to the BUY NOW button!
As for my crafting inspiration I have been pulling it directly from these products...
- zutter bind it all - this tool has simply revolutionized the mini album world as we knew it! i love being able to bind anything i want at anytime.
tattered angels glimmer mist spray -this product is really cool i have been playing with the following colors and love em. the reds, greens and golds are really great for Christmas projects.
and holy cow check out these new fabulous products by Jenni Bowlin!
and look at queen and company steppin it up a notch with felt ribbons in really cool lazer cut designs! i am loving this green one too!
|
trash to treasure
|
|
 Check out this banner made entirely of scraps! Pamela Posch of Manchester TN did an amazing job turning her scraps into a piece of festive decor! check out more of pamela's banner and other trash to treasure scraps projects.
i like this challenge, so lets take it one step further, lets use our scraps form one layout to create another totally different layout this month!!
So lets save those scraps, there's holiday presents to buy!!
If you're up to the challenge, email your trash to treasure pictures to donna@donnadowney.com and write "SCRAPS2" in the subject line and you just might find your work may be featured in the December Creative Playground newsletter.
I can't wait to see what you come up with!
And just because this is so amazing i have to share the ingenious toilet paper roll design of Kelly Rell
Toilet Paper Scroll Directions
When you first mentioned in class that there was some way to make a scrapbook out of a toilet paper roll my first thought was of a pen my son had that had a scroll inside. It pulled out of the pen to reveal a treasure map. I immediately thought I could apply this application to the TPR.
I covered the TPR with a scrap piece of paper cut to fit the roll, overlapping just a bit. I found the roll fit perfectly onto a glue bottle I had so it could retain it's shape while I worked on it. I then used an exacto knife to cut a slit lengthwise into the roll but not cutting all the way through, leaving about 1/8 inch in each end. I widened the slit to about 1/8 to 3/16 inches. To cover the seam and the slit I thought it would be nice to add a length of ribbon.
I then found that the Bazzill chipboard circles I had would fit perfectly as the top and bottom. I punched a hole in the centers with my handy cropidile, cut circles out of orange scrap paper and adhered them to the chipboard pieces. I punched a hole in the center of the paper circles as well and the edges got sanded and inked.
The bottom got glued onto the TPR and set to completely dry. (The glue bottle held it in shape while drying.) In the mean time I started thinking of the scroll. I knew the paper could not be too thick for it to be pulled out and re-inserted so I found another scrap of thin white cardstock. It was about 4 by 12 inches. I wrap the one end of the paper around a thin dowel and let dry.
Once dry I picked out a few of my garden photos that would go well with the paper, I printed them in a 2 by 3 inch size. Since I was going with a garden theme I thought it would be nice to attach a few flowers along the ribbon edge. I glued rhinestones in the center of each flower and of course that led to the addition of the bling around the edges of the top and bottom.
I stamped the white scroll with a linen background stamp in light green and overstamped that with a French script in brown. After I attached my pictures, I added little tags with silver eyelets for the descriptions. (Again I did not want the scroll to be too thick.)
I then rolled the scroll and inserted it into the TPR, making sure the dowel caught in the bottom hole. I then carefully pulled the paper through the slit, placed the top on so that the dowel caught the center hole and glued the top on. The second dowel was then glued on the paper end so that the scroll could be pulled out. I then added my title to the outside of the TPR with rub on letters.
The whole process including drying time was only about 2 or 3 hours once I got started.
|
from the D.O. (director of operations)
|
|
 Hi All,
Just a few reminders about the inspired. Artist Workshop.
First off, we are still offering a payment plan to help those on a budget. All you need to do is make a deposit to hold your registration and then make a couple monthly payments. Please contact me if your interested in setting up a your own personal payment plan.
Please don't forget to reserve you room at the resort as soon as possible. Also, please be sure to use the event code "mga" to receive the event discount.
We have started a yahoo group for the event. The group is for everyone who has registered for the event or will be registering. This is perfect way to get to know some of the fellow students attending, participate in lots of discussion, swaps and all around excitement shared as we get closer to this event. Come and join the fun!
Also please don't forget to invite the man in your life to the event. While you are attending the workshops, there will be plenty of things for the guys to do. We will be organizing golf outings, tours of the speedway, and etc.
I hope to see you in April!
Thank You,
Bill
bill@donnadowney.com
phone: 704-875-0971
|
|
|
|
|
