Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Christmas Countdown

Hello Peeps!

Are you all ready for Christmas???  Only 19 days left!!!  I haven't done an ounce of shopping (or, more accurately, purchasing) yet, but on the bright side, I can say that all of my cards are done.  Hooray!  It is so nice to not have to worry about finishing cards in December.  Speaking of, I am super excited that Sweet Stampin' has started up a monthly Christmas challenge and even more excited, though still somewhat in disbelief, that I was offered a spot with all the super talented gals on the design team!!

Although the challenge does not officially start until January, we are starting the fun early by having a pre-challenge in December while everyone is in the full swing of Christmas.  So, to kick things off it is nice and easy - anything Christmas goes!  I hope you'll join us and I'm looking forward to seeing your Christmas creations!

For my inspiration piece, I made an advent calender for my son.  Though I love how this turned out, it took a ridiculous amount of time to complete.  Luckily, when I found out about the first challenge, I had already glued all the little boxes together and painted and sealed all of the pieces.  I will not tell you how many hours that took, but in the end it was well worth the effort.


The DP is all from Bo Bunny's Midnight Frost line and I painted the calender dark blue to match.  (My first tip for Top Tip Tuesday - if you are making one of these calenders, it is much easier to paint the pieces prior to assembling.  However, do NOT paint the tabs because they will no longer fit in the slots.  I found out the hard way :(  )  The kit came with chipboard numbers, but I felt they covered too much of the box front, so I cut my own using the TH typeset die.  The numbers were cut from dark blue card and then embossed twice - first with Stampin' Up Iridescent  ice to make them really glittery and sparkly and then with Lindy's Stamp Gang Twilight Blue Slate which gives a beautiful two tone colour and looks really cool and shimmery when it reflects the light. ( My second tip for Top Tip Tuesday - embossing powders are a great way to change the colour or look of paper or chipboard shapes, numbers and letters.  However, most colours are only available in a matte finish or occasionally a metallic finish.  To add a beautiful glittery finish to your colour, emboss it twice - once in the colour and once with a translucent glitter embossing powder such as Stampin' Up Iridescent ice or Stampendous Star Dust.  The look will also change slightly, being more or less glittery depending on which one you use first, so have fun experimenting with it.)

For the background, I used shimmery white card to create the hills and snowflakes (which are a retired Stampin' Up die).  The trees are a TH die and were cut from dark blue card to create silhouettes.

I found the Christmas tree in the Christmas decor section of a local store - it was originally designed to go with those Victorian Christmas villages.  It was a bit too tall, so I cut it down a bit.  I decorated it with TH tinsel twine, beads, little bows and a string of lights, which was also a Victorian village find.  I made the star on top using wire and a jig.
I love that it actually lights up!  Here is a shot in dim lighting to give you an idea, though it looks much brighter irl.  This shot also shows the snowflakes in the background.
The birch trees were made using those long wire stems with berries that you can get from most all purpose craft stores (I got mine from Michaels).  I had purchased them with the intent of just using the berries, but then it occurred to me that the stems themselves actually looked like trees.  So, I cut it in pieces, shaped them and drew little lines using a grey Copic multiliner.

The image is by Penny Johnson for Stampavie and I coloured it with Prismas (the carrot and holly) and Copics (everything else).  I added some glitter to the turquoise hat.

If you haven't already, be sure to pop by the Christmas at Sweet Stampin' blog.  My teamies have made some gorgeous cards and projects to inspire you.  There is also an awesome prize up for grabs!  The winner will get surprise stamps from the Personal Impressions range at Funky Kits


and a set of Promarkers from Letraset!!!



And, as if that wasn't awesome enough, there is also a follower's candy up for grabs.  All you have to do is be or become a follower of Christmas at Sweet Stampin', post the candy on your blog and enter our anything goes challenge to be in for the chance to win this fantastic prize:



I would also like to enter my calendar in the following fun challenges:

Playing in Paradise - Mr. Masculine (I made this for my son)
Allsorts - advent
Crazy 4 Challenges - snowmen
Cute Card Thursday - snowflakes
Deep Ocean Challenge - so this is Christmas
Jingle Belles - anything holiday goes
No Matter Which Challenge - Christmas
Make it Monday - always anything goes
One Stop Craft Challenge - Christmas for the boys
Papertake Weekly - anything goes
Sparkles Christmas Challenge - button or bow
Stampin' for the Weekend - use some texture
Top Tip Tuesday - Christmas
Totally Gorjuss - anything goes with glitter on it (glitter on the hat, the numbers and the snowy base also has loads of glitter)
Totally Papercrafts - Anything Christmasy but a card

Ok, that is probably enough, heh?

Thanks so much for popping by, and for taking the time to leave me a much appreciated comment.  I love having the chance to visit you too.  And a big thank you and welcome to my newest followers - I really appreciate you and am so happy to have you along!

Hugs,

Dawn










32 comments:

Caroline said...

WOW Dawn this is stunning I love the design. Caroline xxx

Jessi Fogan said...

Oh Em Gee. Dawn, this is unbelievably precious & detailed! I don't even KNOW what to tell you I love best - the detail on those bare trees? The decorated tree? Holy moly. This is absolutely amazing! AND IT LIGHTS UP?! Your son must absolutely love it! So cool that you shared it at Playing in Paradise :)

Sue said...

WOW!!!! This is absolutely stunning Dawn. Such a wonderful design and beautifully decorated.
Congrats on your new DT place, it's easy to see why they asked you to join!

Sue

Helen said...

Fabulous! Although I don't celebrate Christmas, I want one of this.

KraftyKoolKat said...

This is really awesome Dawn and well worth your hard work. Congrats on the DT position. Thank you so much for sharing it with us at Totally Papercrafts and good luck in the draw.

Hugs
Cathy
xxxxxx

Eulalia said...

What a wonderful design and lovely colours!
Thank you to share with us on the Deep Ocean Challenge.
xoxoxo Eulalia

Unknown said...

Love your advent box and the fab paper you used. Thanks for sharing it with us at Make It Monday.

Faye said...

Dawn, I think this project is GORGEOUS and I love the tree! x

Chrissy said...

This is just stunning Dawn, gorgeous snow people cuddling there, and just love the tree..and all the details, such gorgeous eyecandy..I love it.

Luv CHRISSYxx

Gail said...

You've been busy Dawn!
The advent clalendar turned out great!

Donna Ellis said...

Hey, Dawn! Congratulations on the design team, how wonderful! Actually, I'll be one of the lucky ones who will get to see your beautiful artwork! I just love visiting your blog. Probably, I was looking so diligently in your post that I overlooked the obvious. Where did you find the wooden base for the drawers (or is it a frame)? I'd like to torture myself, too, and make one of these for my nearly 70-yo husband who always enjoys an advent calendar LOL - NEXT YEAR of course. Love the colors you used, and your choices of papers, die cuts, and that village tree! So pretty!

Unknown said...

Wowzie says it all! Incredibly gorgeous and awesome designing. I have to say the best I have ever seen in shadow box! Hugz

Unknown said...

Wow this is stunning Dawn, what a fantastic creation, I love the fun snowmen and everything about your advent calendar. Your son is going to love this xxx

Rachel said...

Wow Dawn, this is so beautiful! What a brilliant creation! Wedgie xxx

Desire Fourie said...

Dawn this is just gorgeous. Love the colours and embellishments. All the elements work so well together. I saw this on MIM and just had to pop over to have a closer look.
Hugs
Desíre
{Doing Life – my personal blog}
{Doing Life – 400 Follower Give Away}

Debbie said...

Congratulations on your DT position.What a stunning creation.You have made a beautiful piece that can be used year in year out.Thanks for joining in with us over at Sparkles Christmas challenge.Good luck.Hugs Debbie x

marion said...

Wowwwwww stunning !! So glad you could join us at NMWC, good luck, hugs, Marion

Colleen Dietrich said...

Oh my goodness! What a fantastic gift for your son! It's an heirloom, really. I love that tree, all decorated for Christmas. Great idea to put that in there. :)

Thanks so much for Playing In Paradise with us!

Anonymous said...

WOW hunny this is totally AWESOME!! I love love love this and great to find your new challenge blog! CHRISTMAS yay!! I will be adding your blog to our ABC Christmas Challenge sidebar as well as my own! well done and great to see your joined Totally Gorjuss too!

Sherryn said...

super fantastic project, saw it on MIM xx

marion said...

Here I am again :)
Thanx for becoming a follower, you brighten my day ! You make such fab projects that I now follow you too. I also have a candy going on right now, take a peek and enter if you want. Big hugs, Marion

Lindsay Craftymonster81 said...

Wow! This is absolutely stunning, the tree looks amazing and I love the snowmen, congrats on the dt very well deserved, well done
Lindsay xx

Jo Channon said...

What a stunning project WOW! Thankyou for joining us at the Allsorts Challenge for Advent this week. Jo x

An Occasional Genius said...

This is stunning Dawn! It is soooo worth the effort. Hugs xx

Unknown said...

OMG your advent calendar is awesome to say the least. Love every special detail. Thanks for joining NMW Challenges this month, good luck. Hugz Suzanne

mixamatoasties said...

Dawn, this is stunning!

Looking forward to working with you and getting to know you.

Thanks also for joining in at OSCC this week.

Susan

Julia said...

I saw your beautiful creation on Make It Monday and had to visit and take a closer look. Gorgeous! TFS!

My entries are: #9, #12, #30, # 87, # 126, #127, #128, #157, #172, #173 and #176.

I would love to have you visit my blogs: Paper and Scraps Creations by Julia and Me and Myself on the Dark…

Hugs,

Julia

Heather said...

What an exquisite creation Dawn, your colours, papers and details are so beautifully done!!!
hugs
Heather xx

Misty's said...

Hi Dawn
I've just popped by to say thank you very much for becoming my follower.
Your advent calendar is spectacular! LOVE it!
Michaela xx

Anonymous said...

Popping back for another peek and to day thank you for playing along at Top Tip too! love your Tips too! thanks for sharing them! xx

Dawn @ LilyPinkScraps said...

Wow!! Spectacular and stunning!! Just love it and I so admire the amount of work you put into it - fabulous :)

Fiona said...

this is absolutely stunning Dawn...love it!!

fi
x