Hi there! My name is Donna and welcome to Donna's Designs!
I started stamping in Autumn of 2008. All my cards are handmade. For me creating cards is about more than just rubber stamps and ink - it's about sharing a part of yourself and your creativity with others. While I generally have some idea of what I want to do, the end product always surprises me! I am enjoying every moment of my creative journey.
As Donna's Designs branches out you will see my cards on various galleries. I'm also known as "Ocicat" on Splitcoaststampers. I hope you will be inspired to create something wonderful!
Those who know me know my love for Ocicats. Most people are in awe of the magnificent Ocicat. First contact with one of these spotted creatures will create a visual impact you will never forget. They shine with the exotic beauty of spotted cats from the wild! I am very fortunate to have a Fawn named Pippin. He is my friend, my soulmate, my loyal companion.
I would also like to share with you my passion for gardening. As you stroll through my gardens you will see a lot of native plants, which attract butterflies and hummingbirds. You will contemplate the ambiance from one of the many stone benches. Clematis and honeysuckle bushes overlook the all season perennials.
I hope you enjoy your tour and take in all the architectural elements I have incorporated into my gardens; whether it be the gazebo, arbor, tuteurs, trellises or the fountain, I'm sure you will find something you like.
Autumn is my favorite time of year! There is nothing more spectacular than seeing my Virginia sweetspire, fothergilla, burning bush, sumac and maples turn brilliant colors. My asters, chrysanthemums, goldenrod, and helenium all come alive.
As I journey through life, I also want to share with you my experience with essential oils, aromatherapy and homemade DIY recipes. If you've ever crushed a spearmint leaf in your hand or enjoyed the scent of your hands after peeling an orange, you have already experienced the power of essential oils. They are highly concentrated, aromatic essences derived from bark, leaves, stems, roots, flowers and fruit. Simply put - distilled plants in a bottle. They are the plant's natural defense and protective mechanisms and are extracted through careful steam distillation and cold pressing.