Simple Stories // There's a new kit in town....

INTRODUCING....

Fabulous New Options – 6 all-new Simple Basics cardstock designs to coordinate with our delicious color palette and yummy vintage office prints -  plus an all new calendar sticker sheet perfect for creating your own calendar album or project!

Fresh New Designs – Super cute new icons, designs and patterns with that aged, distressed hand-made layered look to coordinate perfectly with our original Life Documented collection, but still lend a fresh, stylish look to your year-in-review albums, layouts and projects.

Fun New Ideas – All new signature elements, flash cards and sticker designs with a touch of vintage whimsy to help you to celebrate the seasons of your life....each month of the year!

 Our new Life Documented: Year-o-graphy collection will be shipping to scrapbook retailers the week of October 10...so you should be able to find it on store shelves and websites by the end of October! 

If you LOVE our Year.o.graphy collection...leave a comment over on the Simple Stories blog here to be entered to win the entire collection!  

And don't forget to swing on by our Facebook fan page for another chance to win - leave a comment on THIS blog post or our facebook fan page by October 6th, 2011.  We'll announce TWO lucky winners on Monday, October 10th!

Simple Stories // Are U Ready for a NEW Collection?!!!

We have something very fresh, fun and fabulous up our sleeves! 

Be sure to check back tomorrow, Thursday, September 29, 

for a very exciting introduction over on the Simple Stories Blog

until then we couldn't resist giving you a little taste of what's to come! 

YUMMY...don't you agree? :)

We {on the design team} have seen the entire NEW collection 

and it's another swoon-worthy collection!!!!

Here's a sneaky....

Bella Bella Bella!

Bella Blvd Design Team Artistas Intros 

have started this week over at the Bella Blvd blog!

We're a big, warm & fuzzy team & there are still more intros to come....

Mine is coming soon to the blog! :)

Be sure to check out all the fab talent coming to the team!

Plus, we're sharing up 5 tidbits of randomness about ourselves, just for fun! :)

paint. stitch. smooch.

Last weekend, I had a magical time in my art studio 

making a new project on fabric canvas.

After a sweet trip to the local Janome sewing shop 

{insert here my drooling over a needed upgrade in sewing machine}

come on, the owner called my Janome a "Hello Kitty"

imagine my look o_O

After I felt like punching her out {I don't "normally" have this behavior}, 

I'm generally sweet, kind, loving, RESPECTFUL, 

but this woman tried me with the "Oh" 

I noticed there IS a Janome called "Hello Kitty" 

but mine doesn't have the fru-fru on it like the kids version

I proceeded to justify WHY I have this version that goes something like...

{I never thought I would really sew, I just wanted something small, and useful but not too much, I don't see all the fancy switches, bells & whistles}

but all those words went out the window when my eyes cast upon the prize to be home with me one day :)

after spending some time with her & all the ooh-ahh's, 

I found one in the budget I want to spend 

so in a month, I'm thinking up.gradeeeeee. on order :)

{plus, my Hello Kitty needle hopped out of the holder "thankfully" AFTER I finished this project...whew...yeah, it was screaming "you have KILLED meeeee"}

Anyhoo, after getting a new sewing foot, some stablilizer, and other goodies...

I was TOO eager to get home & sew some altered pizazz.

I stayed up in the wee hours & just couldn't stop on this!

Here's the first sneak...

{no sewing yet}

and here's a coupla' peeks 

{with the sewing}

I'm MAJORLY addicted

{to say it mildly}

The full project will be shared up in a future post with fun details in the coming weeks.

So, stay tuned....

Donna Salazar Designs // New Beginnings Altered Journal

Hello all!!  

Wendy here with a technique project share using LOTS of new & fabulous product from Want2Scrap and NEW Donna Salazar Mix'd Media Inx along with Zutter Art Board.  I went WILD over these Inx when Donna first revealed them from her CHA summer '11 release!  

I want to give a HUGE shout out in THANKS to Want2Scrap because they super spoiled us on the design team in sponsoring lotsa' chipboard, pearls, bling, and just awesomeness!  So you'll also see lots of this being used in my project below!  LOTSA' layers, Crafty Chronicle, Zutter Art Canvas Board, vintage tissue dress patterns, resin flowers, stamps stamps, rubons...

Our design team theme this month was "change". I thought about changes in the season, in life, beautiful moments, bittersweet memories....I have many more things to add into this journal, just on my own whim, some personal journaling & randomness of thought & more play on artistic mediums.

"New Beginnings"

Altered Mini Journal

For the covers, I used the Zutter Art Canvas Board. Love this nice & sturdy canvas book board!  I tested it out with lots of different papers, stamps, inks, acrylic paints, Smooch Spritz, vintage tissue patterns, paints & Donna Salazar Mix'd Media Inx.  Let me tell ya', this board ready for all of these layers.

Now, how about some techniques & tidbits into this altered journal?

I prefer to use Ranger Glue N' Seal instead of Mod Podge of layering my papers onto the Zutter Art Canvas Board.  I randomly selected different papers & textures - vintage clothing patterns, ripped pieces from Crafty Chronicle, old dictionary, etc.  I just let my mind play onto the canvas because if I didn't like it at first I could just keep layering. :)  I even punched out some heart shapes and layered those in too.  

On one of the hearts I added a blush of color with the Donna Salazar Mix'd Media Inx.  These Inx pads are juicy with a nice soft chalk-like color.  

Technique: Donna Salazar Mix'd Media Inx & Bubble Wrap:  Donna Salazar Mix'd Media Inx also work really nice on bubble wrap.  You might have some of these packaging lying around your house.  I grabbed a piece & tested it with the Inx and just perfect!  Almost like acrylic paint, you gotta' try it!  These Inx are really nice because they are like a pigment ink to stay wet long enough for stamping, embossing, etc.

Technique:  Donna Salazar Mix'd Media Inx on Canvas Fabric & Lace -  Freehand some canvas fabric strips, Then, apply Inx "pad-to-fabric" dragging the pad along the fabric & lace. Spritz on some Smooch Spritz. Heat set a bit with a heat tool (since I live in quite humid temps in the South). :)  

The Donna Salazar Mix'd Media Inx are also perfect for adding a big of aging to the edges of the  Zutter Art Canvas Board.  

Technique:  Donna Salazar Mix'd Media Inx + Want2Scrap Chipboard -  You should check out all the awesome chipboard embellishments over at Want2Scrap.  So many possibilities to use with the Inx. You can also add a dash of Fairy Dust Glitter for some sparkle sparkle too!

Technique:  Donna Salazar Mix'd Media Inx + direct-to-paper -  Simply dragging the Inx along your paper to create this look.  Allow to dry.

Lovin' the Want2Scrap bling!  I embellished the gorgeous Donna Salazar Designs Antiquities papers with some bling bling. 

Here is the front & back cover using lots of Want2Scrap bling & pearls along with some more peeks into the journal.

So, hope you enjoyed these fun & trendy techniques!!

Supply List:

Paper - Donna Salazar Designs Antiquities (Vintage Gears, Theatre, Time for Tea, Journal Cards), Donna Salazar Designs (Trunk in the Attic), Crafty Chronicle

Zutter Art Canvas Board (5x7)

Ink - Donna Salazar Mix'd Media Inx (Jasmine, Chiffon, Peridot, Honey), Ink - Clearsnap

Fairy Dust Glitter (Sugar Shimmer)

Smooch Spritz (Vanilla Shimmer, Candle Glow, Mossy Mist, Tea Party, Wood Stain, Spun Sugar)

Glue Gloss - Clearsnap

Zutter Distrezz-It-All

Color Catcher by Clearsnap 

Zutter Corrugated Board

Other - Acrylic Paint - Liquitex, Plaid Folk Art, Rubons - 7 Gypsies, Kaisercraft, Tissue Tape - Tim Holtz, Glue N' Seal - Ranger, Vintage Sewing Patterns, Stamps - Unity, Prima, Stampers Anonymous, Studio Calico, myStampBOX, Sausan Designs, Resin Flowers - Prima, Floss - DMC, Mini Thread Spool - Maya Road, Mini Metal Hanger - Tim Holtz, Metal Circle Frame - K&Co, Metal Sprockets - Tim Holtz, Glitter Alpha - Recollections, Dewdrops - The Robin's Nest, Canvas Fabric - Local Craft Store, Lace - Local Antique Store, Mini Mirror - Local Craft Store, Pens - Faber Castell Pitt Pens, Binder Rings - Avery, Stencil - DecoArt, Thread - Gutermann, Wooden Bingo Number - Maya Road.

Sponsors: Want2Scrap - Pearls & Bling, Chipboard Sprightly Sprockets

Posted by Wendy Morris for Donna Salazar Designs.

Donna Salazar Designs // 2nd Sneak Upcoming Blog Post Tomorrow (9.25)

i think you're gonna' love this technique share coming up 

tomorrow (Sun) 9/25 on Donna Salazar Designs blog!!

oops....that's in just a few minutes...hehe :)

(well, maybe a tidbit longer since Donna is on the West coast) 

1st sneak posted here.

((hugs))

Saturday Art Studio Peek // New Project...

The start of a new project tonite...

lovin' Donna Salazar Mix'd Media Inx!! :D

Etsy Love [Saturday].

It's been awhile since I posted an Etsy Love feature

I thought it would be fun to share up some of my fav finds...

on Etsy.

cityscape prints.

and this ferris wheel print also by SketchAway

just steals my heart with the beautiful use pen, ink & watercolor.

pearls & vintage lockets.

color: olive green.

letterpress.

i'm always a fan.

classic & crisp.

color: purple.

this wool lace shawl. gorgeous.

in love with this print from tastesorangey.

they are ALL so breathless & magical.

my heart jumped

when i saw this 60's mod dress.

{with the red belt, of course}

gasp.

this 50's golden harvest cocktail dress.

pair it with a cardi, love.

this 60's cream lace blouse.

iNsPiReD.