Hopping Day 3 & free shipping at G&P!

Well, it's day 3 of our Handmade Holiday Blog Hop. Are you having fun? I've been visiting each stop and collecting loads of ideas for gifts to make!

We’ve gathered designers from some of our favorite manufacturers to show you ways to create something from the heart this holiday season. This 3-day Hop includes over 60 stops with inspiration brimming from every corner. Explore all of the thoughtful and frugal handmade gifts you could create for the holidays!

To sweeten the Hop, we’re offering a gift for you! For every comment you leave on the blogs in the Hop, you’ll be entered to win a prize pack from one of the participating manufacturer sponsors! Use the Rafflecopter widget on the Clearsnap blog to gain extra entries each day: http://clearsnap.blogspot.com.

Earn extra entries: Follow our blog - by email or become a Follower. Like our Facebook Pageand share the Hop info with all your Facebook Friends. Leave a comment to let us know how you're enjoying this 2nd Annual Handmade Holidays Blog Hop.

For our project today I used our DIY Ornaments to create a 'JOY' banner. It's fairly easy to create and holiday decorations make a great gift for someone who has just moved into a new apartment or home. I started by painting the rings of the ornaments and chipboard letters JOY with Ranger's Pearl Paint Dabber and set aside to dry.

While that's drying I cut three medallions from Authentique's Festive line. I cut more of the paper to fit the backing of the ornaments (they come three in a package with two globes each; I left the back globe off so the banner would lay flat against a wall or window). Assemble the medallions and set aside.

When the acrylic paint was dry I embossed the rings in an embossing folder and coated the painted chipboard letters with a layer of our Metallic Silver 3D Enamel Gel.

 I squeezed some G&P Mars Black 3D Enamel Gel onto the embossed rings and rubbed it in my finger and quickly wiped the excess off, leaving an antiqued-looking surface. So, while that is all drying I moved along to the next step.

I used our Mossy Glen Enamel Powders on our new Holly Leaves. Look at that color variance in there! That's what I love about our enamels - the mix. It gives each item dimension and texture rather than a flat, dull finish. 

I cut about a dozen 6-inch strips of paper and punched one edge of eight of them with the Fiskars Interchangeable Border Punch and left the other three plain. I made the paper chain just like we did as kids, grouping them in sets of three. About now everything should be dry enough to assemble. Adhere the chipboard letters to the medallions then adhere those in the center of the ornament backing. Glue the dome inside the top ring and glue the entire piece to the backing. Clamp it all together with clip clothespins or binder clips.

I pierced two holes in each ornament and punched two 1/8" holes in the solid paper rings (center ring) to thread the Maraschino Twine from The Twinery through. Thread it all together and hang! I like the way it displays on my altered window frame. Hope you're enjoying the Hop!

Register to receive our blog updates via email or become a Follower - we have a Facebook Page too! We're giving away a great prize package! Visit the list of blogs below and leave a comment on each by Nov. 27, 2012 at 11:59 PM PST.

Nov 18

Clearsnap – http://clearsnap.blogspot.com

Hampton Art - http://blog.hamptonart.com/Graphic45 – http://g45papers.typepad.com/

Fiskateers - www.fiskateers.com/blog

Donna Salazar Designs – http://donnasalazar.typepad.com/

Tombow USA – http://blog.tombowusa.com/

Authentique Paper http://authentiquepaper.blogspot.com/ 

The Twinery - http://www.thetwineryblog.com/

Eileen Hull for Sizzix http://eileenhull.blogspot.com/

Globecraft Memories – http://globecraftmemories.blogspot.com You are here

Dana Warren - Hampton Art - http://kraftpaperstamps.blogspot.com/

Steph Ackerman – Globecraft Memories - www.stephaniescraps.blogspot.com

Arlene Cuevas – Graphic 45 -  http://butterflykisseswithlove.blogspot.com/

Susan Lui – Graphic 45 -  http://luv2scrap-pages.blogspot.com/

Ashley Bores – The Twinery - http://www.heartmadelife.com/

Mistra Hoolahan – Donna Salazar Designs - http://mistrabutterfly.blogspot.com

Nina Yang - Hampton Art - http://waffleflower.com/

Angie Blom – Authentique Paper - http://angieblomdesigns.blogspot.com/

Denise Hahn – Clearsnap – http://inmyblueroom.blogspot.com

Stephenie Hamen – Fiskateers - www.mycraftyadventures.com

Guiseppa Gubler – Authentique Paper - http://guiseppagubler.blogspot.com/

Jessica Fick – The Twinery - http://iembellish.blogspot.com/

Click and place your G&P order below. FREE shipping during the Handmade Holiday Blog Hop Nov. 16, 17 & 18. Enter special code 'free' to get your free shipping!