Advent Calendar Extravaganza with Taheerah Atchia

Advent Calendar Extravaganza is -the- festive event of the season! This ‘hop with a twist’ was dreamed up by Taheerah Atchia and features surprise destinations each day! Joining in the fun with Taheerah are over 60 special guests - each serving up some fantastic Christmas inspiration! Just like an Advent Calendar, you’ll never know where you’re going to be visiting next until you ‘open the door’!

And that’s not all! With 25 *amazing* sponsors taking part as well, your crafty wish list is bound to get a boost with a chance to win a prize EVERY SINGLE DAY!!

Join in the fun every day at taheerah-atchia.com to see what special surprises wait behind the door!

Now on to today's projects!

Julie

I am so excited to be playing along with Taheerah’s Advent Calendar Extravaganza! I was pulling out some of my Christmas supplies and came across some unfinished projects I had started last year with some vintage Basic Grey Christmas Paper - it might be from Figgy Pudding Collection, but I couldn't find it online and I didn't have the packaging anymore.  I LOVE THIS PAPER!!!  I had already glued the papers to the front and back of balsa wood pieces I had purchased from Hobby Lobby. These pieces were ready for just such a project!

I picked a rectangle piece with the winter berries and decided that I definitely wanted to use the Big Bold Words for my sentiment. Happy from The Big, the Bold and the Happy and Holidays from The Big, the Bold and the Merry were stamped in Versamark and embossed in gold. Having this done first helped me to plan my border of evergreen and pinecones. Using evergreen stamps from both Winter Woodland and In Bloom: Elsa’s Flora, I stamped pine needles in various directions using Green Tea Versa Color ink. The pinecones from Winter Woodland were stamped in Color Box Chalk Ink in Chestnut Roan. By the way, Winter Woodland is this month’s Rerun stamp set! It is on sale during the month of December and you can check out the details of the Rerun Challenge at this post.

For the cardinal, I used Color Box pigment ink in Chianti and embossed it with clear ep on vellum. I was worried it would be too “see through” so I colored the back with a red copic marker. I was too nervous to stamp the bird perched on a letter, so I decided this would yield better results. For a little bit of subtle sparkle, I added Wink of Stella to all of the berries and to the little starbursts in the pattern. Davis (my DH) drilled holes in the corners so I could thread some red tulle through as a hanger, and voila! Christmas decor for your home, office or as a gift.

Thanks Taheerah for the challenge! Happy Christmas!!

Shay

I am in love with Julie's project, aren't you?  I am so happy to have an opportunity to play along too.
When Taheerah mentioned she'd dreamt up a delightful, festive event I was immediately on board.  I carved a little time away from packing orders to create a simple card.



Using Our Town I stamped the houses and tree upon a penciled in line using Hero Arts Mid-Tone Shadow Inks in bubble gum, green hills, raspberry jam and tide pool.  Next I added some shadows and covered the houses and tree with Wink of Stella.  I erased the line.  With computer paper I roughly sketched over the houses and cut out a mask.  I used embossing paste to go over the Scenery: Big Bang Circle Creative Screenings for a snowy scene.  I added Wink of Stella over the circles.  This card is really shimmery, but it doesn't quite come across in the photo.

Under the houses I stamped the sentiment from Happiest of Holidays with Evelin T Designs in Versamark and embossed it in silver.  I attached the panel to a piece of woodgrain patterned paper.

On a white card base I stamped the trio of snowflakes from Let it Snow in second generation tide pool.  I attached the house and woodgrain panel to the card using dimensional foam adhesive.

Wishing everyone a very joyous December!

>>>THE TALENT<<<

As always our Talent have dazzled us with their creations!

From Gayatri we have this stunning and clever tag using Comfort + Joy, Mini Scenery: Multigrain, Big Bang Confetti Cutaways and Essentials: Noelle Cutaways.  Gayatri's tag is a true example of rustic chic!

Kelly always thinks outside the box and came up with a sophisticated thank you card (we all need those during this time of year!) with Winter Woodland and Take a Bow Cutaways.  What a beauty!

Kate Capper created this elegant and joyful card using In Bloom: Hollie's Festive Florals, Merry & Bright with Evelin T Designs, Mini Scenery: Do You See What I See? and Essentials: Noelle Cutaways.  This card is tidings of joy indeed!

It’s not a party without a prize - and with prizes every day there are several chances to win! Today’s prize is by us, Winnie & Walter, so you’ll definitely want to get your hands on it! Simply leave a comment on this post to enter - then head back to taheerah-atchia.com and leave a comment there too to double your chances! Don’t forget to grab the other surprise destinations from Taheerah’s blog and head over to them to leave comments there as well to improve your odds even more! You have until 7am EST on Thursday 31st December to leave all your comments! 

Don’t forget the Advent Calendar Extravaganza runs from 1st-25th December inclusive so make sure you visit taheerah-atchia.com every day for fabulous inspiration and amazing prizes every single time! Merry Christmas!