Friday, December 9, 2011

SIMON SAYS STAMP AND SHOW...SOME ELEMENTS OF TIME

Happy December everyone!
The Countdown to Christmas has begun!

I love advent calendars.  However, somehow, when the time comes to make such
a calendar, it is past December 1 before I realize that I have not even
started to gather the materials I need.  
So...when Simon Says Stamp presented the challenge for this week, I decided
that I would make an advent calendar for the final countdown before Christmas.
My advent calendar starts the countdown on December 21.

This is my entry for the Simon Says Stamp and Show Some Elements of Time Challenge.
http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.com/2011/12/simon-says-stamp-and-show-some-elements.html.

Just last week, I picked up this lovely little wooden shadow box.  I did not know exactly what I would do with it, but I just knew that I had to have it.  When this challenge came along, it fit the bill to a "t".

The top of the box shows the title of my project...
Christmas Final Countdown.



Here is a full view of my project entitled
 "Christmas Final Countdown".



The shadow box has a glass door on it.  I opened the door so that you can see all
of the lovely little "bits and bobs"  (I love that expression!) that are inside the box.

To start the project, I lined the inside of each compartment with misc. paper from my stash.  Then I trimmed each compartment with some tissue tape from Tim Holtz's collection.  I glued a wooden bingo number (Maya Road)  to the back of each compartment for each day in the countdown.
Here is a picture of one compartment shown before any figurines have been added. The blue felt trim is from a Martha Stewart collection of ribbons. 
 


The very first compartment  (DEC) holds a plush dog figure  that was taken from a key chain and has been recycled for this project.  "December" has been represented by
a wooden stamp.    The "Rejoice" embellishment was taken from the packaging for a Bo Bunny Christmas card kit.


The second compartment  (21) is the same one shown above but with snow figurines added to it.  All of the snow  figures and the mini Christmas tree are being recycled here.  They were originally part of a lighted mini display .The lace at the top of the box is from a Maya Road collection. 



The third compartment  (22) holds another recycled snow figure.  The crystals on the right side of the box are from a Martha Stewart collection, and the "Merry Christmas embellishment is from the Bo Bunny packaging as in the compartment containing the plush dog.  The metal snowflake is a brad buddy from a Hot Off The Press collection. 


The fourth compartment (23) holds a miniature teddy bear.  The teddy bear has been embellished with a wool yarn scarf and hat and some holly.    The heart embellishment is from the Bo bunny Christmas card packaging as mentioned above.



The fifth compartment (24) contained a recycled snow figure.  The polka dot trim is from  a Martha Stewart collection.  The background paper (misc. from my stash) has cardinals on it and so I decided that the snow figure needed his own birdhouse to attract some bird friends.  The mini birdhouse that I used (bottom right of compartment) was part of a mini straw wreath (which is now broken) and the birdhouse was just too adorable to throw out.  I am glad it found a new home in this compartment.





The sixth and final compartment (25) holds an old-fashioned miniature Christmas tree. I used a mini fastener from a Tim Holtz collection to attach a dangling bead ornament to the top of the compartment. Some misc. ribbon and a wooden bingo number from Maya Road are the finishing touches for my Advent Calendar.


Here is a final picture for you to enjoy.  It is a view of the shadow box when it is closed.  It has been decorated with holly and ribbon from a Martha Stewart collection.
  The stocking that is attached to the bottom right-hand corner is a misc. piece from my stash.




Unfortunately, I could not find the mini chocolates that were to go in each compartment. (Did somebody eat them?)  Oh well, I still have a some time to replace them before my
Christmas Final Countdown begins.

I hope you enjoyed having a little sneak peak at my
Christmas Final Countdown advent calendar.
I enjoy receiving your comments and I sincerely thank you for visiting my blog.

Karen