Echo Park ~ Christmas Joy #1 🎅🏻

 Hello, it’s Anna back with you today. For my final post this month I’m sharing an advent calendar that I have created using Echo Park ~ Christmas Joy. 

You can find the collection {here}

I used a pre made paper advent bunting from Hobbycraft as my starting point…

I then cut 24 squares of coordinating cardstock from the matchmaker pack and adhered them on to each of the bunting pouches. 

I used the Simple Vintage Holly Jolly Number Bits to add a number to each of the bunting squares. I placed them on to start with and then gradually began embellishing each one.

 

I used stickers from the Element Stickers to embellish some of my pockets. 

I also fussy cut some florals and candy canes from patterned paper in the collection -

Festive Floral 

Popular Poinsettia 

Candy Cane Gifts

I also used Nuvo Drops to add some extra detail to some of the pockets. 

I added some chocolate coins to each of the pockets and then strung it across my mantle piece and now it’s all ready to go for the 1st of December. 

Why not have a go yourself? 

For everything you need to document and create for Christmas, Papermaze has a dedicated Christmas section on the website which you can find here. 

Thanks so much for looking! 

🎄See you next month 🎄

Anna 

@acraftylifewithanna

Simple Stories ~ Boho Christmas

Hi all, it’s Anna back with you today! 

With the countdown to Christmas officially on, I’ve created a homemade advent calendar! 

For my Christmas posts this year, I’m working with Simple Stories Boho Christmas, which you can find in the shop here. 

I brought a paper advent calendar base from Hobbycraft.

I started by adding a piece of cardstock to each of the pockets, using various patterned papers from the collection as well as cardstock from the matchmaker pack. 

I then decorated each of the pockets with some embellishments, which included the cardstock stickers from the collection and some 2x2 elements.

I used the number die cuts to add to each pocket, showing which day of the month each pocket is for. 

To decorate the top part of the calendar, I cut some cardstock to size and added the ‘good cheer’ sticker, along with some punched starts and some Nuvo drops around the edge.

I added some mini chocolates to each pocket, ready to enjoy each day of December!

What kind of things do you make for Christmas? 

Thanks so much for looking! 

See you next time. 

Anna

x

@acraftylifewithanna

Simple Stories ~ Hearth and Holiday 🌟

Hi all, it’s Anna back with you today! 

It’s December and the countdown to Christmas is on! With this in mind, for one of my design team posts this month I wanted to make some form of advent calendar. 

I have made advent calendar’s for the blog before, which you can find here and here. 

My idea for this advent calendar meant I wouldn’t have as much space as my previous designs, therefore I decided to make it a ‘12 days of Christmas’ advent calendar rather than the full 24/25 days.

I am working with Simple Stories Hearth and Holiday collection, which you can find in the shop here. 

To create my advent calendar I created 12 items that could be hung from a wooden dowel. I used twine to do this. 

For days 1,2,8 and 12 - I used tags from the ‘Tags’ patterned paper simply cutting them out and punching a hole at the top and threading twine through. On the back I attached gold chocolate coins using foam pads to stick them down.

For day 3 - I cut out two star shapes from brown paper. I then tore the edges rather than cut out the stars and then hand stitched the two pieces together. Before I completed the sewing I added in some chocolate treats. 

Day 4 - To create day 4’s advent treat, I used an envelope, mounted with some Kraft cardstock and two triangle shaped pieces from ‘spreading cheer’ I mounted the number onto some red cardstock and added some stickers from the combo sticker sheet. 

Day 5 - Using red cardstock, I created a 3D triangular prism, where I could easily insert another chocolate treat! I added a strip of  Holly & Jolly along with some more stickers. 

Day 6 - Again I created a 3D element in the form of a small gift bag. Inside I added a nail varnish and embellished the front of the bag using red cardstock and a bow from the combo stickers. 

Day 7 - This one was made by using a toilet roll tube and wrapping it up in the form of a Christmas cracker using brown paper. I embellished the front by adding a strip of red cardstock and some combo stickers. 

Day 9 - I wrapped up a Christmas treat using brown paper and then added a piece of ‘Holly&Jolly’ patterned paper to the front. I wrapped lots of twine around it which I could also use to tie the parcel to the dowel.

Day 10 - I followed a template to create a 3D gift box out of the B side of Holly and Jolly.  Again I wrapped twine around it to create added texture and decoration as well as using it to tie to the dowel. 

Day 11 - For day 11, I created a stocking, this was simply made by using red cardstock. I hand-drew a shape of a stocking and cut out two pieces. I used gold thread to sew them together and then added a strip of Kraft cardstock along the top of the stocking. I added my treats into the stocking. 

To create the numbers on each of the advent pieces, I used my silhouette cameo to cut numbers in different sizes out of white cardstock. 

Thanks so much for looking! I’ll be back again before Christmas to share a scrapbook layout using this collection. 

See you soon!

Anna

X

Pinkfresh Studio ~ Holiday Magic

Hey!

 It’s Anna back with you today and I’m so excited to kick off the Christmas spirit on the blog with the latest collection I’m working with…

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be working with the bright and bold ‘Holiday Magic’ collection from Pinkfresh Studio. 

Just in time for the start of December, I have made an advent calendar for my first project… 

To create this calendar I used a diy fillable calendar box from hobbycraft. 

I then set about altering it using my Pinkfresh goodies. 

I began by measuring the squares and creating a template. I used the template to cut out a covering for every door using a variety of patterned papers from the collection.

I used Santa’s workshop, Greatest Gift, Holly Jolly and Warm Wishes.  I also used some coordinating cardstock to do this. 

I used various pieces from the ephemera pack to embellish each door, but you could also use the puffy stickers and die cuts to do this too. I adhered some of the ephemera using 3D foam pads to add some extra dimension. 

I embellished each door further by adding lots of Nuvo drops and enamel dots. I also added wooden numbers to each door. 

I filled each door with a little treat and I’m all ready for the countdown to Christmas with my very own diy advent calendar! 

I’ll be back soon with a layout using this collection! 

Thanks for looking, see you soon! 

Anna 

X

Cocoa Vanillia Studio ~ Merry & Bright #1

Hello and Happy December to you! It's Anna back with you today kicking off a month of festive scrappy cheer for you to enjoy. There is so much to look forward to this month to get you into the festive spirit and inspire your Christmas crafting.

This month I'm working with Cocoa Vanilla Studio's Merry & Bright collection - take a look at it in the shop here. For my first project I have made a DIY advent calendar.

With the help of this beautiful collection, I solved a last minute dilemma of not being able to find many advent calendars - the Thomas the Tank ones didn't quite make it to the trolley... instead I grabbed some mini Cadbury treats and set about coming up with my own version.

I used a hanging wooden tree to make the advent calendar, which 'd love to say I made myself, however I brought this one from B&M. It comes painted white and glittery, along with some LED lights.

I used small envelopes for my treats to go in and decorated each one. I cut out the numbers from the 'Countdown' patterned paper and adhered them to each envelope along with some coordinating cardstock with some of the numbers and patterned papers - 'Jingle all the Way' and 'Oh Christmas Tree' with other numbers.

On some of the envelopes I used a stencil along with some Glimmer Paste to create a starry pattern.

I used some of the 'Accessory Stickers' to add embellishment, as well as Nuvo drops, enamel dots and some hand drawn stitching.

I finished by punching holes in the tops of the envelopes, adding the chocolate treats and tying them to the tree branches with twine. And there we have it, a DIY advent calendar to enjoy for the next few weeks. I hope to save the envelopes and recreate a similar calendar in years to come.

Thank you so much for reading, take care and I'll be back soon with a scrapbook layout using this collection.

x Anna x