Advent Countdown~an "interactive" approach...In My Creative Opinion~25 Days of Christmas Tags, Poppystamps Challenge #15~Tempting Tags, Addicted To CAS #78~Joy, CAS-ual Fridays CAS Challenge #146~Snowflakes, Dragonfly Journey #34~Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?, Little Tangles Challenge #63~Create a Tag

Hello,

A chat-and photo heavy post to show you why I'm so behind in my Christmas card-making.  For the past three years, I've made  Advent Countdowns (or ups, as the case may be) for my niece and nephew. This year was no different...and, as I was last year, I was TOTALLY inspired by a variety of tags from Tracey's spectacular 25 Days of Christmas Tags series.

Of course, I was running late in getting the entire project completed before our recent trip to visit my family in late November, but I figured, as long as I had a few days' worth done, I could mail the rest (I'm still working on days 17-25! Ack!).

I began with the first three tags...and after making the third one (they're little but time-consuming, as many of you know), I thought, "Wait a second here...why am I doing all the work? Ms. T and Mr. C know how to glue things on and *taps head with finger* they might have more fun if they played a role in the "calendar" creation."  Thus, a strategy was born, My goal was to streamline the process....hahahahahahahha! NOT! Indeed, I easily doubled the whole production, but it's worth every minute invested.

Here's the scoop: Tags #1-3 are singles, made exclusively by yours truly. Tags #4-16 - where the 'brain wave' begins -  include two tags for each date, a couple of images and the whole kit and kaboodle tucked into little bags - aka "kits" - for the kids to make.  Tag 4, for example, has a white tree and an accompanying bag of sequins for them to decorate the tree as they see fit; Tag 5 has four jingle bells for them to arrange, and so on...

What you see in the photos are my 'placed, but not adhered' Aunty C versions of what the tags might look like. What they "will" look like...who knows? A five year old and a three year old are in charge of that!!  Yes, some of the die cuts and embellishments might be challenging for them to work with but  hey...mommy and daddy are part of the process, too, right? Right!

Anyway...here's part of my Advent project for two of the loves of my life...

All the tags are from the Stitched Mainstreet collection from Poppy Stamps, and images...well, you'll see the assortment. The tags were inspired by either Tracey or her guest designers; links are included...

Inspired by Day 5, Joanna's tag

Inspired by Day 10, Lawn Fawn showcases

Inspired by Day 10, Lynette

Here's where the 'interactive' aspect of the project begins....the little 'kits'...Remember: the only things adhered are the date tags...the rest are up to the creativity of Ms. T and Mr. C.

Inspired by Day 5, Tracey

Tag with its accompanying bag of sequins 

Inspired by Day 6, Vicki

I missed taking a photo of the second tag...it looks like this one. 

Inspired by Day 6, Tracy

Because I wasn't sure they'd know the die cuts were ornaments, I stamped one on each tag; forgot to take a photo of the blue one! Again, the kiddos are providing the 'finishing' touches.

Inspired by Day 3, Tracey

Do you wanna build a snowman?  

Inspired by Day 12, Irena and Tracey

A little forest for a couple of shimmery red foil cardstock deer. 

Inspired by Day 10, Christiana

They each get a toque-and-scarf sporting, knitting sheep...

 Inspired by Day 17, Tracey

Some solid stars and star outlines to create their own stars of wonder...

 Inspired by Day 10, Tracey  

Two penguins, two glittery snowflakes and one joy...

Inspired by Day 8, Jeri

Of course Ms. T and Mr. C are 99% nice and perhaps 1% naughty...and totally adorable!

Inspired by Day 6, Marybeth

Gingerbread house to decorate...it's hard to see the stars in the background...they're a deep red

Inspired by Day 13, Tracey

Wreath decorating...

Inspired Day 24, Tracey, Ardyth,

Presents for under the tree and an angel for the top...

Inspired by Day 1, Jean

LOVE this moose (don't look too closely at my colouring...practicing, still!)

I added a moose and tree for them to colour...

Days 17-25...ongoing! I'll post once I'm done.  Note to self: plan smarter - and earlier - next time!!

I'm also sharing at:

Poppystamps Challenge #15~Tempting Tags

 Addicted To CAS #78~Joy (Tag #11)

CAS-ual Fridays CAS Challenge #146~Snowflakes (Tag #1)

Dragonfly Journey #34~Do You Wanna Build a Snowman? (Tag #7)

Little Tangles Challenge #63~Create a Tag

THANK  YOU so much for your patience in strolling through my 'attempt to be creative' Advent project for my niece and nephew. Hope they like it! I'm looking forward to seeing what their version of the tags will look like...

Snow Family...Cupcake Inspiration Challenges #339~Let It Snow, 4 Crafty Chicks #275~winter

Hello,

How swiftly the December days are passing...and I'm still making Christmas cards!  Of course, despite being late and perhaps immensely a teensy bit panicked some cards will be late in doing so (my first batch went to my mom), I'm loving every. single. minute. of creating them.  Still, I need to get a move on....

Today, we Cupcake gals are inviting you to join us in Cupcake Inspiration Challenges #339~Let It Snow, with this delicate-snowflake-decorated cupcake to serve entice you.  Almost too pretty to eat...well, for a minute or two...

Source

Our sponsor is Sparkle N Sprinkle, who generously provided us with digital images to work with, as well as $15 gift certificate towards digis for this week's winner.

My card features Snow Family...a grandma and grand-daughter snowman. Oops...should that be snowpeople?  Snowgrandma and snow granddaughter?  Whatever the case, they make a darling twosome, so I coloured them up with the soft blues and pinks from the inspiration photo, and let them be, as they so deserve to be, the stars of the stage.  The little one, carrying a heart...incredible sweetness!  

Your turn; c'mon and play along!  Looking forward to a 'blizzard' of 'snow' inspired cards in the gallery!

I'm also joining at:

4 Crafty Chicks #275~Winter

Thank you for spending some time with me; wishing you a wonderful day!

Shimmery Snowflakes...Inkspirational Challenge # ~Flakes, TIME OUT Challenges #45~Inspired by Words, Cute Card Thursdays #402~Festive Colours

Twenty...as in 2-0 days until Christmas! Ack! I'm nowhere near ready! Cards will be late...but they'll be coming...Deep breath.  Deeeeeppppp breath!

Okay...simmering down...Time to invite you to Inkspirational Challenges #97, where this two-week inspiration is

Our talented Guest Designer, Jane, along with my wonderfully creative DT

Pia 

Shauna 

Sandie

Marina

Kim
Nonni

and I, have an assortment of fabulously festive "flakey" cards to share with you. Inspiration? Only yes, yes and yes; please go to the Ink site to see.

I saw an adorable snowman stamp from IO a while back, with a sentiment that read, "Some of my best friends are flakes." I was tempted, but resisted, as I didn't want to potentially offend anyone but...seriously, it was so totally cute. I imagine the people I'd send it to would appreciate the humour (I hope...). In hindsight, should have bought it; I'll add it to my Santa wish list.

My card is obvious snowflake direction: a trio of inlaid snowflakes, cut with shimmer paper, accompanied with some TH sentiment die cuts. My poor cuttlebug is experiencing issues of late, so as simple as this card "should" be to make, it wasn't!  I'm adding new die-cutting machine to my wish list, too (gosh, I hope I've been less naughty and more nice this year!).

I set the die cuts from the inlaid areas aside and, as I was drooling my way through Tracey's recent 25 Days of Christmas Tags series, I came upon Kelly's sweet tag from Day 5:

Now that was a temptation I couldn't resist, so the white snowflakes made their way onto a tag, which I'm sharing over in Tracey's gallery, to accompany my card:

Your turn...bring your *flakes* to the stage! See you in the gallery!

Also sharing at:

TIME OUT Challenges #45~Inspired by Words:  Snowflakes are Winter's Butterflies

Cute Card  Thursdays #402~Festive Colours

CAS-ual Fridays #146~

Thank you for spending part of your day with me!  Wishing you a wonderful Saturday!

Nativity Cards...Addicted to Stamps and More #173~Holiday

Hello and Happy December 1st...already!

I'm joining my fabulous DT over at Addicted to Stamps and More #173, for a challenge most apt for this time of year: Holiday

This past weekend, we enjoyed fabulous time with my mom and, of course, my niece and nephew. My husband treated the two of them, along with my brother, to an afternoon at West Edmonton Mall's waterpark: a five acre site comprised of a zillion water slides (or so it seems!), a huge wave pool and a series of smaller attractions, for those who love water. That latter statement certainly applies to my niece and nephew who, along with Uncle A and Daddy, enjoyed five hours of fun, frolic and splashing. Aunty C and Bacia...well, we are not water babies so we spent part of the time shopping, part of the time watching the antics of the little ones (and big ones, as it turns out!). Everyone slept very well Saturday night after the full-on, full-tilt, no-holds-barred energy excursion! Our trip also gave me opportunity to deliver the Christmas cards I made for my mom; some she'll mail to family and friends, while others will go to residents in the seniors' home where she volunteers.

Today, I'm sharing one, of a series, of Nativity-themed cards that headed her way, using stamps and dies from PTI. This is hardly an original design, but I did my best to infuse it with a few of my own touches and ended up making three (I'm not good at mass producing...) because I liked the results (so much prettier in real life). The background and starry sky are teal, with navy ink sponged on the sky for some 'depth,' and the Bethlehem silhouette is popped up...

The trio

accompanied by a few more versions, also made as triplets. Why, oh why, didn't I keep a couple to send myself! Oh well...back to the drawing board, which is a-okay because I love making Christmas cards.

Mom seemed pleased and that, ultimately, is what counts.

I'm looking forward to seeing your Holiday-themed cards in the gallery; I know you have some! For added incentive, the winner for this challenge will win a $15 gift certificate from

I'm thrilled to have a few of Kylie's stamps (and soon, dies...butterfly dies, to be precise!) in my collection; they are nothing short of fantastic!

My card is also off to:
Uniko Challenge #27~Christmas (optional twist of CAS)

Hope my card brought a little "Christmas" to your day...thank you for visiting!

Hugs,