Hello everybody! And welcome to Day 9 of Advent Calendar Extravaganza!!
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 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 9, 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 Newton’s Nook Designs! One of my old favourites, I fell in love with them from their first release of their awesome stamps, and then loved them so much that I ended up on their DT for a while too! Newton’s Nook have some truly adorable stamps and dies – but it’s the cat-themed images that always capture me! Newton’s Nook are headed up by the my friend Jennifer, who is super sweet, and to top it off she and her husband are geeks like me too! I’m so thrilled to have them sponsor the event again this year!
Newton’s Nook 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 just love the Santa and Elf kitties on this card! So fun!
I stamped all my images with Versafine ink and then coloured them with Prismacolor pencils. I fussy cut them all out, lined the edges with a black marker, then set them aside to use on my card. You can’t make it out from the photos but the presents and parts of the images have touches of shimmer too!
I blended some Catherine Pooler It’s A Boy ink over my card base, then die cut a couple of hills and coated the edges with glitter. I used the same glitter on top of the North Pole as well.
I adhered everything in place with Pinflair Glue Gel for some custom dimension. I love the sentiment that’s from the Sentiments Of The Season set too – I stamped that with red ink and with gold ink for a fun two-tone effect!
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
Okay, I have commented there & there and now I am commenting here!
Very cute cards and a very clever hop!
Another stamp company I’ve never heard of. Thank you. This is adorable. Love your design. Happy Holidays!
The two tone sentiment is so pretty with your Santa kitty scene
Super cute card – great coloring and adorable kittens.
what a great scene–love the ombre sentiment too!
Love your adorable card! Fabulous coloring on the sweet kitties and I love those mice!
Such a cute card! Love those sweet kitties!
Oh those kittens are certainly on the nice list!
Love your cards. And love the little scene you make. Thanks for sharing and having the Advent Calendar another year.
Love Newton’s Nook! You introduced me to them last year! Still precious as ever…love your card!
I like your coloring of this cute North Pole Scene.
Love your adorable card!
This is so cute! The little mice and the adorable kittens!
Oh;,the kitty in the green Santa suit checking his list is especially precious. What a fun, happy card. tfs And thanks for doing this challenge!
Such a cute card and a fun blog hop! Thanks!!
Such a cute card.
The scene on this card is lovely. Thanks for sharing.,
Very cute!
Those kittens are adorable, and beautifully colored!
I love the soft coloring!
Just darling!
Great colors in this.Love the placement.
Your card is so cute, love the coloring too! I love your idea of an advent calendar, I look forward to it every day!
These kittens are adorable and I love your cute card!
Sweet card made only sweeter with TWO Newtons! Love the colours.
Oh Taheerah, this is AMAZING, your colouring Is perfect. Such a beautiful card. Very well done.
I’m having such a wonderful time. Your card is so sweet. Thanks for sharing…
Love your NND scene! Wonderfully done!
so cute!
i saw your blog at Tatianas blog so I come to visit you.
Love your card! Love Newton and cats!
so cute!
hugs
Lovely card Taheerak, love Newton’s images, so sweet!
Love the card – so cute! Thanks for your inspiration
I just love Newton’s kitty stamps. You created an adorable scene with these stamps.
Adorably cute kitty card!
Such a cute card! This advent calendar extravaganza is so much fun! Thank you for sharing.
Love your sweet little card featuring Newton! I really enjoy your work as well as this company.
Your card is SO cute, Taheera. I’m a big fan of Newton’s Nook, and your card really makes him look SO sweet. Thanks again for orchestrating this fun event.
Blessings to you,
Karen Letchworth
http://www.karen-mycuprunnethover.blogspot.com
Loving all these kitties on your card
What cute little critters!
FABULOUS holiday creation!
Hooray! I was hoping that Newton’s Nook would participate. Newton is just the best cat out there to color. And these stamps? Priceless. I love the coloring you did on the cats, especially the one on the left. S/he looks like our old blue-point Siamese, which is a very impressive subtle look to get. In fact, I enjoy all the coloring; I love pencils, but I know they can take forever to do, so thank you for all the time you spent on this card! And, as always, mad props to your organization skills. Do you have just a massive Excel file or something where you keep track of what goes when and what links to stick in the code? I would definitely need a system like that.
Super cute kitties on your Christmas card.
Another adorable card!! Thanks!
CUTE, CUTE, CUTE CATS! LOVE your coloring, I would like to learn how to do that!
Cute card….you did a wonderful job coloring all the images!!!! Another great day of fun….thank you!!!
Your beautiful kitty and mice scene is so perfectly colored and designed!! Love that you made each kitty differently colored and added those adorable mice to the Christmas scene!! Wow, tons of fussy cutting and added glitter!! Such purrrfection!!
Aww…your card is so sweet!
Gorgeous card:-)
Very cute kittens but it’s the two-coloured greeting that gets my biggest tick.
What an adorable card! Beautiful set and scene! 🙂 I’m so glad to be playing along and left some love on all the participating blogs for Day 9! Thank you 🙂