• Art,  Mixed Media,  Tutorials and How to's,  Uncategorized

    Easy Bag Upcycle

    Do you have odds and ends, scraps of beauty, little pieces, bits and baubles in your art/craft area or studio?  If you’re like me, there are all those pretty bits that I have a difficult time saying goodbye to.  So, recently I washed a linen bag with a logo on it and when I took it out of the wash, the logo was gone.  I needed to add some loveliness to this comfortable bag of mine so I grabbed some beautiful pieces, made some fabric flowers, brought out some stamps, used some tacky glue and started to simply add some dimension and fun to my bag.  It’s my mixed media bag . . .…

  • Art Journaling,  Life,  Mixed Media,  Sketching,  Thoughts,  Uncategorized

    The Love of Wonder

    Oh how I love my journals.  They are my friends.  When I’m feeling down or happy, I love to create in them and often what is inside pours out onto the pages of my journals.  It was no different with this page I titled ‘Wonder’.  I thought I’d share and would encourage you to think about the following . . . What is wonder? 1 wonder play noun won·der \ˈwən-dər\ : something or someone that is very surprising, beautiful, amazing, etc. : a feeling caused by seeing something that is very surprising, beautiful, amazing, etc. : something that is surprising or hard to believe We can live busy lives and…

  • Art,  Mixed Media,  Sharing the Love - Giveaways,  Tutorials and How to's,  Uncategorized

    Donna Salazar & Friends Girlie Grunge Blog Hop

    Welcome.  Please be advised that I have received product from manufacturers and sponsors of this blog hop to create the projects highlighted below. Hello and welcome to the Donna Salazar & Friends Girlie Grunge Blog Hop! We’ve arranged this hop to showcase all the new and exciting products that have recently been released from both Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® and Spellbinders®. We are sure that you will enjoy the projects that all of us have created for you AND… we’ve got PRIZES!!! The Donna Salazar Designs Prize Pack has a Denim Art Journal, Girlie Grunge Twine, and Silver Pigment Powder from Donna Salazar with Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® and a Jumbo…

  • Uncategorized

    National Scrapbook Day Wrap Up and Giveaway

    Some of you probably celebrated the crafters holiday; National Scrapbook Day on May 7th. I hope it was filled with craft, art, color and friends.  I spent the day with a lovely group of ladies. I worked on some mixed media projects, shared some Fiskars love and I did my ‘Brave Girl’ make and take once again to introduce participants to the wonderful wOrleans of Brave Girl University. It was a blast. Check out the photos of the day as well as a little birthday celebration in the evening. I’d like to giveaway a kit to make your own little Brave Girl’ complete with a couple of vintage paper dolls, a sheet of cute paper doll…

  • Life,  Mixed Media,  The Homestead,  Thoughts,  Uncategorized

    Be You. Bravely

    It’s been a while since my last post and for good reason.  I returned from Idaho and an amazing Brave Girl University teacher retreat.  Shortly after that on a Sunday night, I began to experience some internal bleeding and a lot of pain.  It landed me in the hospital for three days with ulcers and then rest for an additional four days after that.  So I’ve been a little MIA but I’ve been doing some extra resting and returning to normal. I wanted to share a few thoughts on Being You . . . Bravely.  I’ve been thinking on this often.  As many of you know, I have a teenage…

  • Uncategorized

    Off to Idaho For Some Brave Girl Warmth

    I’m leaving on a jet plane . . . to Idaho from some Brave Girl Warmth.  While the temps will drop from the 70’s in Cali to the 50’s (low of 20’s) in McCall, Idaho . . . there will be lots of warmth . . . warm hearts, warm friendship, warm comfort and more.  Myself and about 25 other Brave Girl University teachers and artists are headed to Idaho for a wonderful BGU teacher retreat.  I cannot wait to hug my Brave Girl Sisters; Kathy Wilkins, Melody Ross, and other sisters from past camps and meet new ones.  These are ladies that have been so precious and key in walking…

  • Life,  Thoughts,  Uncategorized

    Warmest Easter Greetings ~ Reminder of a New Beginning

    Easter brings such hope for new beginnings. Life can be amazing but it can also be so hard, difficult and so fragile. Easter reminds us of a new hope, a new beginning, a new life. I’M reminded of sweet memories as I sat on the piano bench with my mom next to me playing a precious hymn popular at Easter.  That sweet song . . . Because He lives.  Wishing you all a beautiful Easter and a reminder that there is HOPE for a new beginning.

  • Art,  The Homestead,  Uncategorized

    DIY Decor Facelift ~ Using Your Stash

    I had a bit of down time today and chose to finally finish a couple projects.  This little metal sign was given to me with love. It was darling and had some rust (which I don’t mind). IT read, ‘Welcome to my Cottage.’ I wanted to make it more of a we sign. i love using things I have on hand and left over metal, fabric and chipboard letters are plentiful in my stash.  Just a quick idea to freshen things up. Paint over a sign or canvas that needs some refreshment and use your stash.  Here was the result.

  • Art Journaling,  Life,  Sketching,  Thoughts,  Uncategorized

    A Sketch A Day, Keeping Stress Away

    About a year ago as I showed up for my oncology and surgical checkups and noticed my blood pressure inching it’s way higher.  When we had a mandatory wellness check at work my blood pressure was extremely high and they sent me to my doctor. My ticker was good but bp wasn’t.  That explained the headaches too.  I’ve taken some steps to bring that bp down. I’m sure weight was sone to do with it but stress from the last three years (personally and physically) is also a major culprit.  One thing I am trying to make a habit of is doing is  create each day which seems to really relax me.  I had participated in a…

  • Life,  Uncategorized

    The Love of a Friend and Vintage Valentine Download

    Hello all, As we approach a day we celebrate love on February 14th, I just want to say thank you!  Thank you for the way you love me, love us, for the way you’ve supported, encouraged and moved us!  Thank you for the way you have stood by us as family and friends in valleys and in peaks!  Thank you for your love friend! Please see the following vintage Valentine images.  Feel free to make them your own (to use for personal use).  Enjoy and wishing all a day filled with love. “Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our…