Love is All - Mixed Media Canvas - Donna Salazar Designs

Hi everyone!

I've been having lots of fun with little canvases lately!  Here's one I've had the background just waiting for some decoration to finish it off.   I think that's one of the fab things about Mixed Media work, you can play and get messy creating backgrounds, and finish them later when the mood comes to you.

This is a little 4x6 hard back canvas, I added the background heart and love word using Donna's Love Stencil from Want 2 Scrap.  I just positioned the stencil and applied modelling paste, then set it aside to dry.

Next I cut a whole pile of hearts from canvas and adhered these, and it was then that I added the colour.  For this one I've used River Mossy, Ice Rink, Wood Stain and Mossy Mist Smooch Spritz.

The butterfly was cut with Donna's Wonderful Wings Die by Spellbinders, then overlaid with matching Bling from Want 2 Scrap.   Then I cut lots of flowers using Donna's Bitty Blossoms Die, with matching papers from her 6x6 Natural Beauty and Family Jeans Paper Pads.  Once rolled up, I touched the edges with Clearsnap Glue Gloss and then dusted them with Clearsnap Fairy Dust Glitter.  The flowers were finished off with Pearl centres from Want 2 Scrap.

Thanks for stopping by today!  Until next time, take care of you!

www.mistrabutterfly.blogspot.com

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Break Free - Mixed Media Canvas - Donna Salazar Designs

Hi lovelies!

I've had this background ready for months, it was just needing the right words to go with it, and they finally came!  All it needed was the butterfly to go with it and it was finished.

It's only 4x4 inches, so very little... but Donna's small Brick Stencil from Want 2 Scrap was the perfect size.  The main word in the title was made using GCD's Chipboard Alpha Stickers, which were touched with Peridot Mix'd Media Inx and then coated with Fairy Dust Glitter.  The rest of the title was clicked out using my Dymo Caption Maker.

The butterfly was cut out of canvas with Donna's Wonderful Wings Die from Spellbinders... with my love of butterflies I'd be lost without this one!  It was coloured with Peridot Mix'd Media Inx and then  once dried I finished it with some matching Bling from Want 2 Scrap.

I have a step by step tutorial in PDF format on how I created the background for this one HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you are inspired to give the background a go, it's very simple and lots of fun!

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Girly Grunge Sketch-n-Color Challenge - January

Hi everyone!

Donna is kicking of the New Year with a New Challenge for our Donna Salazar Design fans - Girly Grunge Sketch-n-Color.

Pretty much it is how it sounds, a sketch challenge, with a colour palette!

Each month we'll give you a new sketch and 3 colours you need to use.  We've based the colors on Donna's Mix'd Media Inx to make it nice and easy!  

Pop over to Donna's post HERE for the rules and to see the prize up for grabs this month!

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Balance - Mixed Media Canvas - Donna Salazar Designs

Hi everyone!

I found a canvas in the boot of my car the other day {it's pretty scary in there, I'm always losing things} and I loved the long shape of this one, it was just enough to spark my mixed media mojo back into action!  And so I grabbed out all my mediums, my fave Donna Salazar goodies and played... here's the result!

I ripped up some papers from Donna's Natural Beauty collection and glued them to the canvas, and then overlaid some torn and scrunched up dictionary papers from Donna's Mix'd Media Stax 2 and glued these down also to create a collage style background.  

Next I adhered an old doily and a couple of chipboard shapes from Want 2 Scrap, then using Donna's large Heart Stencil from Want 2 Scrap created the heart patterns in the top left and bottom right corners.  I also added some interesting texture mediums I have, such as resin sand and opaque flakes.

Once dried, I then spritzed on the colour, River Mossy and Ice Rink Smooch Spritz as well as some Peaches Mix'd Media Ink straight from the refill bottle.  I sprayed it all with water to allow the colours to run.  To help highlight the textures further I added some platinum metallic rub over the canvas.  Then it was time to embellish!!

The title was added using GCD Chipboard Alpha Stickers and some printed text. The colour was added using Mix'd Media Inx and softened by spraying lightly with water.

I cut and rolled some bitty blossoms using various papers from Donna's 6x6 paper pads. The flower petals were touched with Glue Gloss and then sprinkled with Fairy Dust Glitter for added shimmer!

I also cut a butterfly from with Donna's Wonderful Wings die, and overlaid it with some Wonderful Wings Bling from Want 2 Scrap.  I scattered some glass pebbles through the canvas and finished it all off with a matching satin bow.

Thanks for stopping by today!  Until next time take care of you!

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Sweet Girl - Donna Salazar Designs

My god-daughter popped in to visit on her way to and from visiting her mum.  She's growing into such a lovely young lady, we always think of her as our sweet girl!

I loved using the cute pastel colours when we did last month's challenge at Scrap Around the World, so I've used them again here. And also being inspired to use sketches again, I chose one from Pagemaps for this one...

And yes... I used a banner, but it was cute here, and the little Diecuts that match the Family Jeans collections were sooo perfect for it!

With so many patterns and layers for this one, I just used a few small flowers to embellish it.  I used some gauze to soften the layers, tucked in some snippets of crochet lace and added some hand stitching.

The 'Sweet' title is cut from the cut out sheet that comes with the Family Jeans 12x12 Paper Pad.  I really am loving using these lately, they are easy and convenient, and obviously match perfectly!

Thanks for stopping by today, I hope you liked this sweet little layout - I really am having fun with these softer colours, stepping outside my comfort zone of neutral tones!

 
Follow my blog with Bloglovin     DSD Products used:   GCD Studios - Family Jeans 12x12 Paper Pad GCD Studios - Mix'd Media Stax 2 GCD Studios - Family Jeans Die-cut Shapes Also used: Gauze, Bakers Twine, Paper Flowers White Self Adhesive Lace Trim DMC Perle Embroidery Thread Polaroid Frame, White Shipping Tag Font: Special Elite   Sketch: Pagemaps March 2013

Here and Now - Donna Salazar Designs

Hi lovelies!  I have another layout to share with you all today.  This one was so much fun, I think it helps that I have a kooky son to inspire me!

I have used Donna's Natural Beauty papers for this one, with some little cut out clouds from the Fun and Funky Paper Pad.  These little clouds are so darn cute!  I originally had the little 2x2 photos placed square in the squares... I lifted the layout up to hunt for something I'd lost underneath {as you do} and the photos shifted... and I preferred the look, it suits the silly photos!  Love little 'accidents' like that, the ones that are meant to happen.   

All the paper layers were distressed with the Distrezz-It-All, it's become my new best friend again - the poor thing was sadly neglected for a little while {I stole it's power point for something else}, but no longer!

I've made some flowers using Donna's Bitty Blossoms die.  They make just the right sized flowers for clustering.  Tracey has a fabulous little step by step on how she makes the Bitty Blossoms > HERE.  I'm still learning to perfect my method on these ones, I keep trying different ways, but Tracey has them just perfect!

I've hand cut out the title and clouds and used them as embellishments on the page...

... and have popped in some pearls into the flower centers, with a few scattered near the clusters.

Thanks for stopping by today, see you again soon!

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DSD Products used:

GCD Studios - Natural Beauty 12x12 Paper Pad

GCD Studios - Natural Beauty Cut Out Sheet {Here and Now}

GCD Studios - Fun and Funky Cut Out Sheet {Clouds}

GCD Studios - Mix'd Media Stax 2

Clearsnap Mix'd Media Inx - Stormy

Want 2 Scrap Self Adhesive Pearls - LeCreme

Spellbinders Bitty Blossoms Die

Also used:

Tab Punch, Shipping Tag

DMC Perle Embroider Thread

Sketch: Pagemaps November 2013

     

Be Happy Card - Donna Salazar Designs

Hi lovelies!  I thought I'd have a go at creating a card to share with you today.  I've always said "I don't 'do' cards", but I can... it's more that most of my cards need to be wrapped and not posted because they end up so thick. 

This was such fun to create.  I used one of Donna's 6x6 Paper Pads for the papers here, to cut the flowers and created the layered background. They are the perfect size for cards.  For this one I used papers from the Fun and Funky range.  I love the cutout sheets, the little people are so cute! 

This range is lots of fun, it's got funky brights and patterns on one side, and more neutral tones of the reverse - making it very versatile. I've distressed the edges with my Distrezz-It-All, it's the only thing that gives those fabulously distressed edges!  As always, little denim offcuts go so well with Donna's papers, here I've cut a little tab from some Denim using Donna's Creative Page Tab Dies.  I frayed the edges and given it a little spritz of colour using Caramel Latte and Sea Breeze Smooch Spritz.

I've then created some handmade flowers!  The larger one uses layers of Fun & Funky papers as well as some Crafty Chronicle pages.  It was cut with the Rose Creations Die and I used my Wild Rose technique, but with a whole lot more layers!  All the little ones were cut using the Bitty Blossoms die - so cute!  I've used some sweet Denim coloured pearls in the centre of the Bitty Blossoms, and then scattered some across the card.

I also used some cute little laser cut corrugated swirls, these I gave a quick spray with Flat White Spray paint.  Then to finish it off I cut out a title and the 3 little people from the Fun and Funky 12x12 Paper Pad CutOut sheet... too easy!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin     DSD Products used:   GCD Studios - Fun and Funky 6x6 Paper Pad GCD Studios - Fun and Funky 12x12 Cut Out Sheet GCD Studios - Crafty Chronicle 2   Clearsnap Smooch Spritz - Caramel Latte, Sea Breeze Clearsnap Mix'd Media Inx - Jasmine   Spellbinders Rose Creations Die Spellbinders Bitty Blossoms Die Spellbinders Creative Page Tabs Die Want 2 Scrap ATC Denim Want 2 Scrap Self Adhesive Pearls - Steel Blue Want 2 Scrap Card Size Hand Drawn Swirls - Corrugated Zutter Distrezz-It-All

Spellbinders Grand Calibur

     
   

Precious - Donna Salazar Designs

Hi everyone!  Today I have a simple little layout to share with you, all in lovely blue/grey tones.  These are my parents, they've known each other since they were 5 years old... that's quite precious!

Today I have used papers from Donna's Natural Beauty collection.  I love the blue grey tones in this set, so lovely!   The paper edges were distressed with the Distrezz-It-All, making what would be a clean neat layout just that little bit grungier.  It adds such wonderful visual texture to the layers, without adding too much bulk or weight.

 

Instead of making flowers for this, I've hand cut a few love hearts from some canvas and spritzed them randomly with Sea Breeze and Ice Rink Smooch Spritz.

 

I've added some little 'sparklets' to add a little random bling to the page. 

The "precious" was cut from the Family Jeans cut out sheet and used as the base for a title - it's so handy that a lot of Donna's collections can work seamlessly with other collections!

Thanks so much for popping in today!!

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DSD Products used:

GCD Studios - Natural Beauty 12x12 Paper Pad

GCD Studios - Family Jeans CutOut Sheet

Clearsnap Smooch Spritz - Sea Breeze, Ice Rink

Clearsnap Mix'd Media Inx - Patina, Stormy

Want 2 Scrap 8x8 Canvas Sheets

Also used:

Dymo Label Maker, Tab Punch

Pearl/Rhinestone Strip

Kaiser Sparklets

DMC Perle Embroidery Thread

Sketch: Pagemaps October 2013 

   

Random Ramblings - Gratitude

Ok so... I've not had a chatter with you all lately, it could be that nothing random has happened lately? But that's not so true - there's always something happening! I think I've just been busy... between finishing up with a couple of DT's, helping with some blog work, working full time, hurting my back {sigh}, trying to play, having guests, seeing my sis and in between all that doing absolutely nothing at all {sleep} I've been a busy girl! Oh my, yeah I have been busy... take a breath Missy.

Reducing my DT commitments was supposed to ease up the pressure on my life... it didn't work yet, but then it has been filled up with the things I was hoping it would be - living!  Another reason is I've been struggling to put on my 'happy journal face' - that's the face you put on to journal {or ramble as the case is here} when you want to document your life, but at the time life is in fact pretty shitty.  Right now, there's a whole pile of crap happening... but I am fighting daily to not let it take me over completely.  And, putting on that 'happy journal face' does help, it really does.  It shows yourself that there are wonderful, beautiful things happening - no matter who is trying to bring you down.  It helps you remain grateful for things that are right, and there's lots of those little things if you look for them.

Okay, so lets talk about some of the big things:

Finishing up DT's: 

Yep, I never thought I'd need or have to do it but I stepped down from Green Tara and Dusty Attic in September, and have just published my final posts for Green Tara last week.  It was difficult to make the choice, it was so hard to let them go... being a part of both The Dusty Attic and Green Tara meant the world to me and I was so proud and grateful to be a part of both teams. You know how you think you'll have that big sigh of relief when you're no longer worrying about letting people down {because I have been running around chasing my tail since March}... well that didn't happen, instead the sense of loss was a huge shock to me, I wasn't quite prepared for it.  Or the feeling of "OMG what have I done" when you meet people you've inspired from your work through these companies and they thank you and compliment you, and I've let them go, by choice... am I crazy?! You have feelings of "will I lose my identity as a scrapper", "will what I do matter anymore" and other just as silly feelings.  You have to focus back on why you did it... to try and keep your head above water, concentrate on your family who need you, relax a bit and have some fun.  I am still with Donna Salazar and still do work for Australian Scrapbook Ideas, and will be back teaching at Tomorrow's... but the workload has reduced enough now for me to not have to scrap every weekend, allowing time for it to become a hobby again instead of a job and allowing me to spend that precious extra time with my family, because they are what matter most.

Work:

Well work is work... but I'm lucky I have a great job though, with a great company.  I've been there for 26 years all up now, that's quite a while!  But work is good and most days I enjoy it - I am enjoying being upstairs on my own little quiet office, sometimes it's a little too quiet though LOL.

My Back:

Yeah... that wasn't fun.  I did a whole pile of spring cleaning and pinched my Sciatic a few weeks ago.  Ended up with a week off work and was bored senseless.  There's nothing worse than being at home and not being able to do a thing, and I was too medicated to do anything but sleep.  The frustrating thing with sciatic is it's best to not always lie down - so I had to continually change positions, but then I kept falling asleep from the meds, couldn't win LOL.  Because of it I also missed going to a retreat I was looking forward to.  I tried so hard to get there... I had the car packed {took me 2 hours to pack it}, I got in, drove to the highway and had to turn around and come home. Sad case!  But it's much better now, can even wear my heels to work again, so I'm thankful all that is mended!


Play Time:
This was a struggle the last few months.  I think I was simply overwhelmed with everything, re-adjusting to not being under so much pressure, or adjusting to pressures from other avenues perhaps.  But this last weekend I've had a ball, got my groove back and just played.  I caught up with a few of the girls at Tomorrow's on Sunday, I just took my DSD papers and dies and cut out Bitty Blossoms and Rose Creations petals, and chattered and relaxed... and it was wonderful.  I'm feeling rejuvenated.  Perhaps because we had a snippet of good news last week, perhaps just because it was time to stop hiding away and feeling sorry for myself... who knows, so long as I'm feeling less stressed, that's all that matters right?!

I have been having fun though with my Project Life pages.  They've evolved into simple clean pages - I'm still surprised they haven't ended up packed full of bits and layers! It's also morphing into more of a personal journal for me, which I'm pretty fine with for now.  As a family we are quiet - we don't go out much, and when others come over, we spend time enjoying them, not taking photos.  I'm the most social in the family, I'm the one who takes the photos and I'm the one who tells the story, so I guess it's natural for my Project Life to come more from my perspectives.  This year is still practice for me, to see what works and what approach I want to start the new year with.  I'm thinking I'll also create a Gratitude album as well... I have the cute "Just Add Colour" Kit that was designed for Instagram Prints, so I think that will be a side project for me - Project Gratitude?! Just something to help us cultivate a better life for us next year, once we are through the dramas that this year came with.

The Home Front:
We've had some guests again... we had our god-daughter visit, she's family - but she's still a guest.  Even though we only had her with us a few days, it was just so wonderful to see her and spend some one on one girl time with her.  In-between my sister has popped in to see us, as well as mum and dad, again, family, but guests enough for us!  We love having people we love come to visit, always have.  Our house is definitely not a show home; it's a well used, very lived in home, but it scrubs up ok when we put the effort in and our doors are always open to our friends and loved ones.  Shamefully it was neglected somewhat the last year and a half.  I know having someone live with us who didn't lift a finger to help contributed towards that, but I also have to take into account my general exhaustion, a touch of melancholy, Darren's depression growing worse... so many factors, and now trying to get it back to perfect is really hard.  But it's starting to shine again now, just bit by bit - one day each weekend I go into "ninja tidy up an area mode" and it's happening.  It'll get there again, de-cluttering will help that.  We really have so much 'stuff' and that doesn't help things either LOL.  There's a bulk refuse collection at the end of the year, we'll take advantage of that for sure this time - if it has no purpose it needs to go bye-byes!  That's going to get hard when it comes to sentimental things, both my hubby and I are shockers for sentiment {you know, like the scary Egyptian style cat statue that you'd never buy now, but because you bought it at a swap meet when you first met it's sentimental and can't be parted with}.  I think we'll need to form a plan of attack.  Perhaps it needs to tick at least 2 out of 3 'reasons' to stay... hmmm, any suggestions?


And that's about it, up to date with the happenings in my little world...

When I started writing this one, I had no direction to what it was all about, but a common element came to the forefront - gratitude... 

 And so, right now I am feeling a bit happier, feeling much gratitude for the wonderful opportunities I've had in my creative life, feeling tremendously grateful for the beautiful souls I have in my life that care about me and mine {and those special few who are helping me learn to trust again}... and feeling a little bit blessed, even amongst the chaos that surrounds me.

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Donna Salazar Giveaways!

Hi everyone!! I just have to share this with you all. Donna Salazar has two fabulous giveaways going on right now. You all know how much I love her products, and here's a chance for you to win some for yourself!! 

First, Donna just started a new Youtube channel and would like you to subscribe, so she's having a Mega Prize Giveaway. All you need to do to enter is subscribe to her new Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/donnasalazar/videos She'll be giving this away in November, so head right on over to get your name in the hat for this fabulous prize package.

Just look at this prize package valued at more than $100.

The second giveaway is for her brand new Zutter Distrezz-it-All V3.0. This new Distrezz-it-All V3.0 works just the same as V2.0. The only changes are the power cord and color. Stop by Donna's blog and use Rafflecopter to enter as well as liking the Distrezz-it-All Facebook page. As soon as this page gets 2,000 likes, Donna will be drawing a winner. All the details can be found here. Be sure to watch Donna's Wednesday Webisodes Video demonstrating all the cool distressing techniques you can achieve with the Distrezz-it-All. It can be viewed here.

Zutter Distrezz-it-All V3.0

PS . . . be sure to watch the bloopers on Donna's videos. They are sure to bring a smile to your face as you see her goofs and her absolutely adorable grandson, Hunter. 

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