Tuesday, December 16, 2008

COOKIE SHEET ADVENT CALENDAR

Last week I mentioned a big project I had been working on but couldn't show it until I was able to give it to my friend as a Christmas gift. My friend, Lorri Heiling, has been the best friend a girl could ask for ... especially recently after my surgery. Lorri not only made a meal for my family soon after my surgery but continued to deliver meals from other weSTAMPers! Lorri is one busy gal yet always finds the time to check in to see how I'm doing and always has the right words of encouragement. Since my return to full-time work, Lorri has taken on the majority of the weSTAMP responsibilities. Her friendship has been a huge blessing in my life! Tonight, Allie drove me over to Lorri's house where I was able give this gift to her to express my thanks and appreciation. We had a GREAT time having a mini Christmas get-together with our daughters (who had never met, and have so much in common!) and Lorri's son.

So, what is this project? ... It's a Cookie Sheet Advent Calendar! I was completely inspired by Dena Rekow's Cookie Sheet Advent Calendar. The main ingredients for this project are the Cookie Sheet, Favor Tins, Ski Slope Designer Paper, and Sticky Strip Adhesive. (I prefer to use Sticky Strip Adhesive when adhering paper to anything other than paper). Ski Slope DP turned out to be a great choice because of all the wonderful holiday colors that I could use to design each Favor Tin lid ... Real Red, Old Olive, Baja Breeze, and Chocolate Chip.

Project Details .....
* The background of the Cookie Sheet is covered in Ski Slope DP.
* Each lid of the Favor Tins is decorated in it's own unique way (see close-up photos below) ... this was the most difficult but funnest and most rewarding part of the project for me. The majority of the lid decor was started with a 1 3/4" Circle Punch of Ski Slope DP, and another 1 3/4" Circle Punch of the same Ski Slope DP pattern adhered to the inside of each lid for a more finished look. (The lids of the Favor Tins are transparent, so if a circle wasn't added to the inside, you would see the adhesive that attached the front circle).
* Each diameter of the base of the Favor Tins is covered in coordinating Ski Slope DP, and each Favor Tin base is adhered to the Cookie Sheet with Sticky Strip.
* The whole time I was working on the project, I wasn't sure how I was going to incorporate the numbers for the countdown of the days. I ended up doing the numbers as the very last thing but it surprisingly turned out OK. I simply printed the numbers 1-24 on Baja Breeze, Real Red, and Old Olive CS, punched them out with 1/4" Circle Punch and adhered to each lid design with a Mini Glue Dot. After I took the photos above, I changed my mind about the ribbon. The above photos show a tied bow adhered with some glue dots (which didn't hold for long). After taking the photos, I decided to use my Crop-A-Dile to make holes in the top of the Cookie Sheet, added some Jumbo Eyelets, and made a ribbon hanger for the Advent Calendar.I begged Lorri to not give me anything for Christmas ... I wanted to make this for her to show my appreciation for all she's done for me ... all throughout the year. Well, she doesn't listen very well and gave me two really really cool things! You're gonna love 'em! I'll get them photographed and posted sometime tomorrow.

Edited to Add: Favor Tins are small round tins (2" diameter x 7/8" high) with clear lids usually found in the wedding section of your local craft store. I've even seen them at Walmart in the wedding craft section. The brand I purchased is Wilton.

35 comments:

Lynn Put said...

Holy Cow this is amazing!!! I keep looking at the pictures and all the pretty details you added to this calendar and all I can say is that I wish I was Lorri, lol!
This is a wonderful gift for your friend!

Me, My Stamps and I said...

OMG!!!!!nancy!!!!!!!this is some project!!!!! a big, and wonderful and simply AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
you are just SUPER!!!!!!!!
tfs:)
chat

boynecitygrl said...

Oh wow! What an awsome advent calendar. I hope you dont mind if I use this idea for my little boy?

Merry Christmas,

BEth F

corinnesomerville said...

HOLY SMOLLY MACARONI AND WOWZA, Nancy !!!! This is absolutely, positively, AMAZING !!!! I love it, love it, love it !!!!!

Have a great day, my friend !

Rose Ann said...

Wow!!!! This is absolutely fabulous, Nancy!! So inspiring, and so incredible!!

Megan said...

This is a GREAT project!! I love it!! Great work, Nancy!!

Tara said...

WOW!!! You did a fantastic job...I love all the little tins! Fabulous! :)

Unknown said...

Oh Nancy this is absolutely wonderful!!! What an amazing present and a treasure for sure!! :) I may have to try one of these some day!

~amy~ said...

Holey Toledo! This is absolutely magnificent!!! Wowza!!

Allison said...

Wow! This is amazing - I love it!

Anonymous said...

Absolutely FABULOUS, Nancy!! Great job.

Vicki Burdick said...

WOWZERS!!!!! Nancy, this is an awesome gift! You have amazing talent!!! LOVE IT!!!!

Deb M. said...

WOW!! Your advent calendar is beautiful!! Love it!! Thanks for sharing!!

Anonymous said...

Nancy,
OMG, this is one of the most beautiful advent calendars that I have seen. You are so talented and your attention to detail is what makes you such a great crafter/stamper.
Connie Collins
www.constantlystamping.com

barb said...

This is awesome! And what a fun way to incorporate all of those Christmas stamps!! I will have to start making one of these for my future grandchildren (son is 17, I've got a little time! hopefully ;) )... TFS!

ChristineCreations said...

What a FABULOUS project Nancy...what a keepsake! A beautiful expression of friendship!

Anonymous said...

Wow, there's a lot of work in that project! And it looks really good!

Cindy

jean said...

Nancy
Outstanding, Fabulous, gorgeous
fabulous, fantastic, beautiful
what more can I say.
Adorable

Jean

Laura (scrapnextras) said...

Nancy this is fabulous..and so wonderful! I am starring this so I can find it next year. What a wonderful story you share about friendship this time of year. It brightens my heart as much as your amazing creations!

Angie Tieman said...

Wow! Wow! Wow! There aren't enough words to describe how awesome this is!! I bow to you! =)

Gretchen Clark said...

this is so beautiful!!!!

thanks for your nice comment the other day ;o)
Have a Merry Christmas!

Carolina said...

What a beautiful project and what a darlin' way to show Lorri how grateful you are for everything she's done for you.

Love the color combo you used and embellishments are just perfect!

Christina Fischer said...

THUD!!!! Holy cow, Nancy -- this is amazing!!!!!! Every detail is just gorgeous! I HAVE to try this next year -- thanks so much for the inspiration!

Dawn Easton said...

Oh my goodness Nancy~! You rocked this Christmas gift to Lorri!! What a fantastic idea and I love the dp you used and your embellishments...how freakin' fabulous!!

Diane Noble said...

This is a great project. You decorated each tin so uniquely. It's beautiful. Love it.

Merry Christmas!

Abra Leah Cross said...

Okay, I'm officially in awe!!!!

Anonymous said...

Bowled over!!! by how very creative you are!! You never cease to amaze me Nancy!!! Everything you make is pure excellence!!
--Hugs Becca

LeAnne said...

Darn, I have wanted to make one of these ever since I saw them on someone's blog (which is in my favs but forget to look at it)!! This is awesome, you guys did a great job. The details are incredible. I am going to look at it again - v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y so I don't miss anything!
LeAnne :D

Anonymous said...

You should go into production next year at a craft show around Xmas time, you would kick butt! I can't believe you did that in your state!!! LOL It is frigin awesome!

Silke Ledlow said...

FANTASTIC, FANTASTIC, FANTASTIC!!!
You really outdone yourself with this tin!!! Totally love it!!!

Stamp and Smile said...

So grand! Love this idea... I'm sure Lorri did to for being such a great friend! AWESOME JOB!!! :)

Lori Barnett said...

OK....you win!!! This is the BEST EVER!!!!!! Sorry...but I just drooled all over the keyboard! LOL. You are amazing

Lisa H. said...

and you felt bad about not getting to Christmas cards this year? This is awesome! what a fabulous gift and fabulous friend you are. I just LOVE This!!! great work, girl!

StampMom said...

maybe if I start now I can have a few of these babies ready for gift giving next Thanksgiving -- incredible artistic work as always, Nancy!!

Anonymous said...

Hi, how big is the cookie sheet?