Angelic Advent Calendar - FFFC #225 'Anything Goes'

Hello.

We've got another new challenge today at the Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge blog.  For the next fortnight, the theme is 'Anything Goes.'  So it's easy peasy...everybody's favorite!  Check out the details at the challenge blog and also what my teammates have created to inspire you to play along with us.

As for me, this is what I've created...an Advent Calendar.

There are 25 stars there, each numbered from 1 to 25 for the days in December leading to Christmas.

and each star can be flipped over to the back of the card.  

I'm using sort of a side-step card as the base for the advent calendar.

I don't have a large-star die (sigh), so the big stars were all cut out by hand...ugh.
I did that with the clouds as well.  For the templates, I searched the internet for cliparts of cloud images and enlarge them.

A closer look at the rubber-stamped images being featured.

This cute little angel is called 'Dancing with Stars Tilda.'

And this one is called 'Little Tilda.'
Both these images are from the 'A Little Christmas Collection 2012' from Magnolia Stamps.  I've done the colouring with alcohol-ink markers and coloured pencils.

Okay, that's it for me for now.  Much appreciate you dropping by.  Enjoy your day and have a wonderful weekend!

Materials and Tools Used:

Designer Papers:  Recollections Starry Night paper pad  

Dies:  Number dies bought from Amazon 

Punches:  EK Success Star; Marvy Uchida Star

Miscellaneous:  Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink stamp pad Walnut Stain

Colouring medium:  Alcohol ink markers from Letraset - Promarkers and Pantone Trias; coloured pencils to help with the shading

Advent Calendar With A Circular Base Tutorial

Hello!

This posting is to show how to make a circular advent calendar/chest of drawers, similar to the one I created shown below...(originally posted HERE)

It's the same concept as in matchbox crafts.  If you don't know what matchbox crafts is, click on this Pinterest site to get an idea.  It's basically arranging and adhering individual matchboxes to form your chest of drawers and then decorating it.  One matchbox consists of a drawer and a casing.

For this circular advent calendar/chest of drawers, the drawers and casings are of course not rectangular but rather pie-shaped.  To be more exact, each drawer-and-casing is 1/8 of a circle so there are 8 of them on one circular platform.

This is not hard to do...really, it's just very time consuming!

Use heavy weight paper, something similar to what I used here which is this Strathmore 300 Series Bristol paper 100lb. (270 g/m²).

Here are the templates: 

3" Drawer and Casing Template in PDF

3 1/2" Drawer and Casing Template in PDF

4" Drawer and Casing Template in PDF

Front-Drawer Panels PDF

I'm just going to show how to create one drawer and casing.  I won't do the whole advent calendar all over again as I simply don't have the time right now...sorry, but too many things on my plate right now.  But I wanted to get this posted as some of you have asked for it and you may want to get started on your own advent calendar.  I may edit this posting at a later date--'may' being the operative word...LOL.

You will need 8 sets of drawers-and-casings per level.

For my advent calendar, the drawers on the top level are 3" deep, the 2nd level drawers are 3 1/2" deep and the bottom level drawers are 4" deep.  But if you prefer, you can make the drawers on all 3 levels the same, then you will get a cylindrical advent calendar/chest of drawers.

MAKING THE DRAWERS

Cut and score as per template.

Slice up the drawer-front section as shown.

Fold along scorelines.

Adhere the 3 side flaps (indicated by arrows) as shown.

Apply glue to a drawer-front panel and adhere as shown. 

Make sure the side of the folded panel that's a wee bit shorter is inside the drawer.

MAKING THE CASINGS

Cut, score and fold as per template.

Adhere the side flaps as shown.

ASSEMBLING

Once you've created the 8 drawers and casings, glue the 8 casings together to form a circle for the one level.

When you've formed the 3 levels, then you can start constructing your advent calendar base. 

Place regular circular cardstocks between the platforms and for added strength also add circular chipboards to the top and bottom.

This is how I've layered the base of my advent calendar starting from the bottom up:
-  8 3/4" circle chipboard
-  8 3/4" circle coloured cardstock (use a colour co-ordinating with how you're going to decorate later on)
-  Bottom level of drawers and casings
-  8 1/2" circle coloured cardstock
-  Middle level of drawers and casings
-  7 1/2" circle coloured cardstock
-  Top level of drawers and casings
-  6 3/4" circle of chipboard
-  6 3/4" circle of coloured cardstock

Okay, there you go...I think you can take it from here.  Decorate as desired...and have fun!

(PS.  I would love to see what you'll make with this, so send me a link to your creation. Thx.)

Winter Wonderland Advent Calendar - Magnolia-licious Holiday Blog Hop

Hello.

We're kicking off another seasonal blog hop at the Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog. This is our 'Holiday Blog Hop'.
If you're already taking part in our blog hop and have arrived here from the ever-so-talented DENA's blog, then you're on the right track.  In case you get lost along the way and want to get back on route, here's a list of the participating DT gals in blog hop order:

Dena
Norma (you are here!)
Katie
Julie
Barbara
Cathy
Jane
Chris

Karen
Becky

Suzi

Patti Jo

And so....on to my project.  I've made an advent calendar.

I wanted a circular base rather than your basic square or rectangular one.  This was oh sooo much harder to figure out how to do, or maybe because it took me longer to do...LOL.  I took me 4 - 5 days just to put together the bottom part of this advent calendar.

This is a like a matchbox craft, but rather than having your drawers made out of your usual rectangular matchboxes, they are pie-shaped.  Each drawer and its casing is 1/8 of a circle, so each of the three circular platforms has 8 drawers making a total of 24 drawers, for the number of days in December before Christmas.

The pine trees were made by layering individual poinsettia leaves/petals (from a Spellbinders die set) around a paper cone. I painted gesso on the leaves and when dry, applied glue and then covered them with white micro-fine glitter.

Edited:  You can find the tutorial for this advent calendar HERE.

Here are close-ups and the names of the Magnolia Stamps images being featured:

- Christmas Eve Edwin from the Winter Wonderland Collection 2013

- Tilda With Two Little Gifts from the A Christmas Story Collection 2012

- Jingle Jangle Tilda from the A Christmas Story Collection 2012

- Winter Tilda from the Sweet Christmas Dreams Collection 2011

- Tilda in Christmas Coat from the Merry Little Christmas Collection 2010

Magnolia Stamps are available from Magnolia-licious, Diana's on-line store where she carries a large selection of both full-size and mini Magnolia stamps.  And if you don't see the particular one you are looking for, ask Diana if she can bring it in for you.
Check out also the stamps from Wee Stamps, Wild Rose Studios, Candibeans, and now Saturated Canary.
Magnolia-licious also carries cutting dies from various companies including Memory Box, PoppyStamps, Magnolia Doohickey, Wild Rose Studio.  Have a look!
Prices are discounted, you get excellent customer service and you also get to earn 2% credit towards future purchases.

I hope you will participate in our Holiday Blog Hop.  There are prizes!!!

There are 2 ways to win during the blog hop: 

- By totalling the numbers from all DT posts.  Participants will e-mail Cathy the sum (cathyleeinco@yahoo.com).  A random winner will be chosen from all the correct responses.

- By participating in the Blog Hop Challenge and creating a Holiday project.  A random winner will be chosen from all the entries.  

Winners will each receive a $50 Gift Certificate from Magnolia-licious.  The hop will run until the end of November. 

As for me, I am entering my advent calendar into these challenges:
Not Just Cards Challenge #5 - Anything Goes
Creative Fingers Challenge #55 - Anything Goes
Crafty Cardmakers and More Challenge #126 - Cut It Out
Inspiration Destination Challenge #5 - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create Challenge #96 - Anything Goes
I ♥ Promarkers Challenge #243 - Three Of A Kind (3 platforms, 3 stars in the garland)
The Paper Shelter Challenge #180 - Is it too early for Christmas?
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #201 - Anything Goes
Glitter n Sparkle Challenge #109 - Anything But Square
Stamping Sensations November Challenge - Christmas

That's it.  Thanks for stopping by.  Your visit is always very much appreciated.  Enjoy your day.

Before you go, if you are playing our number scavenger hunt game, the number you need from me is:  4.

Now for your next stop, hop over and visit the super talented KATIE to see what she has to share with you.

Materials and Tools Used: 

Sentiments:  Computer generated

Designer Papers:  K+Company EB Visions of Christmas paper pad    

Dies:  Crealies Creative Shapes No. 20 (numbers); Spellbinders Layered Poinsettia 

Punches:  EK Success and Martha Stewart punches for the stars

Miscellaneous:  Compass, Protractor, Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink stamp pad Walnut Stain; Jewel Glitter Ritz micro-fine white glitter; chipboards, wooden plugs and beads, gesso, white felt from my stash

Colouring medium:  Alcohol ink markers from Letraset - Promarkers and Pantone Trias, coloured pencils 

Holiday Blog Hop at Magnolia-licious

Hello.

Woo-hooooo.....we're having a Holiday Blog Hop at the Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog.  Actually it's the Magnolia-licious and the Scor-Pal Design Teams coming together for this Blog Hop.  And this is both a Game and a Challenge.  What's more, there are HUGE prizes from Magnolia-licious to be won!!! 

So first, if you didn't come here from the Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog, click HERE to hop over there and get the complete details of the Blog Hop and how to play along. Then you can come back here as I am the first one (yikes!) on the list of participants.

And so.  For my Blog Hop project, I have created this Advent Calendar. 

Here are some close-ups to showcase the Magnolia images I am featuring and also for you to get a closer look of the background scenery.

 

- Tilda with Snow Heart from the Sweet Christmas Dreams Collection 2011

 

- In The Snow Scarf Tilda from the Winter Wonderland Collection 2013
- Mini North Pole Tilda from the Winter Wonderland Collection 2013
- Mini Show The Way Baby Rudolph from the Winter Wonderland Collection 2013
- In the Snow Heart Tilda from the from the Winter Wonderland Collection 2013

- Mini In The Snow Ski Tilda from the Winter Wonderland Collection 2013
- Ski Edwin With Snowflakes from the A Christmas Story Collection 2012

Magnolia stamps are available from Magnolia-licious, Diana's on-line store where she carries a large selection of both full-size and mini stamps.  And if you don't see the particular one you are looking for, ask Diana if she can bring it in for you.  Check out also the stamps from Wee Stamps, Wild Rose Studios, Penny Black and Candibeans, along with cutting dies from various companies and other crafting items.

What I have done with the little boxes is to put the dates in December before Christmas on one side and then on the other side I've placed some letters. 

 

 

So each day in December, you pull out the day's box, take the goodies out (yummy), turn it around and put it back in with the letter showing.  Oh, and eat the chocolate of course.  By December 25, you will have a holiday phrase--similar to what you're doing in this Blog Hop, except you don't have to unscramble it yourself...tee hee.

I made the numbers--printed, coloured, added glitter, cut out, etc.--but I was running out of time, so I bought some alphabet sticker sets at my local dollar store.  As you can see, I ran out the capital 'S'...arghh.

Challenges I am entering with this project:
Crafty Calendar Challenge - All Things Christmas
Designed To Color Challenge #23 - Christmas/Wiinter
Stamping Sensations November Challenge - Christmas
ABC Christmas Challenge - W for Winter Wishes
Divas By Design - Something Snowy
Fab 'n' Funky Challenge #193 - Anything Goes
Crafting By Designs - Anything Goes With a Twist of Christmas
One Crazy Stamper - November Christmas Challenge
The Crafty Blogger Network Challenge - Christmas
Challenges 4 Everybody Challenge #33 - Anything Goes

Okay, that's it!

And now, for you hoppers, I have a couple of letters to give you.  They are:  t, Y

Thanks for stopping by.  To continue with the blog hop, head over to the very talented Katie Tate's blog. 

Materials and Tools Used:
Papers:  Strathmore Bristol 300 Series 100lb.
Designer Papers:  Recollections Batiked My Interest Cinabar; K+Company EB Visions of Christmas paper pad
Dies:  Dee's Distinctively Large and Small Snow Covered Stacker Tree; Memory Box 98143 Twiggy  Tree; Poppystamps 809 Pine Tree Border; Impression Obsession Pine Branch; Spellbinders Petite Scalloped Circles (for the pinecones)
Miscellaneous: 
Colouring Medium:  Alcohol ink markers from Letraset - Promarkers and Pantone Trias

Merry Christmas To You!

Hello, everyone!  And a Merry Christmas to all of you!  I hope you're all having or going to have a fabulous time with family and friends.

Okay, I promise this is the last advent calendar card that you are going to see on my blog...that is the last card this year!  LOL.  I had planned for this card to be posted on Christmas day, so I've set the advent calendar date to Dec. 25 when I took the pictures, before giving the card to my sister and her family. 

This image of Tilda in Winter Light, is I think still my all time favorite Christmas Tilda...or one of...LOL  She is from the Merry Little Christmas Collection 2010 from Magnolia.  The bench is a CC Designs Sugarplums Park Bench image.

Magnolia-licious, Diana's on-line store, is an excellent source for your Magnolia images.  You can find both full-size and mini stamps.  However if you can't find the one you want there--like this Tilda one because it's out of stock as it's from a 2010 collection--ask the lovely Diana if she can bring it in for you.
Oh, and check out also the adorable images from the upcoming With Love Collection 2013.  They are ready for pre-orders!

I've coloured my images with markers--Letraset Promarkers and Pantonte Trias.  I didn't do any masking, but rather I've cut the Tilda image out and then for an added 3D effect mount her on foam tape.  I've used some liquid appliqué to add patches of snow on the bench and the overhanging branches and pinecones--I love that liquid appliqué! My friend Christine--she's a doll-- sent me a tube of that stuff.  A tube goes a long way!  Thanks, Christine!
Don't know if you can tell from the pictures, but I added glitter to the snowflakes and the snow on the ground.  Oops, forgot to sprinkle some yellow/gold glitter around the lantern so that it looks like the light is haloed around it...agghhh!!!

Challenges for this card:
Crafts and Me #115 – Winter Wonderland Bumper Christmas Challenge
Basic Grey Challenge 84 – Anything Goes
Tilda's Town  – Challenge #32 – Something Christmas 
Unique Crafters - All about Christmas 
Whimsy Stamps Inspirations #54 – Anything Goes as long as it's festive
You, Me and Magnolia Challenge #4 - Christmas
Lovely hAnglar or Sweet Magnolia Challenge #59 – Anything Goes
Craftyhazelnut’s Christmas #103 – Anything Goes as long as it's Christmas 
Top Tip Tuesday Challenges #92 – Anything Christmas goes

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I appreciate the visit. 

Enjoy the holiday season.  And please stay safe!!!

Materials Used:
Stamps used other then mentioned above:  Inkadinkadoo 'Winter Wonderland'
DP's: K&Company EB Visions of Christmas paper pad; Basic Grey euphoria/felicity; Making Memories BigDot Rouge Paperie
Dies: Dee's Dinstinctively Small Snow Covered Stacker Tree; Cheery Lynn Designs Pine Branches; Spellbinders Petite Scalloped Circles; Memory Box Whimsical Flourish; Crealies Creative Flower No. 18 for the larger snowflakes
Punches: Martha Stewart Scalloped Dot and Snowflake edge punches; Floral Punch Stamen FLP 012
Miscellaneous: Tim Holtz distress ink stamp pad Walnut Stain; Marvy Uchida Liquid Appliqué; Jewel Ritz micro-fine glitter Cool Highlights; Zutter binding wire
Colouring Medium:  Letraset Promarkers and Letraset Pantone Trias (-T)
- face and skin--blush, coral, vanilla, oatmeal, pastel pink
- hair and boots--umber, burnt sienna, caramel, sandstone
- red shades--burgundy, 702-T, 701-T, 692-T
- bench--umber, cinnamon, tan
- lantern--mustard, pastel yellow, buttercup
- white areas--warm grey 5-T, cool greys 1-T to 4-T