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A Victorian Christmas!

Filed under Advent Calendar Kit, Giveaways, Kristin Batsel, Rhonda Secrist Thomas, Teri Calia, Victorian Christmas Tags Kit

Note: most of the links on this post no longer work, as we moved to a new Web site in 2018. But you can try searching on the same names (as links below) on the new site.


Wheee! It’s just a day after Halloween and we’ve got beautiful Christmas artwork, TWO kits, the new A Victorian Christmas collection, AND a swap! So this will be brief but filled with eye candy!

First, a new kit: Victorian Christmas Tags. This kit started with an idea for creating 25 tags in pockets that could be clipped up on a ribbon as an impromptu Advent calendar banner (or “housed” in a desktop box to contain them a bit more… and the same box could be used for displaying Christmas cards, too).

And as you can see in Design Team Member Kristin Batsel’s festive artwork, my idea for tags in pockets (in a box) has materialized! (I had dividers with tabs made to work in the same box rotated 90 degrees, but I love the wide display that Kristin made, too.) Note: the box and the dividers are not included in this kit, but are sized to work with the tags and library card pockets that are in the kit.

More info on the Victorian Christmas Tags Kit page.


And more artwork! Next up: a lovely shadowbox by Teri Calia, using the new Advent Calendar Shadowbox! This is a flat kit to put together an adorable wooden shadowbox with a central area (8″ x 8″) for building a scene and 25 cubbies to include little treats for each day of Advent.

Note: 24 cubbies surround the central area, and the 25th is a floating box (you can place it anywhere around the circumference of your central scene you’d like (maybe in the corner… maybe centered on the bottom edge, under a tree… you’ll need to decide and glue it in place, but the placement is up to you).

You can see how Teri chose to place the last cubby, under a snowy hill in the bottom right corner. I can’t begin to imagine where the Design Team will be hiding that last box in their upcoming projects.

There are also related pre-cut drawers, a new collage sheet AND a kit… more info on the Advent Calendar Shadowbox page.
 

Next up: a Christmas Tags Swap! If you’re a kit subscriber, your November kit already has everything you need to participate in this swap. If not, you can buy and kit at a discount (with return postage) on the swap page. (That’s where subscribers can sign up for the swap, too.)

Gorgeous swap samples by Rhonda Secrist Thomas are below. See more Design Team swap samples on the swap info page and in the Gallery.

And before I tell you (briefly!) about today’s Giveaway: there are bunches of bright and Christmasy new items (like those wee flowers at left), so please forgive my haste and check out the “What’s New” section to peruse them on your own.

 
Hooray for the Advent Calendar Kit Giveaway!


No surprise here! Today’s Giveaway is the Advent Calendar Add-On Kit


AND I’m including one of the Autumn Tea Gift Tags Collage Sheets announced in last Sunday’s newsletter — and that FREE gift is still on offer! FREE for all orders, regardless of order size! (A whole collage sheet… not just the 2 tags in my snippet!) More info!
 

To enter the Advent Calendar Kit Giveaway drawing all you have to do is leave a comment BELOW on this blog post TODAY or TOMORROW (the deadline is 11:59 pm PST, MONDAY NIGHT, November 2, 2015). AND tell me: Where would you hide that 25th cubbie?

Don’t forget to leave your (hello! correct) email address, too, so I can contact the winner; your email address does not need to be made public. Note: I’m offering free shipping, too, but only within the USA. International shipping will still apply.

Please be patient! Spammers try to post crap here a lot so comments are moderated. So if you don’t see your post in the comments section, be patient and check back in a few hours before re-posting it, please!

After midnight, I’ll randomly pick the winner (via Random.org). So make sure to check back to see who won! And check your mailbox on Thursday morning for the next Giveaway and Newsletter!

  
Posted by Leslie, November 1st, 2015

86 responses to “A Victorian Christmas!”

  1. I would love to make this I love everything here hmm where would I hide the cubbie? maybe fool them and switch it with the 24th!

  2. Evelyn Safiri says:

    VEERRRRRYYYYYYY nice! I like this shadowbox so much better than the dressers with drawers that I am seeing everywhere! How do you come up with so many clever and creative new products constantly?

  3. Michelle says:

    Wow, I haven’t had an advent calendar for the longest time. How cool.

    My husband was born in December and will be away for his birthday. I think I would hide something special for him in that last block. Christmas is also his favorite holiday.

  4. Lou Anne says:

    I think I’d hide the cubby in my Christmas tree.

  5. Kathy W says:

    I love the Advent calendar in boxes idea. I don’t know where I’d but that 25th box – maybe turn it into Santa’s sleigh?

  6. this would be so cute to make for the Holidays….an Advent Calendar…who knew….

  7. Linda Lipford says:

    What a fabulous kit! I would make the 25th blend in with the snow, numbers and all, and put it right in the corner where you have it now.

  8. Holly says:

    I’d make this for my daughter, who’s almost too old for something as magical as Advent calendars. I’d put a piece of jewelry, probably a pendant necklace, in the 25th box!

  9. Carolyn Bowlby says:

    My little great grands have never seen an Advent calendar. What a great Giveaway. Hope I can share it with them.

  10. Tracy says:

    I love this kit – I’ve been looking for an affordable DIY Advent calendar for a few years now. I would put one of those big bottle brush trees in the center scene and hide the twenty-fifth box under it, surrounded by presents.

  11. Sharon McDonagh says:

    I’d love to win! In addition to treats, it would be fun to put clues in the preceding boxes as to where the 25th box is hidden on Christmas morning!

  12. Karen Mallory says:

    I love this one!! I would hide it on the tree as it would be Christmas morning!!

  13. Jen R says:

    In the stocking!

  14. Laurie says:

    I would hide under the Christmas tree skirt.

  15. Traci says:

    Such a great giveaway-I love the idea of an advent calendar. I would love this for my granddaughter. I would add miniature religious items ending with the baby Jesus on Christmas morning. >^..^<

  16. Sandy says:

    What a beautiful box on display for the holidays. I love the little box right where it is. This piece can be decorated in so many ways. I really like this.

  17. Gilda says:

    What a beautiful give away. Thanks for a chance to win.

  18. Pam Weiler says:

    I initially thought I would create a Christmas tree with presents underneath it wrapping the 25th cubby as a present. However, I like a some of the ideas shared, especially making a sleigh out of the box.

  19. Kristine Martinez says:

    This looks like so much fun to create. I think I might hide the 25th box as a little cabin in some sort of winter scene.

  20. Kim Lucak says:

    CHRISTmas is my favorite holiday – thank you!!!

  21. Emily Ann says:

    Love the advent calendar!! I’d hide 25 somewhere in the middle scene.

  22. Lana says:

    I wouldn’t hide it all…i’d have it decorated and out for view. I always do advent, even if it’s just for the dog!

  23. marykay chisum says:

    AWESOME kit! I’d place box 25 center top.
    And please pick me. I never win.

  24. Marla b says:

    Love- love this advent kit and I’d create Christmas morning with fireplace and hanging socks filled with toys. I would hide the 25th box camouflaged in the fireplace hearth! Surprise! Santa must have dropped it when he came down!

  25. yvette leblanc says:

    Love it! I would hide the 25TH in a corner or have the der on top of it!!

  26. Lorna Dufrane says:

    Grand kids would love this. I’d hind the 25th in the sky, as it is the most important one.

  27. Kristie N says:

    Christmas and Victorian; what a wonderful combination. I would keep the 25th box in the same place. I think that is where it belongs.

  28. Cheryl Ferguson says:

    A nice looking kit. I like where they chose to put the 25th box.

  29. Anne D. says:

    Advent calendars are my thing and I enjoy making them for friends and family. These ideas are beautiful. Would love to try my hand at them.

  30. Mary Helene says:

    I would hide it in my Christmas Tree and watch the grand kids try to find it.

  31. Mariann H. says:

    I would hide it IN the center of a beautiful, sweeping, 3D Christmas tree! As the 25th is the center of December.

  32. Dennis L. says:

    Love the winter scene! I would put the 25th box in a scene with a Christmas tree with other “wrapped presents” nearby.

  33. Noreen says:

    I love all these Christmas ideas! I think it would be fun to do a Santa scene in the center and hide it in Santa’s bag or his sleigh.

  34. Amy says:

    I haven’t had an advent calendar for years! really sweet. I like it right were it is. bottom right hand corner.

  35. Kay W says:

    Wow, what a beautiful advent calendar! I would hide the last box behind the tree.

  36. Cocoa says:

    What a wonderful advent calendar! I would hide it under a Christmas tree in the right hand corner!

  37. Gina Goodling says:

    Love where the box is now, would have to steal her idea for the Advent Shadow box! My little granddaughter would be in heaven if we could make this together!

  38. Lynn says:

    … as a wrapped present!

  39. Julie F. says:

    This is so beautiful! I think I would hide the 25th box somewhere near the deer and fence.

  40. Marilyn H says:

    I think I would place it in the middle of the inside and decorate around it, hopefully blending it in as much as possible with the background.

  41. Rhonda D says:

    Oh this is lovely! I think I would have to place the 25th cubby front and center above the other cubbies then plan my design around it.

  42. Brenda lubrant says:

    I love this kit because it is a Victorian theme for Christmas. I would hide the last box under my child’s pillow.

  43. Love Christmas ! it is just around the corner, I think I would make it a present ! lots of ideas ! so love this !

  44. Love Christmas ! it is just around the corner, I think I would make it a present ! lots of ideas ! so love this !

  45. Kimberly Barcello says:

    25 could be made to hang from the Christmas tree, be part of the dinner table centerpiece, or hung from a child’s room doorknob Christmas mornning. My little guy saw an advent calendar for the first time last year and was so intrigued by all the tiny drawers. At the time there was nothing inside them, but he didnt care, he just enjoyed opening them up in the hopes that there was a surprise contained in one. I can imagine his delight if I were to make him his very own advent calendar complete with small surprises tucked away just for him!

  46. Winnie says:

    I’m so excited! I would hide 25 in the tree to find on Christmas morning!

  47. Lori D. says:

    I would put it in the scene, under a tree, disguised as a Christmas present! Thank you for the chance to win!

  48. Linda K says:

    I would hide the 25th cubbie inside the slipper of my kidlet 🙂

  49. Karen says:

    I love this Advent Calendar. It’s so creative. I think putting the 25th box behind the wreath with the bird would be nice, but just where you have it now is also a very nice place. Thank you so much for all the wonderful giveaways!

  50. Laura West says:

    I’d put it in the bottom right corner under a tree with little presents all around it! I love the design of this and all the fun possibilities with the designs!

  51. Joe says:

    Awesome advent calendar, I don’t know where I would put the 25th box, but there will be a lot of fun with it.

  52. jean marmo says:

    This is absolutely delightful! SUch fun! I would hide the 25th disguised as a present under the tree. So very creative!!!

  53. Phoebe Diamond says:

    In the center of the shadowbox area. It would be a focal point to break up the big area into smaller shadowbox areas.

  54. Denise Bryant says:

    Gorgeous project! I like the 25th box hidden in the snowdrift!

  55. Tammy Lemon says:

    I would love to win. Love all your products

  56. Linda Marie says:

    OMG, Ihave been wanting to make some type of Advent calendar, not that I am Christian, but because it brings back great memories of the holiday season. I have really think about where I would hide the 25th. Maybe under a tree or hiding in a wreath.

  57. lynn legge says:

    I would love to win this and make an advent calendar for my grandchildren..it would have a tree where the 25 would be hidden with the other packages under the tree

  58. Ritva says:

    So nice! I would hide the 25th cube inside a gingerbread house.

  59. Liane Ceglar says:

    I would hide the 25th cube in a Christmas tree !!!! Beautiful !!!!!!
    Would love to win this Give a way and make an Adventscalendar for my grandson !!!
    Liane 🙂

  60. Jo says:

    I would hide the 25th cube in a present. Love advent calendars!

  61. Peg D says:

    Oh I want to do this~ I would hide it in back of the fence and I would have a gated fence I think

  62. Tammy says:

    Beautiful! I think I’d have to put the 25th box right there—front and center at the top below #4 draped with snow and a star! We need to remember what we’re going for!

  63. joan says:

    I love advent calendars. The 25th drawer, hmmm, not sure where I’d hide it, on the fireplace mantel perhaps…

  64. Nancy S says:

    I love this advent calendar. Haven’t done that for years. Where to hide the 25th box. So many possibilities!

  65. Stacy Blow says:

    Absolutely lovely! I would place the 25th box in the center top so I could dangle the star of Bethlehem from the top to light a nativity scene in the center!

  66. LoriSW says:

    This is an absolutely beautiful Advent Countdown! I would hide the 25th box in my Nativity scene.

  67. Carol Slowik says:

    I would make a beautiful woodland theme. The box would probably be hidden next to or under a beautiful tree. I so love this giveaway!

  68. LeAnn says:

    I would try to “camouflage” it in the scene. Beautiful work Kristin and Teri.

  69. LoisC says:

    What a great advent calendar! I think I’d make it as is!!

  70. Janet Anderson says:

    I am so in love with all things Christmas. tHis advent calendar is adorable. TFS!

  71. Denise Humenik says:

    Everything the Alpha Stamp Team creates is magical! I so look forward to each & every email from them (you). This is no exception….beeeeutiful! I think I might wrap the 25th box as gift & place under the tree.
    Thanks again for the opportunity!

  72. Sunny says:

    Holy Toledo! This is fantastic! And much more adult than the chocolate advent calendars. I’ve bought some of the bagatelle boxes, so I already know how great the are. I might not be able to wait and see if I win- might have to start shopping now!

  73. KIM says:

    I’d fill the cubes with small craft items. Give it to my crafty friend.
    I would leave the 25th cube right where it’s at…..PREFECT

  74. Laural says:

    I am in complete awe…this is such a Beautiful idea! I wouldn’t change a thing

  75. Barbara Ramey says:

    This would make a wonderful gift for my Granddaughter. Love, Love all of the stuff at Alpha Stamps

  76. Amanda Miller says:

    This is super cute! I would hide the last one in the tree. 🙂

  77. Luanne says:

    Goodness, time to start making the tags!

  78. Ginette says:

    HoHoHo! I’m almost done with my Christmas balls and ready for personalized gift tags. If possible I would put the 25th box side way to make it a little more difficult to find.

  79. Geri says:

    What a great way to count down to Christmas…. and you can reuse the calendar again and again.
    I would hide in 12/6 as it is St Nicholas day and would put a little present in the box for that day to make it an extra special reminder Christmas is coming….

  80. Leah Fein says:

    I would make the 25th cube into a tree ornament and have the little one do a “getting hotter, getting colder” hunt for it.

  81. Lisa Mills says:

    I would love to put the 25th under the tree.

  82. Kate Jo says:

    What an awesome kit! We had these as kids growing up…very nostalgic! I’d hide the 25th cube with the 3 wise men as part of their offering to baby Jesus. I’d make sure the cube had the same color and texture as the men so it would be hard to find…hehe.

  83. Jackie Neal says:

    Loving the vintage sheets! I think I would put 25 shiny new pennies in that box!

  84. Orlie Severson says:

    I would have to put it in plain site. No one can look hared than their nose. Such beautiful tags.

  85. Carolyn M says:

    What a great calendar. I’ve been doing advent calendars for my best friend’s 2 daughters for 20+ years. I think I would build up the snow behind the fence on top of the 25th box like a small hill with the little deer on top like it’s coming down the hill.

  86. Helen says:

    I love this advent calendar. I would put the 25th box in the sky behind the brightest star. I hope I win!