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
Fabulous Holiday Card. These kids are cute and I love the background.
Darling card. Love the layers.
Yes, having fun looking at all the cards on the blog hop thanks for doing it.
Super cute!
Wow!! What a stunner of a card, Taheerah! I love the bold and beautiful background with the hint of shimmer. The white balances all of your awesome accents and touches just perfectly. Thanks for the inspiration today!!
Very beautiful background sky and love all the white on the card/Thanks for have the Advent again this year,
Another fabulous addition to the Advent Hop. What an amazing design!
Beautiful job! Done with love I can tell!
I love the unusual burgundy, white and gold colourscheme. The background is simply gorgeous and it all looks so very festive!
I just adore the color of your sky and how great your card looks – so warm and inviting.
Love that background colour with the touches of gold! Beautiful scene!
I love the coloful background on your sweet scene card!
The background on your card is stunning.
Sweet card! Love the red background with all the snowflakes and the little girl is very cute.
How gorgeous! What a great way to finish off the tops of the snow banks. I always wonder if there’s something I could add to mine. The kids look like sweet stamps to colour. Fun card.
What a creatively cute card! Love the coloring and composition!
Lovely card! Love the background!
How fun. This card looks like my back yard now! I am really liking the Advent Calendar format. Every night I come home from work and can’t wait to see who the designer and sponsor is for the day. There are so many creative people . Thanks for sharing your talents with us and inspiring us, too.
Love the background colour, so pretty.
Gorgeous card. Love your back ground and a super cute stamp set.
A great sponsor today.
DebbieC
Love the cute card with just the right touch of sparkle. Am also enjoying getting to learn about new blogs and companies via the Advent Extravaganza. It’s been a fun activity.
Beautiful card! Love the colors, layers, adorable pals, and how you balanced it all out!
It always fun learning about a new to me company especially one that has such cute stuff. Love the background of your card.
Those children are adorable as is the rest of the card!
Love the snow shaker card at Pretty Pink Posh website.
love the background for these softly colored images!
The red background is truly amazing!!! And I love this stamp set! The gold glitter is a perfect touch!!!!
Lovely sparkly winter scene on your card.
Fun card. Love the pretty red combined with the gold. Thanks!
Fantastic card.
Love all of the snow falling on the little girl.
Great coloring.
thanks for sharing.
Ohmygoodness, I LOVE the colors in your sky background here!!!
Another fun card. Love the pink background:)
What an adorable, Christmassy scene, Taheerah … the reds in the background are gorgeous with the gold! Anita 🙂
I love your gorgeous background!
Such a cute card. Love the kids holding gifts. Great detail and fussy cutting…love it 🙂
This is just stunning! Gorgeous background and the color is beautiful!
Love PPP!!!
Such a sweet card!! Love the background with the snowflakes!
Love the background! It is so much fun to see all the new inspiration each day!
Such an adorable card. I have learned so much from this event and we’re only half way through.
What a cute fun card. Simply adorable.
Absolutely love the gold in this card. Must try! Thanks for sharing!
Very pretty card – love the colors you used!
Such a pretty card! Love that color background!!
I love the non-traditional color of the sky on your cute card!
Your little Christmas scene is adorable! So many details you added, to wonderful effect.
I am so enjoying seeing all the inspiration on your Advent Calendar. Thanks for gathering these wonderful cards for us to see.
Love your card using PPP products!
This is such an adorable card!!! I love that you used a lot of gold embossing. It just looks stunning. And your background is amazing!!! I love the colors you used. They are just so pretty.
Love these two cutie pie images! Your card is wonderful, Taheerah!
I’m loving your pretty
pink card! The hills
and the people
are wonderful.
Carla from Utah
That red background is stunning! Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight as they say!