Hello everybody! And welcome to Day 11 of Advent Calendar Extravaganza!!
In case you missed Day 10, click here!
In case you missed Day 9, click here!
In case you missed Day 8, click here!
In case you missed Day 7, click here!
In case you missed Day 6, click here!
In case you missed Day 5, click here!
In case you missed Day 4, click here!
In case you missed Day 3, click here!
In case you missed Day 2, click here!
In case you missed Day 1, click here!
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 11, shall we?!
I’ve got some of my very favourite designers lined up today to continue the fun! 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 Avery Elle! Another of my favourites, Avery Elle have a great mix of cute and trendy stamps and dies – often with clever touches thrown in too! They are headed up by my awesome friend Jamie, who is a great designer and cultivator of talent alike! I’m so thrilled to have them sponsor the event again this year!
Avery Elle are generously sponsoring a $20 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’ll confess – I fell completely head over heels for all of the retro-style Christmas sets that my *awesomely* talented friend Caryn designed for Avery Elle! I just had to have them all and use them all!! This first card features the Kitsch Christmas set as its main focus. Oh those deer!
I had so much fun stamping out several images from this set (and a couple from the Retro Ornaments and Dear Santa sets too!) and colouring them with… you guessed it – Prismacolors! I studied lots of images of vintage Christmas cards before designing the projects for today’s post, and that definitely helped me with figuring out how best to colour them! I think they turned out awesome!
A *ton* of detail on this card! I stamped the pine branches and then watercoloured over them with my NEW! Zig Clean Colour Real Brush Markers – I have been coveting these for over a year now and I finally splashed out on them! They helped create the perfect look and blended so well for my scene!
I added iridescent glitter for my snow banks (another nod to the vintage style card), and heat embossed some snow and the glittery stars! I assembled all the pieces with quite a bit of dimension, and the finished look was exactly what I had in mind!
I was having such a good time that I had trouble putting my supplies down for today! Cue another card!
I let the brilliantly designed Retro Ornaments set take centre stage here! I combined it with a few elements from Kitsch Christmas too – all these sets work so well together!
I took my time building up my design on some shimmery cream cardstock, heat embossing every element. I worked in batches so that I could mask some images after they were embossed, so that I could give the illusion of some images being behind others.
Once all my embossing was done, I used the white from the Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolours to paint over all the images, then watercoloured with my Zig markers. Again taking my cues from a vintage design helped me with my colour choices and also with the style of the watercolouring too!
Some splatter finished things off nicely. Just look at all that golden goodness!
Finally, I pulled out the Dear Santa set to create a gift tag!
I die cut a tag then stamped my cat and his hat using Stormy Sky Distress Ink. I then masked the images off and blended the same ink all over my tag.
I then painted on some adhesive in stages and glittered my cat and hat with white glitter, and some of the accents with gold. As you can see, you can still make out the detail of the stamping because I was careful not to get adhesive on any of the lines!
I added some black details and heat embossed my sentiments before adding some awesome sparkly ribbon to finish!
And here they all are together, which is your favourite?
Don’t forget 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
Vintage Style Deer Christmas Card
Retro Ornaments Christmas Card
Define Naughty Christmas Tag
Every card is gorgeous!
Wow! These are just amazing projects! Love the gold embossing!
I remember little deer like this that we would set out under the tree for Christmas. What a sweet card.
I love that ornament card. All the masking really gave it such dimension and the Zigs added a light touch.
Your cards and tag are so cute. Love all those Avery Elle stamps.
Oh I LOVE your fun projects. I think I like the little cat tag the best!! It is adorable!!
When I was little, I had a little ceramic ornament that looked just like those little deer! So sweet!
Wow!! Stunning cards and tag!! I really love the retro deer, your coloring and the background is just fabulous!!
Such cute cards! The cat is darling but my fave is the retro ornaments. Beautiful!
All 3 projects are beautiful, but my favorite is the old fashioned ornaments.
Fantastic projects. Love the deer card and the tag is the cutest. Thank you for sharing.
So adorable!! I would love to win this prize! Thank you for having this giveaway. 🙂
Love this vintage look. Your kitty makes me smile.
Love the cards and tag! These stamps are awesome!
Loved your cards and the Christmas gift tag. My favorite is the gift tag with the cat who looks so elegant with a little mischief in her face.
Adorable projects. Love the deers they are so cute and I love the soft colors you used. So pretty!
Your projects are amazing! Great job researching because your coloring is fabulous!
LOVE the retro style of these projects, Taheera!! Your color and image choices are perfect on each one!!
OH MY GOODNESSES! How can I pick just one? “I think they turned out awesome!” I have to agree with you. and OH MY YES, I held out as long as I could for those Zig Clear Color Brush markers too and love the color and dimension they gave your projects today! Perfect!
OH MY! I am DEFINITELY SWOONING HERE over these cards! They have a BEAUTIFUL VINTAGE FEEL to them to me! JUST BEAUTIFUL! 😉
I love the ornaments–I have many on my tree just like them!
Oh my–love these sweet images and your color choices on the projects.
Retro ornement set are awesome
It looks so nice on the card
Love those sweet retro projects…such darling images!
I too fell in love with the little reto deer…just had to have them…LOVE!!!
Love the retro looking deers, they are colored beautifully
Love the coloring on the retro ornaments!
O my goodness!!! So much fabulousness in one post! I just love those pine branches. They are absolutely gorgeous the way you coloured them. All 3 projects are beautiful but I have to say that the card with the ornaments is my favourite!
Love the vintage look
Your masking on the ornament card is STUNNING! I love Avery Elle’s 2016 release SO MUCH!!
Cool Retro-style cards! Love the little deers. Brings back memories of the 50’s.
Oh wow – these cards and the tag are simply amazing. Beautiful design and colors! Thank you for sharing xoxo Carol W. workmanscraps(at)gmail(dot)com
Just awesome – how did you find the time to do all those cards etc? You are awesome!
flawless coloring, as always!
Awesome cards and tag, don´t make me choose!
wow! 2 cards and a tag!! crazy! love the deer! looooooove the ornaments! love your coloring! and of course, that kitty…adorable!
Such pretty vintage projects. Love the color combos and added details. Thank you, too, for the chance to win.
Sammibug in Ohio
Very cute cards and tag! I like the retro/vintage look of the stamps. Thanks for sharing!
Fabulous cards & tag today.
I just love the vintage look of those cute little deer and the colorful Christmas ornaments! The Christmas feline on you tag is so much fun! Thanks you once again for putting together this wonderful Christmas gift as well as sharing so many beautiful card ideas!
Wow! These look so much like the cards my parents exchanged when they were young!
I continued to be amazed at all of the effort that you put into organizing this extravaganza PLUS making spectacular cards. Love the vintage looks of the cards today!!
These are all great stamps and cards. But I love that kitty!!!
My you’ve been busy! Gorgeous projects! Lovely colouring! ?
I love your pretty retro Christmas cards and tag!
Purrfect coloring on these retro festive cards!!! So supreme and creative!
Love your cards-especially those deer! Your coloring and detail are great! Your team did a wonderful job also.
Wow! Amazing projects, absolutely love the retro images. All perfectly combined with wonderful details. The deer had me, then I saw the fabulous kitty tag – in love!
eeek how can I possible pick which is my favorite! But those deers are just adorable.
I like the 2nd one – love the mix of gold embossing with the soft colors!