Hello everybody! And welcome to Day 25 of Advent Calendar Extravaganza!! Merry Christmas!!
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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 a couple of years ago 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 a quick video that explains how to find those special links!
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 25, 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 Papertrey Ink! What can I possibly say about the industry giant that started me on this creative path and made me a part of the crafty community?! Papertrey Ink were my ‘gateway drug’ – the first company that got me started on stamping. I’ve been a huge fan of the timeless designs and fun products for so many years now. Their creative founder, Nichole Heady, is someone I am honoured to call a friend, and I was beyond thrilled when I approached her about sponsoring this event and she said yes! Nichole has just recently stepped down from Papertrey to pursue other opportunities, but their legacy, their amazing products, and their fantastic designs and Design Team will live on and continue with the Papertrey name! I am so thrilled to have them sponsor the event this year!
Papertrey Ink are generously sponsoring a $75 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’m finishing up this event with a modern take on a classic looking, folksy tree! I am kinda crazy about this colour combo, I have to say!
I used the tree and accompanying images from the O’Tannenbaum set to create my scene. I started by stamping the reverse of the stars stamp with a blush ink (misted a little with water before stamping), then stamped the branches/trunk with Cocoa Bean ink.
I stamped the branches with silver ink, then gold, then silver, then gold! This made a wonderful platinum effect – a great tip if you don’t have any platinum ink! I stamped the little stars, the star topper, the pot and the ‘snow’ (a baubles stamp from the same set) all with Versafine Ink. The sentiment is from the Pen & Ink Christmas set and finished off the look so well! I edged my card panel with white ink then heat embossed a little white embossing powder on it before adhering to my card base. I love how this turned out!
It’s not a party without a prize – and with prizes every day there are several chances to win! Today’s prize is generously supplied by Papertrey Ink so you’ll definitely want to get your hands on it! Simply leave a comment on this post to enter! Don’t forget to grab the other surprise destinations from behind the door, and head over to them to leave comments there as well to improve your odds even more! You have until 7am EST on Sunday 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!
Before we close, I just want to take a few moments and thank you all for visiting here each day. I hope you’ve loved Advent Calendar Extravaganza (certainly from your comments it seems that way!). To say this event is a huge undertaking is actually an understatement – there’s so much behind the scenes work you don’t see, and so so *so* many hours that I pour into making this a celebration to remember. I hope you’ve been able to enjoy the festivities and that it’s made your holiday season a little brighter.
I also want to take the time to thank each one of the awesome sponsors and amazing guests that have helped make this event what it is. It simply wouldn’t be the same without them, and they have been so inspirational and generous with their time and their contributions. I hope you’ll take the time to show them as much love as you have me – they all deserve it.
Don’t forget you still have until the 31st of December to get all your comments in, so be sure to visit all the secret links and play along. Fit it all in during your holiday season, and I’ll be ready to draw winners in the New Year to get 2018 off to a good start!!
And finally, I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas!! Thank you all so much for stopping by!! I hope you’ll still visit here between now and next year’s event too!!
Supplies
Such a beautiful stamp set! Love your design!
What a pretty card! Papertrey Ink has been my “gateway drug” into card making as well!
Such a beautiful card!! I can totally relate to your love of Papertrey Ink!!
What an elegant card for your grand finale! Love that touch of pink!! What a HUGE amount of work you put into this event, not just in rounding up fab sponsors, but in making all the cards – you rock!! I LOVE PTI, too!! I have a very long PTI wishlist to go with the ones already in my stash… what a fab grand finale!!
I love your card. It’s a beautiful way to end this Advent Adventure you created for us. I can’t believe it’s day 25 already, but it is and was so much fun and inspiration! Thank you and have a wonderful Merry Christmas today!
Great card, thanks for this great contest. Merry Christmas!
What a spectacular count down this was! Merry Christmas to you!!!!
Terrific card. Thank you so much for organizing the advent calendar once again. A lot of work I am sure but terrific fun for all of us who got to open exciting doors and see all the inspiring creations from such talented designers. A very Merry Christmas to you. Cheers.
Most fun blog hop ever Taheerah!! And I love this card …. such pretty colors and love the simplicity of the design. TfS!
Yay! You did it….what an awesome extravaganza this year! I can seriously understand what all goes behind the scenes so THANK YOU for all your time that goes into this very wonderful event. I enjoy it every year and I’m always soooo inspired by all of the projects.
Your final project is fabulous…..love the subtle pops of pinks.
I’m sure you’ll be hibernating for the next week….congrats again!
Beautiful card and a beautiful color combo! Thank you for once again hosting this awesome event!! I’m sure it is alot of work and we all love it. Thank you to your amazing sponsors as well. Merry Christmas!!
Taheerah, thank you for an amazing journey of cards, designs, talent and beauty! Seeing all the wonderful creations that you and everyone shared has been a wonderful inspiration. And the chance to win something is a fun bonus.
Thank you for the unimaginable hard work you put into all this. May your generosity come back to you many times over, and may the coming year be your best ever.
Thanks so much for all the time and effort you and the sponsors put into this hop. I was grateful for the video, I was confused last year and didn’t know how to do it. I have learned a lot, many helpful tips, and discovering a few new (to me) companies.
Happy Holidays and continued success in the New Year.
Taheerah, It has been so AMAZING an so much FUN joing you for this awesome Blog Hop, I have truly enjoyed it, it flew by and hope you continue this tradion next year!! Merry Christmas to you and your family and Thank You to all the sponsers, that was so generous of them. I loved your card for today the last day PTI is one of my very favorite companies. Thank You!!!!!
Wonderful way to end this extravaganza! Thank you for all your work on this! I look forward to it every year. Have a wonderful Christmas!?
What a beautiful card. Love the pink and black.
Beautiful card and series. Thank you for all of the effort you put into the Advent Calendar Extravaganza!
Beautiful card, Taheerah. The gold and silver together look great. Thanks for organizing this wonderful 25 days.
beautiful card to end this advent celebration – love the colors and design. thanks for all the work you’ve put into this blog hop – marry christmas!
Great card, Thanks for sharing!
Love your beautiful card!
Beautiful card! Thank you again so much for the fabulous Advent event! Merry Christmas!
Your cards always have such a modern, chic look to them, this one is no exception. Love the pink and gray. I love PTI products – I am waiting for a couple of items to be back in stock and will be ordering as soon as I can!
Sweet card and love the colors!
Great tree on your card.
What a fun way to destress from the season by looking forward to wee what is behind the door for 25 days! Love all the cards. Thanks and Merry Christmas! I Can not wait to see what 2018 brings!
What a clever way to achieve the platinum look. . such a lovely addition to your pretty card
Beautiful card. Thanks so much for the tip on achieving the look of platinum ink. Can’t wait to try that one. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
What a great technique you did here with the back of the stamp; I will definitely have to try that. Your card is beautiful and I’m kinda crazy about that color combo, too. Hope you have a beautiful Christmas spent with loved ones.
Beautiful card. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! This has been a fun 25 days??
What a fantastic job you did once again, pulling together the Extravaganza. I felt like a little kid, waiting to see what was behind the door each day.
PTI is such a fabulous company; perfect ending to the month-long hop. And your card is elegant, modern, and just plain pretty. Thanks for all the inspiration, and Merry Christmas!
Love how you did the pink with the back of the stamp. Your card turned out great. Thanks for organizing this fun event!
Merry Christmas dear Taheerah!!! I also love so much the Advent Calendars and your event is amazing!!! Thanks for all these amazing 25 Days! Your last card is awesome!!! This Xmas tree is so cool!!! A big hug from Italy!!! ?
Merry Christmas to all. Love all the inspiration and ideas.
Fabulous card ! Thanks for the inspiration!
What a cool tip about the embossing powder! Your card is pretty!
Lovely card! Very clever way to create a little background color. Great way to achieve a platinum embossed color, too.
Papertrey Ink is amazing. Today’s cards are over the top!
So pretty and I love the soft touch of pink! PTI is always the greatest co. love their stylish products and designs!
Such hard work goes in all 25 days to prepare this amazing event Taheera, I can’t imagine the behind scenes! Hats off to you and your team efforts! I really enjoyed with so much amazing creations, styles, techniques:)
Merry Christmas!
Gorgeous card…love the colors!!!
Merry Christmas!!!
Love the color combinations on your card too! So classy looking! Merry Christmas!
Gorgeous card, Taheerah! PTI are a wonderful company, for sure!
Thank you so much for organising this amazing event, I can’t even imagine how many hours it must have taken to organise it, but rest assured that it’s greatly appreciated – it was so much fun to have my own adult crafty advent calendar! And the most exciting bit is – the new year will bring prizes to some of your followers and readers – what better way to start a new crafty year? 🙂
Hope you and your family are having an amazing Christmas!
I love the soft pink you’ve put behind the lovely tree. What beautiful card!
Beautiful card! And I agree, PTI is a wonderful company, I’d buy everything they make if I could. I love your card, think I must make one exactly like it! Thank you for this Christmas event- it’s so fun & allows us to see many different companies & products. Merry Christmas!
Thankful for the advent calendar experience. Such a great idea. Such wonderful cards. Merry Christmas to you.
This is my first visit to your Advent Calendar but it won’t be my last! Too much fun!
Merry Christmas! I loved the advent calendar experience. So much fun.
Neat card. Thanks so much for having this blog hop. Great inspiration for Christmas cards.
Love the vintage feel of O’Tannebaum, and adore the contemporary twist you gave this great set. Lovely!
Gah how do you do it?? Your style sleighs me (lol, pun). This colour combo is so gorgeous and then you go and top it off by edging in white. Who even thinks of that? So perfect. Btw I now know why Altenew is sold out of their spicy yoghurt cardstock!! It’s the best right? Merry Christmas Taheerah, I hope 2018 is all you hope for. So glad to know you Jenny x