Emily Ley Planner Giveaway!

Update: The winner is Angie Brown! Thanks for entering! Happy February! January was here and gone in a flash and I’m happy to report that I’m back to having regularly scheduled posts (two per week) again going forward. Yay! So let’s start the month off with a bang and do a giveaway!! This one is good, too, guys. It includes a SOLD OUT 2016 Emily Ley Simplified Planner. Say whaaa??!! I. know.

2016 Emily Ley Planner Giveaway by Gold Standard Workshop

I received it when I attended Alt Summit Conference recently and I already have two planners and I couldn’t bring myself to try to start a third even though I’ve heard amazing things about it, so I really want to pass it along to you! Yay!! I’m so excited!

Emily Ley Planner Giveaway

What You Win

1 (SOLD OUT) 2016 Emily Ley Simplified Planner, Daily Edition in Mint Dot
1 Waverly 8″ Universal Tablet Case
1 Gold Standard Workshop Holla Notepad
10 Washi Tape Paper Clip Page Flags
3 Le Pen Writing Pens

How to Enter

Simply enter your email into the Rafflecopter below and add a comment that says you’ve done so. If you’d like additional entries, simply follow the instructions underneath the first entry in the Rafflecopter. You can also receive an entry on Instagram–find me at @goldstandardworkshop. Giveaway ends Thursday, 2/4, at 7:00 PM PST. US and Canada only, please. GOOD LUCK!! I’m so excited to give wrap these goodies up and give them away!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jan152016Mar 31 2017

Free Printable: Have Courage My Love

Free printables are back, buddy! They took a backseat to the holiday craziness and wrapping paper madness, but they’re back and here to stay. I’m one of those people who needs to see inspirational quotes and ideas on a pretty regular basis (like every day), and so while I entertain myself messing around in Photoshop and find quotes that speak to me, I hope you see something that you love and that inspires you, too!

Jan132016Jan 15 2016

Top 5 Posts of 2015

Hiiiiii! I hope you had a lovely holiday season and January is treating you well. I took a break for a few weeks and it was lovely. Time off included a week in Tucson, Arizona, and I now have 1,000 pictures of cactus, cactus, and more cactus. But I’m back with lots of ideas and topics I want to discuss with you in 2016! I’m looking forward to creating with intention, gratitude, and joy this year.

Today, I want to share a few of my favorite posts from 2015. I started this blog (officially) in February 2015 and so my blog birthday is coming up. Some think it’s cheesy to celebrate, but I’m going to because I believe, more than ever, that you should celebrate accomplishments and achievements no matter how small. They keep you going and besides, many of us focus on the failures and big screw-ups and spend time working through them (or obsessing over them), but positive steps forward are essential to recognize and acknowledge.

I busted my butt over the past year and have 91 posts!! Whaaaa?! I can’t believe it. That means I’ve come pretty close to meeting my weekly posting goal of two times per week. With a full-time job and a brand new Etsy shop, I’m giving myself a high-five. I put in a lot of 70+ hour weeks and I’ve had lots of ups and downs. This post is a good way to pause, celebrate, and close the 2015 chapter. Here are my faves, in no particular order.

Just Start Today Free Printable

This is the first printable I created for the blog, and it’s the most popular—it’s been downloaded over 707 times! The message is simple and it’s cactus. How could you not love it? Click here to download it and click here to see all the free printables I created in 2015. Each one has a positive message and related post that I hope might inspire and motivate others.

Copper Pumpkin Place Cards

This is at the top of my list because the DIY is so simple and it makes a big impact. I used free place cards that Lotus from Girl Friday Paper Arts created as part of her opt-in for her newsletter, and they were lovely! It’s one of those ideas that you have in your head for months and then the project turns out even better than your idea. That happens rarely and so I really appreciate when it does happen.

No Carve Decoupage Pumpkins

Again, this is one of those projects that is simple and yet packs a punch. I adore pumpkins and I adore Rifle Paper Co. and the combination is absolutely beautiful. You just cut out shapes from any kind of paper and decoupage them onto the pumpkin. I used craft pumpkins from Michaels and I can’t wait to pull them out next season! The small con for me is that I don’t have anywhere to store them! The big pumpkin is BIG.

Dec302015Jan 15 2016

It’s a Wrap, Yo! #7 (Wrapping Tips): Black and Gold

This is the seventh post of an eight post series called “It’s a Wrap, Yo!” that includes ideas, wrapping tips and tricks, and inspiration. Check out the introduction and Parts 1-6 here. And follow my Gift Wrap Pinterest board for tons of wrapping ideas!

Guess what? I’m still going strong on the wrapping tips, because, well, I’m a wrapper, and gift wrapping doesn’t just end at Christmas. In fact, wrapping presents for events throughout the year opens the doors to endless combos and DIY ideas! This week, I’m sharing some ideas for wrapping with black and gold. This color combo is festive and sophisticated. It’s perfect for New Year’s events or fancy schmancy parties (did someone say 40th birthday party? Oscar party?). Or perhaps you’re going to a house party or else having brunch or dinner at someone’s house and need to wrap a hostess gift, or else you’re the host and you love giving away prizes or party favors. See? I just gave you a bunch of reasons to wrap something.

This theme is easy to do and affordable. I used brown kraft paper (white would be great too!) as a base and then used festive holiday cards and gift tags that don’t say Christmas on them, and a little sequin trim. Bonus: you can score these things for super cheap at the after Christmas sales. No need for bows–the cards create a pretty focal point and you just take a little double-sided tape or glue stick.

Dec212015Jan 15 2016

It’s a Wrap, Yo #6 (Wrapping Tips): How to Create Coordinated Gifts on a Budget

This is the sixth post of an eight post series called “It’s a Wrap, Yo!” that includes ideas, wrapping tips and tricks, and inspiration for your holiday wrapping. Check out the introduction and Parts 1-5 here. And follow my Gift Wrap Pinterest board for tons of wrapping ideas!

We’re in the home stretch! And if you still need to wrap a few gifts and you’re on a budget or else you’re running out of paper, you’re in the right spot. This is one of my favorite wrapping tips to share, especially if you’re on a budget, and it makes you look like a wrapping genius. And if you can’t decide on one wrapping theme, this is your ticket, girlfriend.

The formula:

1 patterned paper + 1 kraft paper with patterned paper belly band + 1 kraft paper only with coordinating ribbon

Follow this formula and it’s a win every time! And the best part is that you don’t have to have gifts that all look the same. It kills me when you have to do that. Mix it up a bit and you’ll have a lot more fun!