• Art Journaling,  Life,  My Breast Cancer Journey,  Sketching,  Thoughts,  Uncategorized

    The Strength in Scars

    Scars . . . we all have them.  Some are visible, some not.  Some are emotional, burned onto our soul while others are there for the world to see.  Some are scars we just see.  Some we hide, some we can’t.  No matter, scars are reminders of where we have been, what we’ve endured and how we’ve made it out with the choice to tell our story. It’s been not quite 3 1/2 years since I had a double mastectomy due to a breast cancer diagnosis.  About a year after this major surgery and several surgeries after that, I endured some very deep emotional scars due to a tragedy that took place in our…

  • 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…

  • Art Journaling,  Artsy Adventures (Outings, Flea Marketing and More),  Life,  Mixed Media,  Sketching,  Uncategorized

    Up to Something Artsy

    It’s been a while since I’ve blogged.  One I was fighting off that nasty winter cold, family was in town for the holidays, boat parades, birthdays (my daughter turned 17 and my niece 2), and lots of other activities in between. But I’ve also got some fun artsy news.  I had a friend reach out to me and ask if I was interested in participating in a project called Sketchbook West.  Las Laguna Art Gallery in Laguna Beach hosted this fun project in 2015.  In our sketchbook we’d sketch,  paint,  and create in our smallish book.  From there we took some of the inspiration from our books and created larger pieces.  CHosea…

  • Art Journaling,  Artsy Adventures (Outings, Flea Marketing and More),  Mixed Media,  Thoughts,  Uncategorized

    A Mini Class, Laughter and Good Health

    Recently, I had the opportunity to spend some creative time with some of my dearest friends. It was impromptu and the special time we had priceless. When we get together sometimes I enjoy challenging or teaching them a mixed media or art journaling technique new to them. I had packed three erasers and some stamp carving tools. Each of them created the cutest stamp individual to them and which shared their personality. Tanya carved a bird, Sylvia a paintbrush and Mary a cool abstract shape.  I wanted to remember our mini class, the laughs and the blessing of these lovely ladies. These times are so good for the soul! Thus,…

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

    My Favorite Things Stencils ~ A Review and some Thoughts

    A while ago I was asked to review stencils from MFT Stamps. As you know, I love stencils . . . what mixed media gal wouldn’t.  So here are some honest thoughts about My Favorite Things stencils. Here are some images where I used the stencils.  Please see below the photos some tips and a review.   I found some fun patterns and had difficulty choosing just five.  Find them here.  One of my favorites I was sent was ‘Jumbled Letters’.  There are some great patterns to choose from. While I love the variety, I think it would be fun to see some randomness in the stencils.  Ie. Crooked hearts, not…

  • Art,  Mixed Media,  Uncategorized

    Angels ~ Christmas and Beyond

    ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’ . . . ‘Angels We Have Heard On High’ . . . ‘Sing Choirs of Angels, Sing in Exultation’ . . . and the list goes on.  Christmas is such a time we hear so much about angels.  While Angels are for every season, Angels are especially mentioned during Christmas.  Angels brought Good Tidings of Joy and the message of the Christmas season to Kings, the ordinary and mankind. I created a few angels a while back reminding me of the messages they share.  I’ve sold some and there are two left that I just listed in the Artsy Findings Store.  The two left are .…

  • Life,  Uncategorized

    Boutique for a Cause Part 2

    If you’re up for a fun event tomorrow . . . you will enjoy this wonderful festive venue.  It’s called Jingle and Mingle.  The morning starts with some goodies, some Christmas carols, comedian, sneak peek at the boutique, then the boutique (around 60 vendors) from 11 a.m . – 2 p.m.  You’ll enjoy all the food trucks as well! If you missed part 1 of a ‘Boutique for a Cause’ you can find it here. Here are a few other items I created for tomorrow . . . Hope to see you there!  

  • Art,  Artsy Adventures (Outings, Flea Marketing and More),  Jewelry,  My Breast Cancer Journey,  Uncategorized

    Boutique for a Cause

    tis’ the season.  I hope all had a lovely Thanksgiving.  I did although I have been struggling with a bug.  But I’ve been trying to push through it and I’m gearing up for a boutique that will be held at Voyager’s Church in Irvine on Saturday the 6th.  It will be a wonderful day of inspiration both while singing some carols and listening to a funny, lighthearted speaker.  I’m hoping I may be able to raise some funds so that our sweet girl can participate in a trip to Washington D.C., where her chorale group will compete as well as a trip to Costa Rica ~ she was chosen by…

  • Art,  Jewelry,  Leather Working and Chip Art,  Mixed Media,  Tutorials and How to's,  Uncategorized

    Right Now Monday – Ringing in the Season – Some Ideas from the Archives

    Hello all .  . . Right Now, on this Monday . . . I am thinking about the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday and Christmas.  I’m getting excited about some familiar traditions and new ones. I hope that you all enjoyed the 2014 annual Handmade Holiday Blog Hop.  What inspiration!  With that in mind . . . Thanksgiving is on the horizon and Christmas not too far off. Today I thought I’d share a few projects from the archives that might inspire you as you craft Christmas. Here’s s Joy wall hanging tutorial decor to ‘Deck Your Halls’ . . . This can be a gift for your Shabby Chic friend.  An…