Advent Calendar Extravaganza with Taheerah Atchia
Happy Monday everyone! I’m so thrilled and excited to be part of the Advent Calendar Extravaganza, hosted and created by my sweet friend Taheerah Atchia!
When Taheerah came up with this idea, she asked a bunch of her crafty friends if they would be interested in partaking in the event… of course we all said YES!!! The idea of having a surprise everyday – just like a true advent calendar – was such a fun concept and we all couldn’t wait for the event to begin!
Advent Calendar Extravaganza is -the- festive event of the season! This ‘hop with a twist’ was dreamed up by Taheerah Atchia and features surprise destinations each day! Joining in the fun with Taheerah are over 60 special guests – each serving up some fantastic Christmas inspiration! Just like an Advent Calendar, you’ll never know where you’re going to be visiting next until you ‘open the door’!
And that’s not all! With 25 *amazing* sponsors taking part as well, your crafty wish list is bound to get a boost with a chance to win a prize EVERY SINGLE DAY!! Join in the fun every day at taheerah-atchia.com to see what special surprises wait behind the door!
So, I’m sure you’re now wondering what I’ve created for this very special event. Well, here it is…!
I love playing with distress inks and I used them in this card to create a wintry backdrop to my sentiment and snowflakes! I used an ink smooshing technique to apply my distress ink colors to the background; the colors I used were Peacock Feathers, Spun Sugar and Seedless Preserves. To add shimmer to my background, I used water that was mixed with Perfect Pearls to mist my inks with, instead of plain water.
My sentiments are die cut from the Merry Die-namics die from My Favorite Things (cut from silver glitter paper), and the Joyous Wishes die set from Penny Black Inc. (cut from white cardstock).
I also die cut snowflakes from the Simon Says Stamp Stitched Flakes die set and scattered them around the background along with sequins from Pretty Pink Posh (Ballerina Pink, Suger Plum mix, Holly Jolly mix and Sparkling Clear mix.
Isn’t this color combo so much fun?? I love how pretty it is… the cool tones of the background are perfect for winter and by simply changing up the sentiment, you could use this design all winter, or even year round!
MORE INSPIRATION, GIVEAWAYS & NEW PRODUCTS
I hope today’s card has inspired you in creating your holiday projects! Be sure to hop on over to Taheerah’s blog to check out the rest of today’s surprise destinations… I hope you’ll be joining us for the rest of the Advent Calendar Extravaganza… it is sure to be loads of fun!!
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 Newton’s Nook Designs so you’ll definitely want to get your hands on it! Simply leave a comment on this post to enter – then head back to taheerah-atchia.com and leave a comment there too to double your chances! Don’t forget to grab the other surprise destinations from Taheerah’s blog and head over to them to leave comments there as well to improve your odds even more! You have until 7am EST on Thursday 31st December to leave all your comments!
Speaking of distress inks… did you see the newest color that came out for December??? CANDIED APPLE! Definitely a must-have red for your distress ink collection!
Also, Simon Says Stamp just released their annual Die-cember collection! You can see the entire collection here, and these are my favorites from the release:
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PRODUCTS
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Simon Says Stamp STITCHED RECTANGLES Wafer Dies sssd111455 In Stitches[/one_fifth][one_fifth padding=”5px 5px 5px 5px”]
My Favorite Things MERRY Die-Namics MFT MFT543[/one_fifth][one_fifth padding=”5px 5px 5px 5px”]
Penny Black JOYOUS WISHES Thin Metal Creative Dies 51-058[/one_fifth][one_fifth padding=”5px 5px 5px 5px”]
Simon Says Stamp STITCHED FLAKES Wafer Die s329 Create Joy[/one_fifth][one_fifth_last padding=”5px 5px 5px 5px”]
Pretty Pink Posh 4MM SUGAR PLUM MIX Cuped Sequins[/one_fifth_last]
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Pretty Pink Posh SPARKLING CLEAR MIX Cupped Sequins PPP120[/one_fifth][one_fifth padding=”5px 5px 5px 5px”]
Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad SPUN SUGAR Ranger TIM27164[/one_fifth][one_fifth padding=”5px 5px 5px 5px”]
Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad PEACOCK FEATHERS Ranger Spring TIM34933[/one_fifth][one_fifth padding=”5px 5px 5px 5px”]
Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad SEEDLESS PRESERVES Ranger Fall TIM32847[/one_fifth][one_fifth_last padding=”5px 5px 5px 5px”]
ZIG Wink of Stella GLITTER CLEAR Brush Tip Marker 025320[/one_fifth_last]
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US Artquest MATTE Perfect Paper Adhesive[/one_fifth][one_fifth padding=”5px 5px 5px 5px”]
Neenah Classic Crest 110 LB SMOOTH SOLAR WHITE Paper Pack 25 Sheets[/one_fifth][one_fifth padding=”5px 5px 5px 5px”]
Strathmore WATERCOLOR PAPER PAD 9×12 Bound 360109[/one_fifth][one_fifth padding=”5px 5px 5px 5px”]
Sizzix BIG SHOT MACHINE Gray And White 660425[/one_fifth][one_fifth_last padding=”5px 5px 5px 5px”]
DCWV Cardstock 6 x 6 GLITZY GLITTER Paper Stack Matstack MS-019-00052[/one_fifth_last]
LinkDeli Free 15 day trial
I love this card! I’ve been especially drawn to untraditional Xmas colors this year, this is fabulous !
What a beautiful background.
OBSESSED with ink smooshing!
Gorgeous!!!! I love this project!
Love the color combo!!
Beautiful card – background is gorgeous! I love it and distress inks too!
Such a breath-taking background and card! Love it! Blessings, Melitta
Love your watercolors. Thanks for sharing your wonderful card.
Crafty hugs,
Dawn
DesignsByDragonfly.blogspot
Stunning card.
beautiful colors
Love the dimension on the Christmas sentiment!
This has all the color and drama and sparkle for a New Year’s Eve party…… woot woot.
beautiful card
Love the background and bright colors.
What a stunning card! Love the watercolor background with the fabulous colors!
What a stunning card! Love the watercolor background and the glittery sentiment!
Gorgeous card, love the distress inked background!
LOVE LOVE LOVE that background with the die/sentiments…..
Such a pretty background!
Love, love the colors of your snow scene background. Very, very pretty. Great card!
I love the background colors!
Love the watercolor look paired with the sparkle of the Merry. Great card.
A very colorful card and so pretty! MERRY CHRISTMAS!
The colors, here, are fantastic! Will come back to this, for reference.
This background is absolutely amazing! I love the non-traditional colors and all the glitter and sparkle you’ve added here. So pretty!
Gorgeous soft background with great sparkle and dimension too. Beautifully designed.
Yes, I love this color combo, too!
Yes, I live this color combo, too!
Lovely card. Love the large sparkly word and the non traditional colours
Love the colors of your card!
You card really gets me into the mood of Christmas!:) Simply lovely!:)
Your watercoloured background is simply gorgeous!:)
Your card is simply stunning!:)
gorgeous b/g
Love the non traditional colors. Great card. Thanks for sharing.
Your card is absolutely gorgeous. The glitter looks just beautiful with
the background you created.
Aaaah, soooo pretty!!!
The background is fabulous…great card!
Fabulous background :-)
Beautiful! TFS
What a fun card!
Oh I love the colorful background! TFS =)
Love your background.
What a fun and colorful background, looks very striking.
Very pretty! Love the color combo and lmaking a note of the ‘pearlized’ water to use with the distress ink. Cool idea!
Gorgeous card Nina-Marie! Amazing background!
Beautiful card! Your colorful background is perfect for the shiny sentiment. TFS
MAGICAL card Nina-Marie!!!
LOVE your BEAUTIFUL background, the colours are SO PRETTY, LOVE your layered sentiment too, the mix of fonts, sizes and sparkle are DELIGHTFUL!!!
THANK YOU for sharing your CREATIVE INSPIRATION :)
Your card really captures the dazzling and magical of Christmas!
Wonderful watercoloring and glittered die! Beautiful card!
Wonder watercoloring and glittered die! Beautiful card!
Beautiful bg, Nina-Marie! Love the mix of fonts for the sentiment.
i am in LOVE with this card! it is gorgeous!
Amazing background and I love the die cut sentiment! Thanks for the inspiration!
I really like the colorful background and the small “Christmas” superimposed on the large “Merry.” The snowflakes tie it all together. A fantastic card!
beautiful card!!
Gorgeous! The colors in the background are super fun and I love all of the sparkle!!!
Fabulous card! Very trendy and fun!
Very pretty! I love the background!
So pretty! Love that gorgeous background and the sparkly letters!
Gorgeous card!! Thanks for sharing!
What a beautiful card!! Love the colors with the distress inks
This is SO pretty, the background is amazing!!
Very pretty card and such gorgeous colors!!
A beautiful sparkly & festive card with a lovely modern colour twist. Hugs Bev x
Lovely card! Great colors.
Beautiful water color background to make the silver and white Merry Christmas pop off the paper!
those are my favorite Christmas colors. It is so much fun when you use dies on your cards
Beautiful card! Love the colors and all the sparkle!
love this! great choice of colors and I think I need the new distress ink!
Love the background
And the bold sentiment
Love the bold die cuts on the watercolor background
Gorgeous holiday card!
Beautiful card! Stay blessed!
What a beautiful card! Love the pinks and aquas!
Beautiful card! Love that background ♥
Love the sparkling words and fantastic background!
Yummy! Love the distress inked “smooshed” colors. So pretty! Also love that silver sparkle paper you diecut. I NEED that TH candied apple ink. MMMM…
Wow!!! Lovely, pretty and elegant!
Beautiful card! Elegant yet relatively simple. Love it.
Awesome card. The beautiful coloring, the design, the die cuts, the glitter……you couldn’t ask for anything more.
Fantastic card Nina-Marie. Love the pink and blue background. So bright and cheerful. The silver block letters look great.
I instantly pinned this to my site on Pinterest because I love it and I have most of the things I need to make this card or a variation of it.
Your background colours are so pretty & the glittery merry word finishes it beautifully.
Beautiful cards with the sparkly merry.
I am *crazy* in love with this card Nina, it’s amazing!! Thank you so much for being a special part of my event! <3
gorgeous!
what a pretty color combination!
Love your colorful background, Nina-Marie…smooshing and all. Could definitely be used all winter!
Good heavens Nina Marie this is PRETTY! Seriously!!!!! I love it! Great job.
Beautiful card! I love these terrific colors!
Take Care!
Michele
Fabulous card!! The background is gorgeous!!
Wow–such pretty colors and I like the sparkle.
What a pretty card! Love the colors & sparkle. Thanks.
Your shimmery ink smooshing is fabulous, Nina-Marie … what a stunning background for that sparkly, glittery sentiment! Anita :)
Gorgeous ink smooshing…love the happy Christmas card.
I love this ink swooshing technique and I’ve got to give it a go, but I’m going to take a page from you and use Pefect pearls in my water for that pretty glow your card has! I love your color choices, so pretty and the dies really looked beautiful as well. Thanks for being a part of this Advent hop, it really is a blast seeing who is behind the door each day and getting inspired by each of you!
I love everything about your card. I so want to give that background a try today. Thanks for the inspiration!
Beautiful card!! Love the background!!Very nice!!
-Berina
Moxie Craftie
Pretty colors, Nina-Marie! Love it!
Oh how gorgeous this
card is! Love the background
and the glitter letters.
Carla from Utah
I love the watercolored background with the silver sparkly sentiment!
Lovely vibrant colors.
BEAUTIFUL Card! LOVE that background!!
Happy Holidays!
Have a GREAT Day!!
Beth
Really stunning design!! Love your background! :)
Hello Nina! I LOVE the vibrant colored background!
Beautiful card! Love the colors in the background! Awesome ‘Merry Christmas’ and snowflake dies!
Wonderful card! I love the dimension you added under the sentiment. Thank you for sharing!
Ohh, this is such a dazzler, Nina Marie. Love how you use distress inks and the mix of those awesome dies!
Beautiful background and awesome glitter!
Sweet inspiration, love those colors!
Absolutely dazzling card!! Love the big sparkly letters and that wonderful background.
<3 J
jwoolbright at gmail dot com
HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com
Gorgeous card! I love it!
Beautiful colors on this card! Love the big glimmery die cut word!
Wow, beautiful card—love the colors in the background and the sentiment and snowflakes just pop! Thanks so much for sharing.
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
I love the new red ink. It is bright and crisp – a clear red.
Love your card. It does reflect the chlll in the air.
thanks for sharing.
Oooh, GORGEOUS!! Love!
Perfect wintry mix of colors!
Such a lovely card!
wow…love the colours…so beautiful!
GORGEOUS!!!
Such a gorgeous card!
Oh that background! Lvely
Gorgeous colours to showcase the pretty, bold, shimmery Merry! The scattering of snowflakes and the white Christmas die cut…perfect special touches! Thank you for being part of Taheerah’s Advent series!
~carol
Love the background!
Gorgeous background! Love how it sets off the pretty alphas and snowflakes!
Love this die cuts. You made them shine! Thanks for sharing.
The color smoosh is wonderful. Love the use of the 2 different dies for the sentiment: really packs a punch for me. TFS
Absolutely beautiful! Love the colors!
What a great card. All that sparkle makes it very festive. Cheers.
what a fun and bright card, with sparkle and shine! TFS
Love the dimension and wintry BG on this beautiful creation!!!