We Welcome Back the Dynamic Mini Albums & Altered Art of Donna Espiritu!
We are so happy to welcome Donna Espiritu back to our Design Team! I'm sure you fell in love with her projects last year. She was such a glowing asset to our team with amazing mini albums, layouts, and more! Donna can truly do it all. She became a mom last year and her projects today show her joy over her gorgeous baby. She shares a new project with us today, and 3 projects to share with us that show her flexibility between styles of crafting. You will fall in love with her projects today. Take it away, Donna!
Donna Espiritu
"My name is Donna Espiritu. I'm from the Philippines currently living in Saudi Arabia with my husband. We were finally blessed with a beautiful daughter late last year and she’s everything I prayed for. I have been scrapbooking since 2004 when I got married. I think of myself as a crafty person so when I came across scrapbooking I got really interested and as the saying goes, I got hooked from then on.
I love learning new things so I also dabble into digital scrapbooking, card-making, altering/recycling/upcycling stuff, and mixed media. I think I am addicted to the smell of new papers! I also collect pens -journaling pens, glitter, calligraphy pens, etc.
My style has evolved over the years. I don't really know how to describe my style, but I can do a simple (but not clean) or super embellished layout/page or project. I love layers, clusters and textures in my creations." ~Donna
Follow Donna Espiritu!
First, we have this gorgeous Baby 2 Bride mini album from Donna. She even has a great video tutorial below! How amazing!
"Besides scrapbook pages, creating mini-albums is one of my favorite thing to do and I could say my second forte. I used the Baby 2 bride collection because it is one of my all-time fave from Graphic 45. I love the soft color palette, the designs, and the versatility whether you want to use it for a baby girl/boy or a grown-up woman about to marry. Perfect token.
TIP: In my video tutorial, you will notice that I used a template to cut the papers I used on the tags. It's one way to make tracing easier." ~Donna
Supply List:
Graphic 45 Baby 2 bride deluxe collection
Graphic 45 staples (keys)
Graphic 45 staples, ivory tags
Others: Distress ink (tea dye), Prima marketing flowers, Flowers/leaves from my stash, lace/trims/ribbon bow/seam binding, smooth white cardstock (A4), white and pink threads, Cheery Lynn Designs flourish die
Next, Donna shares this gorgeous mixed media clock that Donna mainly used her scraps to create. Isn't this fabulous? We love the colors!
Supply list:
*Graphic 45 Time to flourish papers
*Graphic 45 Sweet Sentiments papers
*Graphic 45 Botanical Tea papers
*Graphic 45 Botanical Tea banners
Gesso
Acrylic paints - white, pink, blue, blue green
Tattered angels glimmermist
Mod Podge matte
Stickles
Spellbinder flower die
Sizzix flower die (used leaves only)
Sizzix Prima butterfly dies
Cheerylynn fancy flouriish die
Cherrylynn butterfly dies
Flat back pearl centers
Pearl string
Lace trim
White cardstock
Beacon 3 in 1 glue
UHU adhesive
*mostly scraps from previous projects
Next, is another gorgeous mini album. Donna used Come Away with Me to create this perfect album for her travel memories.
"The album is 4 x 6 in size. The spine will depend on how thick your pages will be inside, it can be adjusted according to your preference. But for this particular album I created, the finished project is 4 x 6 x 2 3/4 (spine). Started off by cutting 2 pcs of chipboard for the front and back cover. I covered with brown cardstock and later on adhered patterned paper on each sides. I decorated the inside pages first before adhering it one by one to the spine. Having ample space in between made it easier so have a bit of bulky embellishments placed on each page. But try to alternate for even distribution of "bulk space". I decorated the front cover last, adhering the ribbon first to serve as album closure then adhered the embellishments using foam tape to add dimension to the handmade flowers." ~Donna
Donna's Snapguide Travel Album Tutorial
Supply List
Graphic 45 Come Away with me 12x12 collection
Graphic 45 Come away with me 8x8 collection
Graphic 45 Come away with me ephemera pack
Graphic 45 Come away with me chipboard
Graphic 45 Come away with me stickers
Graphic 45 Come away with me pockets
Graphic 45 Come Away with me banners
Graphic 45 Orante Metal label holder
Graphic 45 Ornate Metal brads
Graphic 45 washi tapes
Sizzix Tim Holtz tattered floral die
Big shot machine
Ribbon
Brown cardstock
Chipboard
Distress Ink Antique Linen
Martha Stewart butterfly punch
Martha Stewart scoring board
Kaisercraft rhinestones
Embossing tool and foam, water spray
Adhesives (glue, foam tape, double-sided tape)
To close is this fabulous mixed media layout using Time to Flourish and Sweet Sentiments. Look at her gorgeous daughter on a brilliant canvas!
"One of my favorites to date, is this layout of my daughter and I. I love the mixture of colors, flowers and butterflies in here. I had fun in creating this page!" ~Donna
Supply List
G45 Time to flourish (May cut apart)
G45 Sweet Sentiments 12x12, 8x8 papers
Petaloo flowers, berries, lace
Blue Fern Studio chipboard
The Crafter’s workshop stencil
Tattered Angels glimmer mists
Gesso
Mod podge
Liquitex textured paste
Kaisercraft rhinestones
Sizzix Prima butterfly dies
White thread
We're so happy to have Donna back on the team for another year. Isn't her work glorious? Thanks for sharing with us, Donna!
We have a great giveaway this week in honor of Father's Day coming up on June 21, 2015. To win this A Proper Gentleman prize pack, just enter below:
Thanks for joining us today, G45ers! We hope this gave you a great start to your week.
Happy Monday,
The G45 Family
Want to try these projects out? Visit your LSS or order online today! Graphic 45 Store Locator Link Here
would love to win!
Posted by: Harley | June 15, 2015 at 06:57 PM
So glad to see some of the great old designers are back, and that there are some new ones to shake things up!
Posted by: Pamela Heinowski | June 15, 2015 at 07:36 PM
Everyday your projects made by your designers get better and better. They are lucky they get to work with such great products from Graphic 45.
Posted by: Brenda Lubrant | June 15, 2015 at 07:46 PM
I am in love with the clock♥ All projects are beautiful!
Posted by: Jackie QH | June 15, 2015 at 08:43 PM
Wonderful love this new masculine paper!
Posted by: Maria Simonsson | June 15, 2015 at 09:19 PM
love the projects shown. Cograts on the new baby.
Posted by: Beneta | June 15, 2015 at 09:52 PM
Love these designs wish I was this creative
Posted by: malett orren | June 15, 2015 at 10:11 PM
Donna's albums are lovely! She'll have so many to fill with her new little one's photos. Congratulations on your sweet new daughter.
Posted by: Noreen | June 15, 2015 at 10:37 PM
My following of G45 is about 9 ish years now. I first learned of you from a local store, Sew Scrappin, Idaho Amy. Your Rock!!!!
Posted by: Kim Street | June 15, 2015 at 10:37 PM
I'm not on facebook, but I do have a few questions: Who designs all the beautiful G45 papers, and how do you decide what your next collection will be? How long does it take from the time you decide on a collection until it is finished and ready for sale?
Posted by: Noreen | June 15, 2015 at 10:40 PM
Welcome to all the design team members. I'm really looking forward to seeing all your wonderful and creative new projects!
Posted by: Noreen | June 15, 2015 at 10:41 PM
So many beautiful projects...it's so interesting to see the myriad of ideas from all the design team members.
Posted by: Karen Itzenhuiser | June 15, 2015 at 11:37 PM
Stunning art, and looking forward to see what is created this year
Posted by: Sandie | June 16, 2015 at 12:35 AM
This collection is really nice!
Posted by: Norah Ho | June 16, 2015 at 12:43 AM
Welcome to the new team, and especially welcome back to Donna! Looking forward to all of your lovely creations! Donna, I am in awe of that beautiful clock! Keep 'em coming!
Posted by: Janet Cobb | June 16, 2015 at 04:55 AM
That clock is lovely. The canvas...gorgeous!
Posted by: Laurinda | June 16, 2015 at 05:03 AM
Beautiful Projects...Love the inspiration!
Posted by: F Bond | June 16, 2015 at 06:33 AM
Who DOESN'T love Graphic 45!!
Posted by: Cathy Hanes | June 16, 2015 at 07:13 AM
Absolutely love the come away with me mini album!
Posted by: Kristina Vazquez | June 16, 2015 at 08:00 AM
I love seeing the amazing projects.
Posted by: Patricia moon bilker | June 16, 2015 at 08:13 AM
Some great new designers! Looking forward to their projects!
Posted by: Deborah Cox | June 16, 2015 at 09:46 AM
Congrats!
Fabulous projects!
Hugs
Posted by: Lorianna | June 16, 2015 at 10:05 AM
Welcome back to the team!! LOVE these creations!
Posted by: barbara macaskill | June 16, 2015 at 11:11 AM
I love the tutorials! Thank you for showing us how to do these projects!
Posted by: Laurie | June 16, 2015 at 11:37 AM
Thank you Donna for your amazing projects! I'm blown away by the colorful layout and the fun mini album. Gives me great ideas for my G45 papers. Welcome new DT's!
Posted by: Terri Burson | June 16, 2015 at 12:58 PM
Wow - Donna - you are very very very talented and can do a lot of different art types too! These were so fun to see. Thanks bunches for sharing. j.
Posted by: Joi@RR | June 16, 2015 at 02:13 PM
What great projects! I learn something everytime I am on your site.
Posted by: Amanda McKenzie | June 16, 2015 at 07:16 PM
This is perfect for fathers day
Posted by: Margaret-Anne Rickard | June 16, 2015 at 11:27 PM
This blog post is just one pretty photo after another - very inspiring
Posted by: Jo | June 17, 2015 at 07:37 AM
love the travel theme mini album!
Posted by: LUCINDA ZINK | June 18, 2015 at 12:18 PM
Welcome to the new 2015 G45 Design Team!!! I look so forward to seeing your projects!
Posted by: Nancy Lorenz | June 18, 2015 at 09:37 PM
Love the projects that are offered on your site but you never mention where the designers purchase the main part of the project. The clock is beautiful and would love to make one similar to this one. But where did the clock come from????? Have tried to find items before from your project with no success. Very frustrating!!!!
Posted by: Chere Mortensen | January 06, 2016 at 05:52 AM