Hello everybody! And welcome to Day 13 of Advent Calendar Extravaganza!!
In case you missed Day 12, click here!
In case you missed Day 11, click here!
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 13, 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 Pretty Pink Posh! Known far and wide for their awesome sequins and shaker mixes, Pretty Pink Posh also have a growing collection of dies and ultra cute stamp sets too! They are headed up by my awesome friend Paulina, who is truly an inspiration and a gem! I’m so thrilled to have them sponsor the event this year!
Pretty Pink Posh 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 had so much fun making this card! I loved building the scene with all the different elements!
I started by stamping and watercolouring the cute little kids from the Christmas Friends set. I used my Zig Markers for the colouring – love them! I also stamped and watercoloured a stack of presents too, pulling in some from the Holiday Pals set to shore up the haul! I fussy cut everything out and adhered some of the presents in their arms. 🙂
Next I set about that fantastic sky! I blended Festive Berries and Aged Mahogany Distress Inks over my card base, then splattered with a few mists for a fun look! Next I heat embossed the sentiment and snowflakes. There’e a lot going on in this sky, which is why I have so many white elements to help bring a balance to the card.
I die cut some snow banks to ground the scene (they are white, just didn’t photograph that well!), coating the tops with gold glitter and giving them a spritz with some Glimmer Mists for some sparkle! I heat embossed the trees from Holiday Pals, fussy cut them out and gave them a spritz too before adhering them, together with my kids. Lots of dimension on this one!
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
wow! so glad to find you! i just subscribed to your newsletter so am looking very forward to being inspired. thank you.
Cute & gorgeous–absolutely love this, Taheerah! I’ve never combined those 2 Distress Inks, but I’m writing it down so I can try it!
What an adorable and totally festive scene!!!
This turned out beautiful ! Love that red background!
Love the unique ombre red background!
What a beautiful sky you created! The colour is stunning and the snowflakes and water droplets are perfect! You finish it off nicely with the images. So festive!
Such a cute card! Love the background!
What a beautiful card!!! Gorgeous colors and beautiful coloring!!
Love how the card looks with the cute little children, at the same time you could take them off and have more of an elegant card. Great ideas thank uou!
Love the background on this card, thanks for sharing!
Heart-warming! The two kids look exactly like my niece and nephew, so that captured my heart immediately! The wintry wonderland you created for them is stunning; the red sky, the glittery gold snowbanks, the gold-tipped trees! I’d bundle up and join these two in a nano-second!
Hugs~c
Gorgeous card! I really love the sky background that you created! I would never have thought to combine Festive Berries and Aged Mahogany distress inks together, but the sky is gorgeous!
stunning! I love the deep red in the background!
Wow a red snowy background! How creative! The card is adorable!
Oh I do love the gold with what gives the appearance of red velvet. Lovely.
Sweet card.
Simply delightful!
Such a sweet card! Love the red background!
Love the beautiful background!
I love the sky on this card. It is so balanced and very pretty. Thank you for sharing your techniques.
The scene is so cute, and i LOVE the background!!
Beautiful and sweet card.
Such a sweet card! I absolutely LOVE the sky – awesome!
Really cute. I love the red background.
A very cute card. I like the background color.
Darling card! I love the cute little people and the beautiful winter scene you created! Awesome red background too!
Great background very cute card.
Such a sweet and innocent card, the background really makes the card!
Love the card.
I love everything about this card; your color choices for the sky are beautiful, the embossed sentiment, the gold glitter edge on the snow banks…everything!
Just LOVE the background and those darling gold embossed images — what a wonderful technique!
Such a cute scene, and I love the non-traditional colors you chose for the sky…Darling card!
Love your cute winter scene and pretty red background.
awesome card, I am loving all of your inspiration for the advent calendar event.
What a gorgeous background! Those little people are adorable, too. Thanks for the inspiration and chance to win. 😀
Love the sky, it is so beautiful.
Adorable card. I really like the background!
So adorable, love those sweet images! Amazing background, that color is fabulous!
Very festive background! Even the kids are enjoying it!
Ooooh! I really like the red background!
Thank you, Taheerah for this very pretty card. I love the children from the Christmas Friends set. The sky is magnificent with the ombre effect with distress inks and mist and snowflakes. Love it.
Totally adorable card!!!
I love the red background! It just makes this card beautiful!!!
Love the card. Nice use of color;the figures really say “Joy”.
Gorgeous card..the red and gold look awesome. Thank you for sharing
Beautiful scene card. I have not attempted one yet but I finally have all the supplies I need so maybe over the holidays…
Beautiful Holiday season scenery you have created just love your work
beautiful colours and I love the festive gold touches.
The background sky is amazing! Love the little scene.
Very cute scene and I like the touches of gold.