Welcome to Day Five of the 12 Days of Christmas Designer Series!
The designers have put together 12 day of holiday ideas. Our goal is to help you get ready!
We also want to give you the chance to win a YNS Store gift certificate! All you need to do is leave a comment on the 12 Days of Christmas posts right here on the YNS Blog to be entered in the draw. The grand prize is a $25.00 YNS Store gift certificate and two runner ups will each win $10.00 YNS Store gift certificates, the winners will be chosen randomly among all the comments left on the 12 Days of Christmas posts. The more 12 days posts you comment on, the greater the odds of winning. All comments must be left by December 8, 2017 and the winners will be announced on December 10, 2017.
Now we are going to pass this post over to Cassie Tezak…
Hi, all! Today I’m sharing my project for the Your Next Stamp 12 Days of Christmas series. I’m your designer for Day 5.
Now, nine times out of ten you will see a card for my design team projects, but today I wanted to go a little above and beyond my norm and make a really fun holiday advent calendar to kick off the season. Here’s a look!
I used a standard box die to make each day’s compartment. I die cut out twenty-five boxes and put them together in preparation for this. At the top edge of the box opening I stamped the snowy layer that is on each of the trains in the Santa Express Train Carts set using some simple masking. I used VersaMark Ink and heat embossed white embossing powder over top.
The numbers were die cut using The Bold Numbers Dies, and I used mostly gold glitter paper, except for the 25th which was done in the same dark gray as some of the boxes. I highlighted the numbers by putting the smallest of the Wavy Circle Dies cut out of white paper behind them.
These cute little boxes are just big enough to hold little treats and goodies. Another awesome idea is to add some holiday bucket list “to dos” in some of the boxes. Some of the things going on my holiday bucket list are: bake cookies, watch Elf, decorate the tree, and taking some holiday photos, but you can put whatever it is you like to do at the holidays!
Next I grabbed a bunch of different stamp sets that I knew I wanted to incorporate into this cute little train scene at the top of my calendar, and stamped them on Neenah Solar White card stock. I stamped them in Black Olive ink because I was going to be using my Copics. I used the sets: Santa Express, Santa Express Train Carts, Birdie Banner and Plan the Holidays. All of these pieces were colored in and cut out.
To make the trains stay popped up I cut little strips and bent them in half, attaching one half to the box tops and the other to the train wheels. It creats a pop up kind of look. For those pieces that look like they are kind of floating I cut strips of acetate to make it look like the birds were flying above the carts. I’ve seen a lot of people do this on those shadow box projects, and I really wanted to give it a go! I love the effect that it gives.
To finish off the card I added some shimmer pen and Glossy Accents, because I love both to add some extra details to projects.
Here’s a close up look at that golden day! Can you believe it’s almost December?? I can’t! I feel like it should still be October. I had so much fun making something other than a card today, and I hope you enjoyed it too!
Be sure to leave a comment before you go. What kinds of things would you put in an advent calendar if you had one? I think my family can expect some fun treats this season 🙂
Thank you so much for stopping by! I will see you again soon with another card!
-Cassie
Holy Hannah… I’m in love! WOWSERS this is an incredible make and just stunning!
Thanks for the inspiration.
Oh my goodness, Cassie, this is amazing!!! The cutest advent calendar I’ve ever seen? Awesome coloring too!
Wow! So much time and effort went into this project. I absolutely love it!
Jolly good! What a stunning showcase Cassie, this is such an incredible designing with cute expression train guys, so cheerful! Love it totally!
Super fun project. The kiddo’s would love this!
WOW ! Your calendar is fantastic ! The idea of the train is excellent, really a great creation.
Wow this is very creative! We use gift bags for each day of our advent calendar but this is sooo much cuter!
I would include a fun pair of Christmas earrings at the beginning of the month (so they could be enjoyed all month long!)
Thanks for sharing and inspiring!
Wow this is very creative! We use gift bags for each day of our advent calendar but this is sooo much cuter!
I would include a fun pair of Christmas earrings at the beginning of the month (so they could be enjoyed all month long!)
Oops, I’m so impressed I’m repeating myself LoL … please ignore this one! Sorry
WOW!! This is one of the cutest Advent Calendars I have seen yet!
I’m in total awe of your beautiful advent calendar. It’s absolutely amazing. All the little details of the train and the snow on each box truly make it something so very special and unique.
Your advent calendar is amazing, Cassie! I never had an advent calendar growing up and have actually never had one at all so I find them so intriguing! I think I would put candy or chocolate in mine. Thanks for inspiring!
Oh my goodness, what beautiful soft coloring.
Great idea
What a great idea! Have to keep it in mind for next year!
What a neat advent calendar idea! The train is such a fun touch.
What a great card! love all the trims you added.
Cassie, this is delightful. The little figures at the top of this project are so sweet. tfs
Wow! This is so gorgeous! What an amazing project! I love all the beautiful details and the unique color palette too!
Wow, what a fabulous project! It’s beautiful!
OMG! This is just AMAZING and so BEAUTIFUL!! I absolutely love the Santa Express Train & train Carts!! Awesome job!
This is amazing!
Mine would be full of chocolate:-))
This is simply divine! I have to put this in my favorites so I can try to make one; I love Advent calendars. I love the birdies!! I love the train, I love the cute characters like the gingerbread man peeking out of a train car. I think I would put a question of the day in every box; every family member would have to answer that question. For example, what is your dream vacation? Or what was your favorite book you’ve read? Questions like that.
That train is so cute. Luv it!
Wow! This project is amazing! It is so adorable and I can’t even imagine how many hours you put in on it. Fabulous job!
This is crazy cute! I’ve been wanting to get an advent calendar done for my grandson… you’ve spurred me on!
I love all the details!! Brings back lots of childhood memories of opening each day and seeing a surprise inside! Thank you for sharing!
What a fabulous advent calendar! so detailed and fun.
What a fabulous project. Love that adorable train and your coloring is awesome.
These are superb!! What a lovely creation!
OMG this project is just fabulous – you have so much patience and are so creative. Thanks for sharing:)
Oh my gosh, this is such a fun and beautifully made and colored project! I love all the details, especially how you floated some elements using the acetate. What a treasure. I’m pretty boring with what I put in the calendars–things like little candies, some money, or lip balm.
Ok, that is the best Advent calendar ever. Love it.
Amazingly done project. The train colors are smashingly out of this world. I would put an activity to do for the day in the Advent project. Ex. Playing a game of Old Maid. Walking through a grove of trees at the park and finding “treasure” of all kinds, and so on.
WOW! That is amazing!!! Very nice job.
That is so stinkin’ cute! I LOVE that Santa Train set and love Advent calendars, so perfect combo!
Such a fabulous project!
Wow, what a stunning creation! Lots of work, but very beautiful!
This is gorgeous. I love the idea of putting things to do in the boxes. Love that cut train. Hugz
I love this advent calendar, it’s so pretty!!! Great job Cassie!!
Wow, this is such an amazing project. Love all the details and especially the birds flying over the train carts!!
I love advent calendars. This is adorable!
This is awesome!! And adorable!! I love how you placed the train along the top; so fun!!
Love the Train and the icicles!! The are the finishing touch to this adorable Advent activity! Super cute project!
Oh wow, this is so fun!
This is so cute! I love the Santa Express at the top.
So cute with the train on top. Perfect for little toys and candy.
Fab, super cute project! Thank you 🙂
I’d put little trinkets in the boxes for a little girl.
Little cars or trucks for a boy.
Add some candy in some for a change-up.
Beautiful calendar.
thanks for sharing.
This is an incredible project!
Woah – this is amazing!!! I’m in awe of your creativity! Just WOW!!!
WOW! That is one fun and festive Advent Calendar!
Love how you decorated it with those flowers, train and animals.
Fabulous coloring work, too.
Thank you for the inspiration.
This is just a wonderful countdown project!! Fabulous work. I would put candies and small toys in the boxes if I made one.
I’ve never made an advent calendar before. I’ve seen several (including this one) over the last few weeks that are just stunning. I love the way you incorporated the birds.
fabulous project!
Your Advent calendar is one of the most amazing I’ve ever seen! LOVE this! I’ve made Advent calendars for my niece and nephew for the past 6 years – treats and activities always included!
~carol
The advent calendar is super cute, very creative! Thanks for the inspiration! My boys loves train, I need to buy that stamp set.
Oh my !! That’s the most adorable advent calendar I’ve ever seen !!
margessw@icloud.com
its amazng!
love it!
so cute! love the gold box!
How clever of you. While this looks overwhelming, you made it seem doable. The train pieces really add a very special touch.
So beautiful. I wish I had a little one to make this project for.
Wow this is beautiful!!! I absolutely love advent calendars. Homemade ones are the best. The images are perfect for this project…..the Santa Express, the train, so much fun. You did an amazing job. Thanks for sharing ? We love Your Next Stamp
Oh my!!! This is one of the most cute advent calendar that I’ve never seen!!! I like to put in my advent calendar fun treats, candies and small toys.
Wow, very cool!
WOW – this is amazing. A lot of work, but so worth it for someone special and when it turns out as great as this one!
So much patience in making this! Would love one for myself filled with scrappy surprises
Very fun advent calendar!
This is an amazing project. Thanks for the inspiration. Thanks for the idea.
Wow just Wow, I love this.
Amazing creation! Thanks for sharing and happy holidays!
Oh my goodness…..what an amazing project, not only a fun advent calendar but so adorable as well!
Eeek! In love with this one!
Oh my this advent calendar is just fabulous 🙂 Loving all the cute little boxes and festive train full of friends. Those birds are adorable! I think if I had an advent box calendar i would put in some uplifting comments and reminders to have “me” time, but also to do something nice for someone else.
What a fun advent! Love the train on the top!
This is so wonderful! Love all the detail put into it.
What a gorgeous project, so sweet.
Absolutely stunning, I love it.