3 more days to enter

Hey everyone,

We/I have some exciting news about GCD Studios and Donna Salazar!

Click play to find out what it is.

So like Donna said... "we are doing 2 fun give aways" and the prize is....

1-pad of paper from Donna's new collection

and this yummy prize from spellbinders

(On December 3rd we have some fun news about them)

Prize 1:

Prize 2:

Simply link this cute blinkie on your blog and leave a comment here for your chance to win.

If you leave a comment here and on Donna's blog... you'll be entered into the contact twice.

The winners will be pick on December 3rd.

Don't forget to sign up for our blog follower through google. The WHOLE month of December I'll be posting/sharing all of our newest 8 collections! That's right... 8 new collections!

THANKS for your support and WELCOME Donna
~H

A paper crafted gift tag set

We hope we have inspired you for this coming December, with all of the DT's beautiful work! We hope your home is filled with joy and the true meaning/spirit of Christmas :) Thanks for supporting our company! It means the world to us!

Remember to stop by everyday in DEC. because we are showing off all our NEWEST collections!

HO!HO!HO!

~H

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Hello everyone... its Windy here to share a paper crafted
gift tag set. I try put together several of these when I make my
holiday cards in November so I can stick them in gift baskets and bags
with other items like baked goods or candy throughout the season.
Just a little something to enhance the treats that I make for
our neighbors and teachers.

Christmas
Trees, Jingle Bells, Cranberry Sauce, Happy Christmas and Sleigh
Stripe patterned paper (Christmas Sleigh collection), buttons
(Papertrey Ink), felt flowers (Hero Arts), flower centers (Prima),
clear stamps (Mega Mixed Messages from Papertrey Ink), Ink (Stewart
Superior)

When I create gifts like these in mass, I keep it simple. These tags
are created with a scallop punch, a circle punch, a corner rounder, a
few sentiment stamps and embellishments. By using punches, even kiddos
can help by punching or assembling its parts. My girls always want to
help and this is the kind of stuff that we love to do together during
the holidays.



Windy Robinson
513-312-9105
http://windyrobinson.blogspot.com/

seasonal frame

Hi there! Kristen here with a sweet and thoughtful Christmas gift for those family members who don't 'need' gifts. My girls grandparents have all passed away, but I think this would have been a perfect gift for them. They never 'needed' gifts, but we all still would want them to know that they are cherished, so to me, this handmade frame with photo of my youngest would have been a really lovely gift. After all, what Grandma wouldn't love a beautifully framed print of their little sweet ones?

Another plus is that this frame can sit out long after Christmas is gone, because it's really more winter themed, with a touch of Christmas colors.

What I did was to take a simple 4x6 frame with stand, and I painted the outside of it white, then I used liquid glue to adhere a block of Stocking Stripe, and another block of Happy Christmas to the frame. I cut out around the insert, having removed the glass, and I sanded the paper around all the edges. I added glue and clear glitter to the edges of the frame and let it dry overnight.

Next, I cut two balls of styrofoam in half, then adhered them to my frame with hot glue. I painted them with white acrylic paint, as well as several stars and chipboard houses from the ChipArt chipboard packs. And I let them dry. When dry, I debossed the stars with an Iron Works stamp in the centers, which looks like a snowflake. Then I outlined them with clear glitter and glue. When dry I added them around my frame.

I also covered the back of the one house with cutouts, with a small scrap of paper, then glittered these houses as well and let them dry. I layered them on the right side of the frame, building up my hot glue then adding the topmost house. I also added my snowman at this point. I cut a scrap of felt for his scarf, topping it with a button and twine. I folded a small scrap of paper for his hat, adding some tinsel ribbon at the brim and top for a little fun flair. His face is made with a sharpie marker for his eyes and mouth, and I cut the tip off of another star and sprayed it with orange mister to make his carrot nose. I colored his cheeks with some pink chalk.

Lastly, I looped some sheer ribbon, adding some pearl berry stems to both sides of the frame. and hot glued them all in place. I added a couple small pieces of tinsel ribbon as well. Then topped the whole thing with a red button topped with this Artsy Urban Vintage Rose Button.

thanks for taking a look at my home decor frame, I hope it inspires you to find the perfect gift for your loved ones.
kris

Lots of texture :)

I have written about this before, but the texture in GCD Studios patterned
paper is to die for!! I just adore it! A lot of the techniques
that I have done in the past are about this textured paper, and I have yet
another one for you!! This month, I want to show you how stamping on
this textured paper makes for a different and beautiful looking image! I
used the new GCD
Studios "Joyful Peace" collection for my cards today...and they were just
perfect for the stamps!!

First up, gather the few supplies you will need. I have a piece of
textured patterned paper, the stamp I want to use on a clear block, and the
ink I want to use.

Ink the stamp up so it has an even, thick layer of ink on it. I
choose to use Clearsnap pigment ink (chestnut) when doing this
technique. This is because it doesn't dry super quickly, so you have
enough time to get it on the paper. And on the textured paper...it
actually does dry pretty quickly when you are done stamping. Be sure to
add even, but fairly heavy pressure to the stamp when you are stamping it to
the paper.

This is what the stamping looks like when you are done. Doesn't
the texture give it such an amazing look and feel? I just love it!

After that, design and decorate your card. Here is what I came up with
using this fabulous stamped image above.

Notice that I have also stamped the sentiment onto patterned paper using
Vanilla Cream pigment ink. This paper is the backside of a GCD Studios
patterned paper, so there isn't as much texture.

Here is another card using the same technique!

So, I challenge you to break out your favorite textured GCD Studios paper, and
your favorite stamps...and try this technique out! It definitely works
on a silhoutted image better than any other type, so try to stick with that
type of stamped image. This technique also works with clear stamps, so
don't feel like you need to use rubber stamps. It works wonderfully with
both types!! ♥♥♥

Until later,
~Lea L.

P.S. All stamps on these cards are from the Taylored
Expressions "Christmas Blessings" set.

A new flower to try

I love decorating for Christmas and I love creating my own decorations even more. For this project I was inspired to create a wreath for my home using empty ribbon roll spools. I used the fabulous GCD Studios Joyful Peace collection to create my project. Follow along below for all the details on how I created my wreath and the flowers that I embellished it with.

Here is a close up of one of the flowers.
Here is a detail of the Glimmer misting, distressing and layering of the papers.
Supplies:
GCD Studios
Patterned Paper - Joyful Peace Collection
Vintage Brads - Artsy Urban by Melody Ross
Gift Bags 4 - Homespun Chic by Melody Ross

Empty Ribbon Spools (enough to make it all the way around the wreath)
Glimmer Mist by Tattered Angels in Gold
Scalloped edged decorative scissors by Fiskars
Scalloped circle punches Marvy Uchida
Distress Ink by Ranger
16 inch wire floral wreath by Hobby Lobby
Hot glue gun
Liquid adhesive
Permanent marker by Sharpie


Instructions:
Take an empty spool roll and adhere it to patterned paper with your favorite liquid adhesive.
Once the glue is dry, cut around the edge of the spool with the scalloped edge scissors leaving a small edge.
Ink and distress the edges.
Repeat this with all of the spools. Once all of the spools are finished, hot glue the back side of each spool to the wire floral wreath. There will be a small amount of space between each of them. On the front side of the wreath attach the layered scalloped circles between each of the spools to help cover the wire wreath.
To make the flowers you will need to create 3 petal templates. I drew mine on plastic packaging (the kind you have to cut with scissors to remove from the product) using a Sharpie. Make one larger than the other one. To create different size flowers just make the petals either larger or smaller as you desire.
Trace the petals onto the patterned paper.
Cut out all of the petals.
Cut out 6 of each size for each flower. Ink the edges of each petal.
Next lightly mist each petal.Use your fingers to curl the petal.
Repeat this with all of the petals.
Punch or cut out a small circle shape to use as the base for applying your petals. Attach the larger petals to the base first using a hot glue gun. You are also going to create some petals using the Melody Ross gift bags.
Use the larger petal template and trace the petals onto the gift bag using the Sharpie marker.
Cut out 6 petals from the gift bag.
You are going to scrunch the gift bag petals like you did the paper petals and then bring them to a point on the end.
However, since they will not hold their shape you will need to carefully hold them scrunched as you hot glue them to the center of the larger paper petals. And yes, the gift bag material will melt a little, just be careful not to use too much glue!
Next attach the smaller paper petals offsetting them with the other petals.
Create a center with a small scalloped circle and finish it off with a brad.
Create 3 flowers and attach them to the wreath. Apply the Gold Glimmer Mist for added shine and they hang and enjoy your wreath!

Happy Hugs!
Juliana

packaging... that makes it even MORE special!

We love to receive presents. Especially when the presents come packaged in a pretty packaging, that makes it even MORE special!

This Star-shaped paper mache box has been decorated with GCD Studios' Christmas paper Collection. The papers from GCD Studios Joyful Peace Paper collection is a perfect fit for the kraft box. The shabby chic beauty of the paper brings nostalgic memories!



I made use of mica flakes, pipe cleaner, glitter, music script and paper doiley
to add texture and visual appeal.



The unique shapes of these paper mache boxes (found in most craft stores) are not only a great platform for you to personalize the decorations, it can also be re-used by the recipient.

Do give a hand at it this Christmas !
emeline

Great Holiday Papers

Hi! Leslie, here today share another layout featuring the new Christmas Sleigh and Joyful Peace Collections. They truely are such great holiday
papers. My Christmas albums are always in need of some new and
exciting papers to keep it fresh and fun.

As different as the collections seem, they actually compliment each

other well. Here's the layout I created using both.

A few simple techniques really give this layout some fabulous
dimension. First, I used a decorative edge punch and then
accordion folded the stripe paper. This created a nice
horizontal element to the circle die cut paper, from the Christmas
Sleigh Collection.

To adhere the accordion piece, I used Zip Dry liquid glue on the seams
that rested on the background paper. The circle border that is
on top was cut from a paper in the Joyful Peace Collection.

My "poinsettias" are flowers I die cut from the foil paper, also from
Joyful Peace. I used a very thin dowel to wrap the flower petals
inward, working my way around the flower.

The weight of the foil paper makes it hold it's shape very well. Layer

the flowers with pop dots and you have a great dimensional flower.

A few other things to note, the glittered toppers for the trees (cut
from one of the Christmas Sleigh papers) and the center of the flowers
were all the extra little bits that come with most chipboard
letters. The chipboard piece behind the "wonder" sticker is also
a chipboard letter, an "O".

Supplies: Patterned papers: GCD
Studios (Christmas Sleigh and Joyful Peace); Stickers Letters: Studio
Calico and American Crafts, Thickers
Bling frame: Making
Memories ; Glittered chipboard: Pink Paisley (pieces from an alphabet
set) ; Punch: EK Success ; Stamp: Studio Calico and Autumn Leaves ;
Sticker: 7Gypsies ; Ticket: Vintage from Studio Calico ; Die
Cut: Making Memories Slice

Hope your holidays are wonderful and filled with many precious
memories!

Leslie

A gift of jewelry is always wonderful

The design team's theme assignment this month was to create something
we would give as a gift. Having made several pieces of jewelry
now for my projects, I knew I wanted to make another necklace.
Can you tell I love to wear and make jewelry?

I wanted to create something in the gray/silver family this time
around since it is everywhere in fashion this winter and here's what I
created.

Now for the step by step process. I started by spraying my
chipboard pieces with Silver Plated Metallic Mist from Maya Mists.

With the pieces still wet from the mist, I stamped my flower pattern
with the GCD Studios Vintage Flower Chipboard Stamp.

I then inked the edges and lightly inked the top to bring out the
detail. I followed this step with VersaMark Ink and heated Ultra
Thick Embossing Enamel to coat the top. (I've used Liquid Glass
in the past and that is much less messy.)

I adhered black rhinestones and punched the chipboard with a Crop-a-
dile. I used jump rings to attach the chipboard flowers to the other
beads I picked out and beaded it all together. The necklace can
either be worn long or draped around the neck twice.

To wrap my gift, I found a nice brown box in my craft closet, added a
paper ribbon using the Joyful Peace Collection and a large chipboard flower as a
topper.

I finished it off with a simple paper bow. I cut 7 strips of
paper, about 6 inches long and looped them in half and glued the loop
closed. I punched each in the center with a hole punch and
gathered them together with a brad.

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Joyful
Peace Collection, GCD Studios. Chipboard Shape: GCD Studios-
large flowers, Brad: GCD Studios Melody Ross Artsy Urban Collection,
Stamp: Studio Calico, Punch: EK Success, Paint: Folk Art

I think this is a nice gift don't you? Now which lucky family
member will find this under the Christmas Tree?

Leslie