Hello everybody! And welcome to a very special day, kicking off a very special event!!
I’ve always loved the concept of Advent Calendars. There’s something special and magical about those little treats hidden behind those little doors – and the idea of a secret little something to be unwrapped every day really is a wonderful way to build the excitement towards Christmas, not to mention a fun tradition as well!
As the years roll by some of these types of tradition can be lost when we grow up, and it seems a real shame to lose some of that magic and wonder. And really there’s no reason at all why something such as an Advent Calendar can’t be revamped and repackaged for grown-ups, crafty grown-ups… grown-ups like you and me!
So one day in November last year I dreamed up a fun idea for a event. I didn’t know if it would work, or if anyone would be interested. I approached some crafty friends, and others recruited themselves – everyone loved the idea! Behind the scenes I worked hard to put together something rather different and very special. After much organising, coordinating and planning, I’m really thrilled to finally bring to you a very special, very fun, very festive series! It was *hugely* popular, and so, by popular demand, I just had to bring it back again this year!
Eek! How fun does that sound?! 25 full days of surprises, inspiration and prizes!!
In case you’re wondering just how it’s going to work, here’s last year’s video (I’m afraid my filmmaker friend was unavailable to help in time for this year!) to explain it:
I’m so excited to be bringing you this event! I really hope you’re going to enjoy it as much as I am!!
Let’s get on with Day 1, shall we?!
I’ve got some of my very favourite designers lined up today to kick everything off! Just click on the door to reveal today’s surprise destinations and prize! Tip: you will need to do this from the blog itself, not from a feed reader or e-mail!
The door is a bit different this year (curse of moving over to WordPress!). So, now you’ve opened it, please use the image below to find your secret links! As you see, there aren’t any text links, but tap or click on all the decorations/presents in the image below and you will find your secret destinations! *wink*
Exciting right?! Isn’t it fun to not know what’s in store at the other end of those links?! Make sure you click each one to reveal the surprise and leave comments at the destinations to win!
And speaking of winning…
Today’s sponsor is Technique Tuesday! Fun, quirky and awesome, Technique Tuesday have some really great designs! I’m so happy to have them open the event this year!
Technique Tuesday are generously sponsoring a $25 gift certificate to their store! With an amazing array of products you’re really going to be spoilt for choice spending it!
Now that you know what you can win, I’m sure you’re eager to head off to all those secret destinations to check them out! But before you go, some inspiration from me:
I created this card using the awesome Sparkle And Shine and Snowflakes dies, impressing them into my card panel!
I added a piece of vellum over the top, heat embossed with my sentiment!
Some fun details (like a strip of patterned paper, a sliver of glitter, and a scattering of sequins) finish it off perfectly!
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!
I hope you love this event just as much as I do! I would love to know what you think of Advent Calendar Extravaganza! Do you love the format? The secret destinations? The endless inspiration? I bet you certainly love the chance to win prizes! Please make sure you leave a comment below! Thanks so much for stopping by – I’ll see you back here tomorrow!
Supplies
Just started looking at your blog and this is a nice Christmas giveaway!! Thank you for sharing the card.
Elegant!
Love the surprise!
Yay! I loved playing along last year! I’m glad to see you doing again. Your card, as always, is wonderful!
What an absolutely beautiful card! I,love the snowflake impression and I really like the Overall design. I never nirmally mix silver and gold on a card but I will now, it looks great!
This is such a beautiful card! I love the use of vellum here. Great job!
I am so glad the Advent Calendar Extravaganza is back this year! I participated last year and had a blast! Not only did I get tons of inspiration, I also discovered new crafters whose work I loved and started to follow. It is so much fun discovering the links that I feel like a kid again. And your first card is really a great start to the event. It is very elegant and beautiful. I love the embossed background and the vellum teamed with the lovely sentiment in gold. Thanks for taking the time out and doing this Taheerah. You rock!
What an elegant card. Love it’s clean look with the white and metallics. I’m very excited about the advent calendar! We had them as children!
Dazzling card!! I am excited for your Advent Calendar event!!! So much fun!
<3 J
jwoolbright at gmail dot com
HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com
this was so fun last year. so glad you’re doing it again!
I’ve been looking forward to this all last month and then thanks to work I missed the first day darn it. But I’m here now!! So exciting and it’s such a great idea to do this – you’re going to be doing it for years to come you know 😀 Lovely gorgeous card, I love the brushscript – very reminiscent of your logo so fab card to start off with. Thank you for doing this and making my murky work days have something pretty and sparkly in them !
Love that front.
I just love that you brought back the 25 days of the Advent Calendar!! Your card is so gorgeous and elegant looking!!!
This is SO FUN and exciting!!! Thank you so much for all of he work I’m sure you put into making this event possible! Now I’m off to my very first surprise destination. (Beautiful card, btw!) I feel like a kid again! ?
So beautiful and inspiring!
Yay! This was so fun last year. Can’t wait to see what everyone creates. Thanks for hosting this again this year!!
What fun! Excited to hop with you all month!
Your card is beautiful! I love the embossed snowflakes. So pretty! Can’t wait to try your advent calendar. I tried last year and got confused. I understand it now. Thank you for this fun event!
Your card is really lovely. So elegant! I’m really loving the idea of the advent calendar. Very clever. Thank you for doing it, sorry I missed it lasts year but I’m here now! =)
Great idea I am looking firward to every day
This is so much fun, Taheerah. I got lots of inspiration from your visitors and can’t wait until tomorrow.
Oh I am loving this fun advent idea! As for the card…ooh la la! Love all the glitz!
Such a wonderful idea!
for such a wonderful time of year!
Looking forward to each day!
Thanks so much for sharing
and the chance for some wonderful
prizes along the way!
What a clever advent calendar idea! Also the die embossed background on this card is lovely!
Loved the clean color look of gold, silver, and white.
Very pretty card and great stamp set from Technique Tuesday.
I just discovered your blog site from being over at Jennifer McGuire’s blog. I love the format you have designed for this extravaganza. Tapping on each gift behind the door is so much fun….it is like Christmas morning. The surprise behind each door will be sweeter than any chocolate.
DebbieC
So lovely, Taheerah … soft, delicate and oh so elegant! Anita 🙂
Perfect idea this Advent Calendar! Great card too!
God bless!
Very pretty and elegant.
What a most fabulous idea!! I love it if!! Thank you so much for doing this. I’m sure you have spent a lot of time organizing it all. Thank you! O, and love your card – Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year and it’s things that like this that help make it that way.
I also have a HUGE fascination with advent calendars. I LOVE them! Your card is beautiful. Snowflakes are my favorite thing to use for holiday and winter cards.
This has that magic feeling you are talking about – yippee! Thanks so much for feeding my inner kiddo with the advent calendar extravaganza! I know I’m commenting too late to be entered in the drawing for 12/1 but I feel like I already got my prize ! Once again, thank you :o)
Gorgeous card! Love the vellum!
Oh, Taheerah! This is so FUN!! Totally missed it last year, and kudos to you for repeating it this year! I love it!! Love your card, too!
Thanks for orgainisign the advent calendar extravaganza. Your card is beautiful!
So much fun!
Im soooo happy you are doing the Advent blog this year. It was my first time last year. The door is so cool when it opens and you don’t know what you will find. Very easy to navigate. I hate to say anything ow exciting but I tried to sign up for the newsletter, and though I put my email address in over and over, I kept getting the message that I should put in a correct email address. I promise it is a real working email address. Please help. I certainly don’t want to miss anything.
Great card and what a fantastic way to get new ideas.
Beautiful card!
I remember how fun this was last year…. looking forward to doing it again!
Love all the shine! So Christmasy!
Keeping up will be my challenge!
It is SO difficult for me to be consistent, but I’m hoping my interest will keep me going.
I love this idea and whether I reproduce a card or not, ideas and techniques are always so fun to watch!!
Thanks for everyone’s HARD work putting together so many interesting projects.
So wonderful to see this fun event back again. Thanks so much for your hard work behind the scenes so we can all enjoy this.
So excited for the advent calendar hop, had so much fun last year. So many talented folks involved with amazing inspiration. Absolutely lovely card. I love the mix of textures!
That was FUN! Thank you for thinking of us. I liked the imprint idea as a nice change from embossing. Your advent calendar was delightful.
Beautiful card
Kathleen
Beautiful card!!!!! Love the gold. This hop sure will be fun. Love the concept.
Awesome card! Great event too – thank you!
What an awesome idea, I love it. Thank you for doing this
Kathleen
I am so glad I have found your Advent blog hop. I am going to enjoy the adventure for the next 24 days. Thank for creating it!
What fun an Advent calendar for adults – I missed them after my kids were grown.