A Painterlady's View

Journals on my site

I've added some handmade journals to my website. I'll be adding some hair flowers in the next few days...

  There is only one of each of these journals. 

You can find more info about each one HERE

Thanks for stopping by! Hugs ~D~
 
 
 
 

New $2.00 Project Sheets available

Hey everyone. I've added a couple $2.00 project sheets to the Girlfriends site. You can find them on the Girlfriends University page. These are two classes that I have been teaching recently but I have taught the last of my live classes and these are now available for YOU!

6 Christmas Cards and Box set

3 Ring Binder Calendar with 12 decorated monthly pages

I'll be adding some handmade items to my website, in case you are in the mood for some online Christmas Shopping. I'll keep adding new stuff as I make it.

Thanks for stopping by! hugs  ~D~

My new toy!

I just got a new die cut machine from Spellbinders. I've been die-cutting my flowers with the big industrial machine from Accu-Cut but when people ask me how they can die cut flowers at home, I don't have information on what works or doesn't. That is why I started looking at the different machines so that Icould give a first hand account using something that other crafters can buy for themselves.

The Spellbinder's machine RAWKS!!! it cuts, embosses and you can also use it as a stencil while the die is still on the piece you've die cut. I've been die cutting and embossing everything in site. My daughter even got all caught up in the frenzy and she has been playing with it too!

The machine comes with an instructional CD with basic to more creative techniques. There were some really cool examples made with a blue foam mat. They were able to get  AMAZING embossed texture from LACE and embellishments! That is gonna be my next purchase for SURE!

Oh yeah... another great thing... you can use their dies in other die cutting machines. They have info on their site: HERE and they have video tutorials on how to do it HERE:

I have more projects that I'm working on but here are my very first flowers...

The pictures above are my single layer flowers. The one on the left was made with their doily die and the one on the right with their nesting flower die.

The pictures above are my layered flowers (free video tutorial on how to make them HERE) The flower on the left is made with the doily die and the one on the right is made with the nesting scallop AND the most adorable leaf die (that will be used on ALL my flowers from now on).

I also used my new FAVE product  SMOOCH SPRITZ:

I've been using them in all my demos lately and everyone LOVES them!!! There is a TON of pigment in these cute little bottles so don't let their size fool you. A little goes a long way and the color is so RICH. Another really great thing about these is that your hands and work surface clean up easily!

I've used almost all the different misting products out there and have made my own for quite a while but, hands down, these are my favorite. And again... this is another product that I can refer people to when they ask and I dont' have to send them to the art supply store for gum arabic... lol. I'm so happy that I can stop making my own mists now!!! It was a really messy job.

I've added tissue scallops and more embellies to my website: HERE 

I'll be adding handmade items this weekend that will make great Christmas presents (examples below):

   
 
I'll post here when they've been added to the site.

Thanks for stopping by!  Hugs ~D~

Got the holiday spirit?

Why do I center my "holiday spirit" around food? I really LOVE food, not just the taste, preparation and the eating of it, but the sitting down to a meal with the family, talking about the day, laughing and joking. When the meal is warm home cooked stuffage... the conversation around the table seems different. I made this deep dish chicken pie the other night. I got the recipe from Better Homes and Gardens cook book (the recipe is doubled to make a dish this size... it is in a lasagne pan)

 This morning I had this:

 There is something about holiday inspired coffee creamer that helps usher in the holiday spirit. Right now that holiday spirit is telling me "OMG next week is Thanksgiving and Christmas is next month!!!" I'm so not ready!!!

Part of my "not readiness" is because I'm teaching and doing demos all over the place lately. I will be visiting my friend Elena at a Scrapbook Royalty charity event in the French Valley (near Temecula) on Saturday. I'll be doing a mini flower workshop for everyone. If you can get a one day croping pass it would be great fun to see you there! Then on Sunday I will be teaching the gated album that is shown at the end of the most recent girlfriend's video at The Pink Pineapple in Vista.

Thanks for stopping by! Hugs ~D~

New Girlfriends V-blog

We posted a new Girlfriend's V-blog today HERE. We give 6 random tips and announce our NEWEST venture... VIDEO CLASSES. My first video class will be for the Gated Album project below:

I am also teaching the Gated Album at The Pink Pineapple next Sunday(the 22nd). You can sign up and/or get more info by calling them: 760-598-2222.

I have a crazy busy schedule this weekend. I'll be teaching the Binder Calendar project below at The Scrapbook Garden on Saturday. You can sign up and/or get more info by calling them: 714-841-1801 

I'm teaching the ATC holder and cards project below at Pages From the Heart in Monrovia on Sunday. You can sign up and/or get more info by calling the store: 626-358-5334.

Monday I am teaching the Recipe Spinner project below at A-Z Scrapbooks in Torrance. You can sign up and/or get more info by calling the store: 310-792-5320.

I wanted to remind everyone that I have my signature vintage book scallops for sale on my website : www.donnasalazar.com. I'm also adding new product to the website before the end of this weekend. I'll be putting up hair flowers, tissue paper scallops, lace goodies, and more! I'll post to the blog when the new products are available.

Thanks for stopping by! Hugs ~D~

Girlfriends Gazette

Hi everyone,

For those of you who haven't heard, I author a FREE quarterly newsletter with my girlfriends, Leah Fung and Johanna Peterson. The first newsletter went out on October 1st. We are still taking new subscriptions daily. All you have to do is send an e-mail to donna@thegirlfriendsclub.net with the subject line "Newsletter" and your name in the body of the e-mail.

**IMPORTANT** Please add my e-mail address to your approved senders list so the e-mail won't be sent to your junk e-mail.

We are also hosting challenges every quarter and the theme this quarter is "Comfort". We would love to see projects, layouts, home decor, etc... with this theme. Each of the three of us will be picking our favorite submissions and if your project is chosen, you will be highlighted in our next newsletter! Just send a pic of your project (250kb-500kb) to donna@thegirlfriendsclub.net with the subject title "Comfort" to enter.

Tell your friends!

We have a prize to give away!

To enter into the contest for the prize shown above, have your friends send us an e-mail that says "your e-mail sent me" in the subject field (example: donna@thegirlfriendsclub sent me) The person who refers the most new subscriptions WINS! 

Thanks for stopping by! Hugs ~D~

Great article from Scrapbook Update

I 100% support the philosophy mentioned in this article. When I was coordinating the endorsed teacher program at my last company I set up partnerships with companies that manufacture liquid glue, dry adhesives, ink/paint, tools, etc... Though some companies are short sighted and don't realize the value in promotional partnering, especially with companies that manufacture complimentary products, I feel survival in these uncertain economic times requires it. I'm glad to now be working with companies that feel the same as I do!

 

Great article Lain!

 

Please follow the link below to read article.

 

 

Social Media and its Impact on the Scrapbooking Industry

Thanks for stopping by! Hugs ~D~

New Video

We've posted a new video on the Girlfriend's blog. I show the newly updated version of my signature paper flowers. We make them in layers!

I've also added the vintage scallops & flowers for purchase on my website: HERE

15 Large Scallops for $5 (plus shipping) 

20 flowers (10 Medium & 10 Small) for $5 (plus shipping)

I will be adding more unique embellies to my site in the very near future so keep checking back!

Thanks for stopping by! Hugs ~D~

Comfort Food

 
During the holidays one of my favorite things to do is to come up with a new recipe for Pumpkin soup. I've been making pumpkin soup for over 15 years now. I've had some GREAT recipes and some not so great recipes. I've made 2 pumpkin soups so far this fall and they were both good but my new Pumpkin Potato Chowder is my favorite so far. I posted a picture on Facebook and had several requests for the recipe so here it is!

Donna’s  Pumpkin Potato Chowder

8 medium potatoes

1 medium/small pumpkin (about 3 lbs)

½ brown onion

5 bacon strips (chopped)

2 TBS crushed garlic

4 TBS bacon grease (with the extra bits from the bottom of the pan)

½ cup flour

¼ cup parmesan cheese

3 cups of chicken broth

1 cup of heavy whipping cream

Seasoning to taste (1-2 tsp each): thyme, dill, pepper, celery salt, season salt, garlic salt

· Peel and dice the potatoes and the pumpkin, set aside

· Cook the bacon & set aside (keep the bacon grease)

· Dice the onions

· Put the bacon, grease, onions, and garlic in the bottom of a large stock pan on medium heat. Sautee onions until carmelized.

· Add the pumpkin, potatoes, seasonings and flour, let cook for 5 minutes

· Add the chicken broth and the cream

· Lower heat to simmer and let cook until pumpkin and potatoes are soft

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoy and would love to hear how it turns out for ya!

Hugs ~D~

New Classes!

I've been brewing up a bunch of new classes plus... Leah and I are working on some top secret stuff that we will announce in a couple weeks... I'm super excited about it!

I will be doing a Christmas Card Make n Take at Scrapbook Your Life (619.298.7871)  in San Diego on Saturday, November 7th at 11:00 followed by my Binder Calendar Class. The cards for the Make n Take use My Winter Wishes papers and embellies but these new cards are re-designed and much more elaborate. (see sneaks below)

Donna will be sharing her favorite techniques in her Christmas Card Buffet make n take using her new Winter Wishes paper line and embellishments. Donna will have you painting, inking, tearing, distressing, playing with Zutter tools and making the new version of her signature paper flowers. The new paper flowers are made with multiple materials from her traditional vintage dictionary pages, to lunch bags and tissue paper. She will be charging only $5 per card with access to her full embellishment buffet and you have the option to make one card or all 6.

I have created a Brand New Class that I will be teaching at Pages From the Heart in Monrovia (626-358-5334) on Sunday, November 15th @ 1:00. It will be a Holiday ATC card w/ holder class with an optional swap at the end of class. You don't have to make this project with the holiday theme but it would be a fun swap to do with your crafty friends. Here are some sneaks:

The ATCs on the left are holiday themed, the ones on the right aren't... You get to choose how you will create your cards. Every card will be different... it will be a fun-out-of-the-box-creative time! Plus... I will have a full buffet of papers, ribbon, paint, ink, stamps, glitter, you name it!

I also wanted to Thank Tim @ Scor-it for having me "In the Spotlight" in this months Newletter. I was thrilled with the way the article came out... Judi made me sound goooood! lol

Visit again soon... I have 2 more Brand New Classes that I will be sharing in the very near future. You can check my Calendar HERE for the latest updates.

Thanks for stopping by! Hugs ~D~