Sunday, December 29, 2019

Evergreen Woodland

Hello friends,

It has been such a long time since I've posted on my blog!  If you follow Donna's Designs, I do post from time to time on Facebook and Instagram.  Today I have an evergreen themed card I created layering digital images.  Although I love stamping sometimes I can achieve a much better result with digital imaging.  


This card truly represents how I decorate my home for Christmas.  You will find snowy trees, reindeer, silver decorations and evergreens.  I like to keep the decorations out until mid-January since winter is still upon us.


A peek at the inside shows a snow covered deer among evergreen trees.


I hope everyone had a wonderful and memorable Christmas!  Pippin received a few new toys that he just adores.








Stamps:  Digital Images by Isabelle Salem
Paper:  Fresh Air, Bordering Blue, Shimmery White  
Ink:  Bordering Blue
Accessories:  1/4" Organdy White Ribbon, Spellbinders Small Petite Ovals #2, Large Petite Ovals #2  
Technique:  Sponging, Spritzing
Card Size:  A2 (4.25" x 5.5")  

Sunday, May 12, 2019

The Mother's Day Box 2019

Hey friends!

A big shout out to all the beautiful mothers out there on Mother's Day!  I hope you are having a wonderful day.

I wanted to share with you the Mother's Day boxes I put together this year.



This collection included some of my favorite items, such as an 8 oz. Wildflowers candle by Antique Candle Co.  Wildflowers smells like a freshly picked bouquet of lilacs, pansies, sunflowers and lilies, with soft notes of sweet orange musk.  


There was a full size Grapefruit & Blood Orange Hand & Body Lotion by The Cottage Greenhouse.  This lotion is bursting with orchard-ripe plant & herb essences, which is loaded with Vitamin C & B5.  I love that this enriched lotion is light and absorbs quickly.  It's also Paraben Free / Gluten Free / Vegan / Never Animal Tested  



A farmhouse style tea towel with a Fresh Flower Market Graphic by Returning Grace Designs.  This towel is 28" x 28" and makes such a pretty Mother's Day gift.



Everything was hand packed in a pink box.  A lovely curated collection to gift to someone special.


Also, included in a few of the boxes was a faux Rosemary plant in a vintage-style galvanized pot by Lemon Leaf Market.  Love the garden marker signs!   

  
However you celebrate your Mother's Day, I hope you cherish the time spent together with family and create some wonderful memories.

Sunday, May 5, 2019

Decisions ... Decisions

Hey friends!

I labeled this post decisions because I am such an indecisive person.  Several weeks ago, I was reading some blogs and thought these are "so pretty and I like the layouts."  Well, they were WordPress blogs - it got me thinking, perhaps I should switch platforms.  After doing my research I decided I would stay on Blogger.  I really didn't want to pay for hosting and wasn't familiar enough with WordPress to be able to switch over my feeds and so forth.

Since I had "blogs" on my mind I thought maybe I would create a new blog design and switch over to a 2-column format.  The ultimate goal was to be able to post larger images.  My mind was immediately swirling with so many ideas.  As I started to create a new blog header, I found myself constantly changing the design.  My first thought was a clean modern look with a minimalist design.  Soon I had three different designs, but none of them "spoke to me", but it was finally time to start the testing process.  Once I had my new template installed with all my gadgets & widgets set up I exported the data from my old blog, then uploaded it to the new one.  I then had an OMG moment!  All the posts imported fine, but every photo was so blurry you couldn't even make out the images.  I knew this could possibly happen since my left sidebar would be larger in the new template.  I played around with it for a while ... long while, but the only fix would have been to delete the images from 900+ posts and re-insert them  :-(


Ok, so I put that issue aside and forged ahead.  Within a few minutes I realized some of the coding from my original blog was also pulled over to the new template.  At this point, I realized I can't import any information.  I would literally have to start a new blog from scratch with no content.  Among all this design stuff, my husband asked me again, "Why are you creating a new blog?"  My response was "I want my images to look a little bigger."  I knew I had to take a step back - I was becoming too frustrated.  Just the thought of having to create all new social media icons and banners was weighing on me.  I couldn't even settle on a color!  I know - design is supposed to be fun, right?


Saturday morning I woke up, made a cup of coffee and sat in front of my desktop.  As soon as I opened my blog I immediately thought "I really do love this design."  I could never re-create the feeling I get when I see this.  It was at that moment I decided to abandon the idea of a new blog.  I sipped my coffee and thought all I need to do is make a few changes.  I went to work creating a navigation bar, updating some coding, cleaning up the sidebars and adding a few new designs.  It's a work in progress.  If you had any suggestions, please let me know.


Although my images may not be as large as I would like them to be, I have "fallen in love" again with my blog.  Over time everything comes back in style so perhaps one day 3-column blogs will make a comeback ... LOL!

Blessings,

Saturday, April 13, 2019

Antique Candle Co.

Hello friends,

A while back I had posted about how I decided to switch from paraffin candles to soy and today I would like to share with you why I chose Antique Candle Co.

Antique Candle Co. (previously Antique Candle Works) offers high quality, artisan candles made from natural, domestically grown soy beans without any dyes.  Soy wax is non-toxic, eco-friendly, renewable and water soluble.  Did you know soy candles last longer?  They burn at a slower rate and can last almost 30-50% longer than a paraffin candle - Woo hoo!

I have discovered soy candles burn much cleaner without carcinogens and pollutants.  Antique Candle Co. uses cotton wicks for a clean and even burn.

Another beautiful thing about soy candles is their natural off-white color.  The raw color of this wax blends with any decor.  Antique Candle Co. offers their candles in a wonderful mason jar with a vintage style metal lid.  Can you say farmhouse?

Country Pear by Cotton Stem

Now it's all about the fragrance, right?  Well, Antique Candle Co. has spent countless hours blending each product with their signature fragrance combinations.  Every step of the process is carefully handcrafted in house by their team of candle chemists.  Each unique scent is incredible.  A few of my favorites are Country Pear by Cotton Stem, Wildflowers and Sweet Lemon.

Wildflowers


Sweet Lemon

Brittany, owner of Antique Candle Co., is passionate about what she does.  You will be amazed when your candles arrive and how beautiful their packaging is.  Each mason jar will come in its own box, including the wax melts.  You will also receive an adorable muslin bag hand stamped with the Antique Candle Co. logo.

Happy Mail!
Look at all the wonderful smelling scents!


I am totally obsessed with Country Pear by Cotton Stem.  This luscious fragrance is unbelievable!  It truly is a timeless scent perfect for every season.  I loved it so much I bought several jars for my friends.

As part of my gift giving, I created the cute candle tags for each jar.


These candles will have you swooning my friends ...

Thank you for stopping to visit me!

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Paris in the Spring Time

Bonjour,

Today I am taking you for a journey to Paris.  Doesn't that sound exciting?  There's nothing like the romance of Paris in the springtime.


I've started with a base card in natural white linen then ran a piece of parchment shell paper through the Big Shot using a Spellbinders Timeless Rectangle #4 die.  The image was stamped in StazOn Black on Very Vanilla and mounted to a piece of Early Espresso.  


The flowers were colored using Blushing Bride & Pretty in Pink inks with a blender pen.  The leaves were done with Prismacolor pencils.  A clear Spica pen adds sparkle to each blossom with a pink pearl in the center of each one.


Using the Beautiful Wings embosslits die, I cut two little butterflies and covered them with Angel Wings Shimmerz Paint.  The card was finished with a pretty cherry blossom bow and pink ice brad.


So what do you think?  Does it make you want to go to Paris?








Stamps:  Stampendous I Love Paris
Paper:  Natural White Linen, Specialty Paper Parchment Shell, Early Espresso, Blushing Bride, Very Vanilla
Ink:  Image - Stazon Black; Flowers - Blushing Bride & Pretty in Pink; Leaves - Prismacolor Pencils
Accessories:  3/8" Cherry Blossom Ribbon, Kaisercraft Pink Ice Brad, Basic Grey Opaline Pearls in Blush, Clear Spica Pen, Angel Wings Shimmerz Paint, Gamsol, Spellbinders Timeless Rectangle #4 Die, Blender Pen, Bow-Easy
Technique:  Blender Pen, Colored Pencils   
Card Size:  4 1/2" x 6 1/4"

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

A Fleuriste Newsprint

Howdy, 

Fleuriste Newsprint by JustRite Stamps is a beautiful background stamp I have had for years and finally inked it up.  Yes my friends, un-inked stamps - guilty as charged!


The image was stamped in StazOn Stone Gray on Shimmery White paper.  I started sponging the background in Distress Shabby Shutters and then added VersaMagic Niagara Mist.  Nothing too fancy - I just went with it.


Butterflies were also stamped in StazOn Stone Gray and sponged in Brilliance Pearlescent Purple.  They were cut out by hand before adding Star Dust Stickles.


I wrapped some pretty orchid seam binding around the front of the card and made a triple loop bow.  A Stampin' Up antique brad accents the center.  These have always been one of my favorite items.


Here's a peek at the inside using the Spellbinders Decorative Labels Eight die.  I stamped another coordinating butterfly.


If you ever have any questions about one of my creations, please feel free to email me.

Donna's Designs is also on Facebook and Instagram.








Stamps:  JustRite Fleuriste Newsprint, Impression Obsession Faith Wings, JustRite Fleur De Lis Labels Twenty
Paper:  Old Lace, Recollections Purple Passion, Very Vanilla, Shimmery White
Ink:  Images & Sentiment - StazOn Stone Gray; Sponging - Distress Shabby Shutters & VersaMagic Niagara Mist; Butterflies - Brilliance Pearlescent Purple; Doily Accent - Brilliance Pearlescent Beige
Accessories:  Bluebird Lane Orchid Seam Binding, SU Antique Brad, Star Dust Stickles, Kaiser Rhinestones in Wine, Spellbinders Floral Doily Accent, Spellbinders Decorative Labels Eight #3, Edge Distresser, Bow-Easy
Technique:  Sponging
Card Size:  A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Valentine's Day En Francais

Hello blogging friends,

I have a Valentine's Day card to share with you today.  Do you remember as a kid making homemade Valentine's Day cards to pass out at school and the nostalgic feeling you had?  This is exactly how I felt creating this one.


When it comes to Valentine's Day I always think of something vintage, old, pink and nostalgic.  

I started with a Natural White Linen card base with a layer of Primrose Petals.  The floral paper is by K & Company.  The pocket heart design I saw on SCS and added the pretty gold metal flourish to the bottom of it.  Before folding the paper, I stamped the script background in Versamark and embossed it with gold embossing powder.  Sponging was then done in Distress Antique Linen & Soft Suede.  The inner heart was cut from a Spellbinders Classic Heart #5 die and embossed using a Craft Concepts Budding Vine embossing folder.

A piece of vintage seam binding with a heart brad finish it off!


The inside sentiment was also stamped in VersaMark and embossed with gold embossing powder.  Distress Walnut Stain was used to stamp the key.


Sending you sweet wishes ...








Stamps:  SU En Francais, Key to My Heart, PSX Valentine's Day
Paper:  Natural White Linen, Primrose Petals, K & Company Ancestry.com Designer Paper, Blushing Bride, Very Vanilla
Ink:  VersaMark with Gold EP; Sponging - Distress Antique Linen & Soft Suede, Distress Walnut Stain    
Accessories:  Cream Seam Binding, Making Memories Je t'Adore Heart Brad, Gold Metal Flourish (from my stash), Spellbinders Classic Heart #5 Die, SCS Heart Template, Craft Concepts Budding Vine Embossing Folder, Bow-Easy
Technique:  Embossing, Sponging
Card Size:  A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Saturday, January 26, 2019

River Garden Studio

Happy Saturday!

During the cold, gloomy winter months I find myself craving greenery.  Perhaps that is a sign of a true gardener.

So today we headed to the River Garden Studio.  This is a quaint nature inspired shop located in the shopping district.  Would you like to come along for a tour?


As soon as I walked in my mood completely changed.  The aroma of evergreens and fresh cut pines just brought me back to the holiday season.


Pretty tropical plants and palms were everywhere.



Look at this gorgeous Silver Queen plant!  It doesn't even look real.


They had a beautiful display of air plants in hanging glass terrariums.


I love these tree trunk containers - perfect for that farmhouse look.


Barr-Co soaps in different scents.  The Fir & Grapefruit has a citrus smell so fresh and crisp.


I literally wanted one of everything and didn't want to leave.  I'm even more anxious now for spring to arrive.

Have a fabulous weekend my friends!