Category: 3D Art

Paper Lanterns!!

12/1/2018

Last week for Demo we learned about making Paper Lanterns!!

Check out these fun ideas!!

With each of the lanterns that has Vellum, you can use a battery-operated tea-light to light them up. We were able to find several at our local dollar store

This first idea was SO MUCH FUN to create!!!

Using the new Picket Fence Blending Brushes, we applied a light coat of Distress Ink to this piece of Vellum... then we stamped the Skaters stamp from Impression Obsession on the bottom part of the lantern and made.. this LITTLE TENT LANTERN!!!! It turned out *so cute* and is even better when you light it up at night!!

This next idea was SO EASY to put together.. and although this Paper Lantern does not light up, it is great for celebrating the Chinese New Year or for hanging up multiple lanterns outside for a garden party... just some strips of paper, twine, and a few embellishments make for a nice, easy decoration!!

You can make your own tassel by wrapping a bit of twine, creating a knot, and fraying the end

This next idea is inspired from the new Mushroom Paper we just got in from Renke Designs.. we fussy-cut the little mushrooms and used the Distress Ink, Walnut Stain to add a distressed look to the Paper Lantern.

We used a die-cut machine to cut out the ovals and backed the open ovals with Vellum. The bottom of the lantern is open so it can be set on top of a votive

If you are looking for a quick way to make holiday Paper Lanterns, look no further than the new Tim Holtz / Sizzix Tree Light die-cut. The die-cut comes with 2 sizes of trees with little cut-out holes at the bottom so you can easily set it on top of a battery-operated tea-light.. and they are just SO SWEET!!!!

You can make quick Paper Lanterns by stamping a strip of Vellum with Stampscapes stamps... adhere the strip of Vellum to the backside of a strip of card stock (using Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive) and score it in 4 places to create the box-shape of a lantern..

In the samples below, the lantern on the left has stamped images on the inside of the Vellum and the lantern on the right has the images stamped on the outside of the Vellum.

Just look HOW BEAUTIFUL this turned out!!!

This next idea fits into a standard envelope size... and is easy enough to stand up on a desk!

We embossed the Vellum with the Tiny Dots Embossing Folder from Sizzix and used nature image die-cuts from Memory Box and Impression Obsession.. the black silhouettes look SO GOOD on the embossed Vellum!! Especially when the Paper Lantern is lit up!!

There is always a lot around here to get inspired by... stop by to see us 7 days a week to see what's new!!

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Altered Books

11/16/2018

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It can be really fun to create art inside a book!! If you love to collect old books, you may be familiar with the aesthetic of holding, opening, and smelling an old book.. there is just something special about it.

This week for Demo, Bekah was the demonstrator! She showed some ideas for altering books and shared her take.. what wonderful ideas!!

There are SO MANY different concepts to consider when you alter a book... Here are some ideas!!

Use an X-acto Knife and a cutting mat to create unique cuts into old pages... back the final page with a solid piece of decorative paper to create a nice focal point. You can add findings to hide throughout your book... like hidden keys or old stamps or fun pieces of art you may have collected..

You can also take an old canvas book and tear open the front of the canvas and add in handmade papers!!!

Pictured below, you can see how the book is torn open in the middle with textured paper added. Then, add ink to bring out the texture and add in a Dragon Eye. In the sample below, you can see the molten-lava looking medium.. that is hot glue with Composition Gold Leaf applied to the hot glue... what a cool effect!!

Sometimes in old books there might be water stains... in this idea you can see how we used the water stains to start a doodle!! Just go where your mind takes you... add in collage and decorative papers to make the journal more expressive of your ideas!!

You can re-cover your old books to make them look WAY more exciting!!

Add Charms or Metal findings!!
Create new and unusual bookmarks!
Add decorative and handmade papers to make your book more fun!!

You can use inks to colorize backgrounds and then use an X-acto Knife to cut out designs and overlay them so you can see the ink behind it...

Doodle on your book pages and then use an X-acto Knife to cut out your designs!! Use Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive to glue layers of paper together to add dimension to your altered book..

Now, I have to share this AMAZING idea that Bekah came up with!!

Bekah has used powerful female figures to inspire her art recently.. and her ideas are just AMAZING!!

She used the book I Am Malala and traced the cover of the book onto tracing paper

Then, Bekah used the tracing to create bold areas to lay out where she would be cutting her book

Using her design on tracing paper, Bekah created a stencil from a sheet of Acetate.

In the SAME BOOK that she took the portrait design from, she created her Altered Book.

She traced out areas with a pencil. She then glued some pages together with Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive and used an X-acto Knife to cut out the chunks of paper where she traced.

Then, Bekah took Nuvo Blending Sponges and added ink to the page behind the portrait. She applied Distress Ink, Walnut Stain ink to the entire page.

When the page is turned, the portrait really stands out!!

Next, Bekah took the same stencil and Nuvo Mousse. She used 3 colors of Mousse: Aubergine (purple), Black Ash (grey), and Toasted Almond (ivory).

To make a skin tone, she used her palette knife on a silicone craft mat and added a few particles of Jupiter Color Burst and a TINY BIT of Toasted Almond Nuvo Mousse. The ivory tones of the Toasted Almond Mousse mixed with the orange tones of the Jupiter Color Burst make a beautiful skin tone.

Then Bekah used the Aubergine for Malala's scarf and the Black Ash for her hair and eyes.

She used the same book as the cutting above, just used a different grouping of pages farther in the book

I love how Bekah used the same theme for her art as the book.. it really just ties it all together!!

What beautiful and clever ideas, Bekah!!

Next week is Thanksgiving, we will have NO DEMO!!
Join us for the following week's Demo as we explore the world of Paper Lanterns!!

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Miniature Ideas

4/20/2018

For Demo this past week, we had SO MUCH FUN learning new ideas for making Miniatures!! Elli was the demonstrator and she showed everyone how to make small miniature dioramas and card ideas...

This first one was made using a recycled chocolate tin...

Elli made books, a broomstick, tiny ink and quill and SO MUCH MORE!! The little cats can be found in any toy store... these ones specifically came from the Yeager's Toy Store

This miniature was made with a Harry Potter theme to it.. and it was incredibly fun to see all the details come together...

This idea is fun.. This paper is new from Carta Bella, Spring Market.. and we showed how you can make a quick pocket to put a *mini book* inside!!

And here we used that same paper to make... a *mini* accordion book!!!

This is a quick one... just take an old metal tin (such as an Altoid tin) and run some ribbon along the side.. easy miniature suitcase!! Great if you are looking to give a tiny set of toys to a kid or if you want to give them a little book or a tiny note.. it is just a fun way to package up a little gift!!

Here we have another idea for using the metal tins... make a small diorama!

Using charms, ribbon, paper and Diamond Glaze, you can make a miniature pond too!!

Or, using die-cuts, ribbon, and a bit of brown paper, you can make a tiny camping scene!

This last Miniature Idea was made a few months ago and was brought by just to show *what all you can do* in the world of Miniatures!!

Elli calls this the Mini Kitchen and it was put together inside this adorable little lantern!! (Lantern was found at a thrift shop)

Some fun details to note:

Handles and details on the dishwasher and cupboards was all done using a silver gel pen!!
The knives are made with a little magnet sheet and are EVEN REMOVABLE!!
Wood grain paper to make the cutting board look real

and SO MUCH MORE!!

If you find yourself working on a miniature project, swing by the store to get inspired or to get some help!!

We are here to help with any project and we are FULL of ideas! Stop by to see us 7 days a week!!
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Collage Papers, Demo Part:2

3/9/2018

Remember last week for Demo when Wendy made all those fun Collage Papers?!?

If you missed it, you can view it here: http://www.stampadoodle.com/stampadoodle-blog/collage-papers-demo-part1

Wendy had designed so many papers.. in a variety of color patterns.

Well, then this week for Demo, she made an art piece! Check out how beautiful it is...

I love her movement in this piece!!

She cut up some of the papers and arranged them in this fun geometric shape...

I love Wendy's use of fibers... and when it is all in this beautiful purple, blue and black tones the piece really comes together!!

Check out all this FUN TEXTURE!!!

Stop by the store to see the art piece in person!! Wendy will have it displayed once it is *completely* finished!!

Recycled Cardboard, Demo

3/2/2018

We offer FREE DEMO on Wednesdays!! A couple weeks ago, we had Helen Campbell come out and teach us all about making things with Recycled Cardboard!!

Right off the bat, I LOVE THIS IDEA!!!

If you are like many of us, you may have a bit of twine or ribbon that you just have a *little bit* left.. certainly not enough to fill an entire spool...

Take a piece of cardboard or chipboard, cut it into a cute shape and TA-DA!! .. an adorable way to spool some twine!!

You may have seen this idea before.. but it is just so darn cute I HAVE TO SHARE!!

Corrugated Cardboard is a great way to add texture!!

Helen just cut out some simple shapes, used some buttons as eyes.... and with a bit of effort.. made a cute Owl!!

*great as a Christmas Ornament or as a quick gift!!

I also love how she used a "cut-out" here on these next pieces...

To do that she just cut-out the front bit to make a quick "reveal" of the Corrugated Cardboard hiding underneath.

These next ones are a bit more "Multi-media" where she used paint, lace, paper, embellishments, and cardboard to make some ATC's (Artist Trading Cards)

Here we have another art piece using Recycled Cardboard as the base and a Multi-Media collage on the top!

This idea is so sweet and easy..

Using the Recycled Cardboard as the base, Helen used some die-cuts to finish it off..

I absolutely LOVE how simple this is...

Thank you SO MUCH Helen for coming out to do Demo this week!! We really enjoyed your creative ideas!!

Shadow Box Cards, Demo

2/19/2018

We offer a FREE DEMO every Wednesday from Noon to 1pm! Each week we offer a different theme.

This last week we all learned about Shadow Box cards from Bekah!

A Shadow Box is just a dimensional rectangle or square that can be ANY size. You may have heard of Shadow Box Frames before.. same idea!

Shadow Boxes are great for creating dimension. Bekah showed us how to make a small Shadow Box Card and explained how they fold COMPLETELY FLAT to fit inside a standard envelope!!

These cards are SO CUTE!!

This little one was created using the Lawn Fawn set, Lovable Legends.. and it has Big Foot!!

I love how she used the rest of the stamps from the set to add even more sayings and embellishments along the edge..

This next card uses 3 die-cuts from Memory Box, Deer Family Circle, Stitched Circle Cabin, and Stitched Circle Trees

These die-cuts are meant to layer together and they are SO PERFECT together in this Shadow Box card!!

It is VERY EASY to make a Shadow Box card.. as long as your base is "Box Shaped" the little in-between papers just tuck right in with a tab on either side to attach them to the base!

The Shadow Box cards can be any size you'd like!!

You can use patterned paper, die-cuts, or invent your own Shadow Box!!

If you would like some help creating a Shadow Box Card, come in and we can help you!! We have LOTS of paper and die-cuts to help inspire you.. the possibilities are endless!!

See you soon!!

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A Sneak Peek at some Classes...

11/7/2017

We offer SO MANY wonderful classes at our store! Our instructors come from a variety of backgrounds so our class options are always fun and a little different!!

One of our instructors is our very own Wendy Schwartz! This Quarter she taught SEVERAL fun classes and I was lucky enough to snap a few photos..

This first grouping is from back when Wendy was teaching the Metal Madness Class.. gosh these were GREAT CREATIONS!!!

This was SUCH a fun class!!! The students got to play with all sorts of different kinds of metals.. thin sheet metal, Composition Metal (aka Gold Leafing), metallic Pebeo Paints, new Maid-O-Metal Sheets, and copper wires and threads!

After some instruction on how to manipulate some of the metals using flame, how to adhere the Gold Leafing using Sizing, and how to weave the wire and metal... the students got to play!! I was SO IMPRESSED by what they created!!

The photos were just a few of the samples I got to see.. These students were VERY creative!!

Wendy encouraged the students to use a variety of tools, stencils, and their hands to create such stunning pieces of art!!

One of the other classes I got to see the "set-up" for was Wendy's Gel-Plate Class..

Sadly, I did not get any photos of the actual *action* of the class.. but I DID get to capture these amazing photos of WENDY'S COLLECTION of prints!!

All I have to say is WOW!!!!!!

During the class, Wendy instructed students on how to create Monoprints using the Gel Plates.

Using a Brayer, Acrylic Paints, stencils and their *imagination* they were able to create their very own prints!

Once the students made their own collection of prints, they then came back for the second half of the class.. and got to CREATE A PIECE OF ART using the prints they just made!!!

If you haven't seen it, here is a picture of the one Wendy made!!

This last weekend, Wendy taught her final class of the Quarter, the Piano Hinge Book!!

And I will tell you.. I LOVED what these gals created!!!

First, Wendy had them create covers for their books. Some used the Gel Plate and others used the Shaving Cream Marbling technique!!

The Piano Hinge Book is actually bound using Skewers!!

Wendy showed the students how to weave the book and make the pages.. IT WAS WONDERFUL!

Wendy gave each of the students bits and pieces to even make a *mini* Piano Hinge Book!! If you take a look at the little red book in the above photos, you will see that the marbled paper is one of the Handmade Papers we currently carry at the store!

We still have a couple classes left on the schedule!! Stop in to see us and take a look! We are open 7 days a week!

A new Class Schedule comes out every Quarter, so keep your eye out in the New Year for our next Class List!!

September 09th, 2017

9/9/2017

A fun project..

Here at the store, we LOVE to be creative!! And it makes our hearts SO HAPPY to see our customers get creative too!!!

This week, Cheryl Ford came in to show me what she's been making.. and I WAS FLIPPING OUT!!!!

Check out this 3D Armoire she built using the Julie Nutting stamps, some die-cuts she had, miscellaneous findings, and paper from our store!!

I LOVE how she made faux drawers using brads!!

Did you see her cute little hat? The little icons she told me were stickers, and the die-cut shapes are something she found online (though using Mirrorcard Gold paper and some fun die-cuts from X-Cuts, you could create a similar effect!)

I just love how she used the bit of paper from Graphic 45, Nature Sketchbook, to make a "cloth" for the top of the dresser and using an edge die-cut to make it look more elegant!!

She even had *mini hangers* which are actually PAPER CLIPS!! and she made it so they can actually come out of the Armoire.. gosh this is just TOO CUTE!!

So then, today, Cheryl brought in ANOTHER ONE!!

She made a Boudoir this time.. and again she just blew me out of the water with her ideas!!

I love how she cut out an outdoor scene from a magazine and attached it to the backside of the frame!!

The little shoes and vanity are just ADORABLE!!!

My favorite part about each of these is the fake flower she put in the top corner.. it really adds a bit of elegance and a feminine touch to the project..

HOW CUTE is this!?!?

Each one of these little rooms closes up so they can be stored safely..

She told me her plan is to make it so they can eventually connect.. I can't wait to see what she creates next!!!

Fairy Lanterns, DIY Tutorial

8/20/2017

If you haven't seen them yet.. prepare to fall in love!!

Our new store decorations are up for Fall and I am LOVING them!!

We decided to make little Fairy Lanterns! We combined the fairies, lanterns, and fall leaves. The combination reminds me of a warm fall evening with Fairies Dancing above. It is JUST PERFECT for our store!!

Today I am going to show you step-by-step how to make the Fairy Lanterns!

For 1 lantern, you will need:

4 pieces of cardstock paper 8 1/2" x 11" (2 for the base, 1 for the roof, 1 for the bottom)
1 piece of Vellum paper 8 1/2" x 11"
3-4 feet of twine (for hanging lantern)
1 LED tea light with switch. DO NOT USE A FLAME TEA-LIGHT due to risk of fire
Die-cut shapes such as fairies, flowers and leaves (for decorating your lanterns)
Paper for cutting out the shapes (black cardstock for the silhouettes, fall colors for the leaves)
Score Board
Scissors
Ruler
Pencil
Exacto knife and cutting mat (optional)
The Ultimate Glue (or some other kind of clear glue for gluing paper and vellum)
Hot Glue Gun (for gluing the roof, LED light, and twine in place)

To begin, take 2 sheets of cardstock (that are the same color) and cut them down to 8 3/4" x 6"

Next, score the 2 pieces of paper at 4 1/4" and at 8 1/2". When you set them upright they should look something like this:

Using an oval die-cut shape, cut out the windows of your lanterns.

**I used the Accu-Cut oval shape die-cut here at the store. If you buy paper from our store, the die-cut machine is free to use**

Next, cut your piece of vellum paper down to 4 pieces that measure 5 1/2" x 4" each.

Using The Ultimate Glue, glue the pieces of vellum on the inside of the oval (so you can't see the glue from the outside)

Once the glue has dried, glue your 2 sides of the lantern together. Just a thin line of glue will work just fine!!

Below is what it should look like at this point:

*As you can see, the glue is visible. That is why we glue the vellum on the inside of the lantern*

Next, it's time to make the bottom of the lantern.

In order to do this, we need to make sure it will fit nice and snug on the bottom of the lamp.
Cut a piece of cardstock to a 5 1/4" x 5 1/4" square.

Using your score board, you will need to score it on 4 sides.. THIS NEXT STEP IS IMPORTANT!

Line up the edge of your paper against the edge of the score board BUT THEN scoot it *just a touch* to the right leaving a sliver of a gap between your paper and the edge of the score board

NOW score the paper at the 1/2" mark. DO THE SAME STEP mentioned above for scoring each side of the paper.

Then, use a pair of scissors to snip the edge of each side (see picture below)

Using The Ultimate Glue, glue the tabs in place

At this point, you can start making accommodations for the LED light you will put in your lantern.

In the center of your bottom piece, draw a rough-size circle shape for your LED light to fit. Use scissors or an exacto knife to cut out the shape. It actually works out better if the hole you cut is funky and NOT a perfect circle. The reason is that the jagged-edge will help to hold the LED light in place.

If you do NOT want a light, skip this step.

Ok, now it's time to attach the base of the lantern to the bottom piece.

Slide the lantern into the bottom, it should fit very snug. Using The Ultimate Glue, glue the lantern to the base.

Now for the roof.

You will need to cut out 1 triangle at first so that you can then trace it.

To make the triangle, you need a piece of cardstock that measures 4 3/4" x 3 1/2". Find the center point on the long side and cut the sides to make a triangle (see photos below)

*I changed the color of my triangle to pink FOR DEMO PURPOSES so it is easy to see on the grey paper*

Take a piece of cardstock and line up the triangle so the 4 3/4" side is up against the outside edge of the paper. Using a pencil, trace the triangle.

Then, line up the triangle on the side and trace again. Do this until you have traced 4 triangles. REMEMBER to keep the long side of the triangle (4 3/4") on the OUTSIDE edge.

When you get to the last space, create a 1/4" tab (see photo below, right)

Cut out your shape (I highly recommend using an exacto knife and a ruler, but you can use scissors if you'd prefer)

Then, using The Ultimate Glue, apply some glue to the tab and attach it to make your roof!!

Now, for those of you putting an LED light in your lantern, this is when you do that step!!

If you are like me, you may want your light to be hidden. Not only did I want there to be an LED light inside the lantern, but I wanted to be able to turn it on and off!!

To do that, cut out a piece of paper that is the same size as the LED light. I used a scalloped circle punch I had.

*Using a standard hole-punch, punch a small hole in the side* -- This is where the switch will be accessible.

If you are going to be adding in dangles as well, you can punch a *tiny* hole in the center for your twine to slide through.

Use a dab of Hot Glue to glue the twine in place and attach the paper to the underside of the tea light MAKING SURE to place the hole-punch spot on top of the switch so you can switch your lantern on and off.

If you would like to add dangles, now is the time to do that!! We used leaves and strung them up.

To make sure the dangles are HEAVY enough to hang correctly, I always hot-glue a penny onto the bottom dangle and hide it with the same shape..

Slide the LED tea light into the jagged hole we created in the bottom of the lantern. Use Hot Glue to secure the light in place.

To make it so your lantern can hang up, poke a *tiny* hole in the point of your roof and run some twine through it, putting a knot in the end. I secured this with Hot Glue as well.

NOW THE FUN PART!!!!

Decorate the inside and outside with silhouettes! We used black cardstock and cut out some fairies. We used some of the new fairies from Poppy/Memory Box BUT THEN we also enlarged some fairies AND cut some of them up, copied and cut them out so we could make TONS of fairies doing all sorts of fun jumps and twirls.. they each have their own personality!!

Bekah was SO CLEVER when making the fairies!! After she cut out the wings, she used the new Nuvo Glimmer Paste to make the wings IRIDESCENT!!

Then, we glued the wings onto the backside of the fairies using The Ultimate Glue.

Bekah even bent back some of the wings to make them more dimensional!

We used a variety of different flourish die-cuts and fairy shapes.

When we glued the silhouettes into the lantern, we made SURE to only apply a little bit of glue to the tips of the fairy hands or feet so that the glue would not show up on the outside of the lantern.

Once you have decorated your lantern with silhouettes, it is THEN TIME to glue your roof in place.

*it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that you wait until the very end to attach your roof.. otherwise you will not be able to put your fairies (or other silhouettes) inside your lantern.

Put the roof in your hand, upside down, and put a dollop of glue in each corner.

Set your lantern, upside-down, into the roof. This way you can see for certain that the roof is evenly adjusted to match up with your lantern base.

After it has dried, hang up your lantern and admire your work!!

The BEST part??!!?

THEY LIGHT UP!!!

The possibilities are endless!! Great for a gift, a nightlight for a kid's bedroom, decorations for a garden party or a fun craft activity for a Saturday afternoon!!

Stop in to see us and get a glimpse at all our fun Fall Decor.. we would just LOVE to share our ideas with you!!!

DIY Snowflake Tutorial

12/13/2016

If you have been into the store this past week you may have seen our new Winter decorations going up!!
Just like every year, we made snowflakes! In the past, we've done a variety of styles.. but this year's are my FAVORITE!!

Today, I am going to show you step-by-step how to make these beautiful snowflakes.. and this craft is great for kids and adults!!

For the snowflakes, I started out by choosing some shades of white and gold.. I just LOVE these colors together!! We used text weight Stardream paper (which is a soft metallic color) for making the snowflakes.. in the light you can really see the snowflakes glisten!

I also created my own music paper by copying an old music book onto some ivory colored paper... I just love how the music notes tie everything together!!

To make a large snowflake (shown above), take 3 pieces of text weight paper and cut it down to the following measurements:
(6) pieces 1" x 8 1/2" -group A
(6) pieces 1" x 8 1/2" -group B
(6) pieces 1" x 11" - group C
**Note that in the photo below, groups A and B are pictured together because I cut them out of the same music paper**

You will need to create loops with the paper, which is easy to do!

With group A, fold the pieces over once using double sided tape to just tape the ends together.

With group B, fold the pieces in half, then open the fold and bring the ends to the center, creating a double loop

With group C, fold the pieces in half, open the fold, and bring the ends to the center, creating another double loop.

You should now have 3 groups of looped paper, shown below:

Then, arrange your loops as seen in the pictures below:

You can attach them using double-sided tape or a stapler!!

Once you've assembled all your loops, cut out 2 circles (I used a 1 inch scalloped circle punch).
Use hot glue, apply a dollop to one side of a circle and arrange your 6 snowflake sprigs on it.
The glue dries fast, so work quickly!!
Once you've arranged and securely glued the sprigs down, glue the second circle on top (opposite of the first circle).

Use a *tiny* hole punch to punch a hole at the top of the snowflake. String a bit of twine through the top so you can hang it up!! Make sure to knot the bottom of the twine so it doesn't pull through the hole! I used a small bit of glue to secure the knot in place.

Look how beautiful they are!!! Now that you know how to make them.. you can make them in a variety of sizes!!!

Check out this idea.. Wendy wanted to make ornaments!! Instead of cutting 1" strips, cut your strips to just 1/2" wide and make even smaller snowflakes!! String on a few gold beads and you have a simple and elegant ornament!! What a clever idea.. and I just love how she used Rossi Italian Papers to accent her ornaments!! So creative!

This is such a great craft activity with brilliant results!!
Come in to see all our decorations.. we'd love to show you ideas to help you design your own decor for the holidays!

Advent Calendar Step-by-Step Tutorial

10/31/2016

Every year, we have customers who are looking to make their own Advent Calendars. In the past, we have created some ideas just using paper to show you a quick and easy way to put together an Advent Calendar.

Well this year, I wanted to create something a little different. When I was a kid, I loved the calendars that were interactive, where you opened a box or a pocket to reveal *something secret within.* So when I went to create this Advent Calendar, I kept that in mind.

Supplies you will need:

2-3 pieces of printed cardstock, for decorating the calendar
2-3 pieces of solid colored cardstock (at least one of these needs to be 12" x 12")
3 pieces of 12" x 12" chipboard

The Ultimate glue and/or hot glue
Rotary paper cutter- for cutting chipboard
Score board with bone folder
Double-sided tape
Scissors for fussy cutting
Ink pad for "inking" (not necessary, but adds a neat effect)

I started out by gathering up my paper. I chose this line from BoBunny, Tis the Season. The one sheet already has numbers on it! Perfect for making the Advent Calendar.

After I cut out all my numbers (and a few shapes in place of numbers I couldn't find.. hmm... ) I gathered up the rest of my paper. I chose the yellow on the left for the background of the Advent Calendar and the dark green on the right to make my little tabs for my *hideaway items*

Next, I cut down my chipboard using a rotary paper cutter. I cut out the following measurements:

(4 pieces) 2" x 12" for the outside frame
(4 pieces) 2" x 9" for the inside frame
(24 pieces) 2" x 1 1/2" for each little shelf

*I used recycled chipboard that I already had. I plan to cover my chipboard with other paper so I am not so worried about the cosmetics of the chipboard itself. It's completely up to you whether you want to cover or paint the chipboard. If you do, this is the time to do so! *

Then, I started to put together my base. I recommend using The Ultimate glue to adhere this part. First, I took a full piece of 12" x 12" chipboard and attached my yellow background piece to it. Then, I started to create my frame. I made a larger frame around the outside of the chipboard and a small frame inside the chipboard. you will need a 1 1/2" gap between both frames.

*Don't worry if it doesn't match up perfectly!!*

As you lay in the little shelf pieces, the frame will automatically want to adjust itself. I found it took some adjusting while a figured out the best way to inlay my shelves. Use The Ultimate glue to adhere your shelves once you have figured out where each one will sit. You will need 7 cubby-holes on each side of the Advent Calendar, so 6 shelves per side.

I used a piece of black 12" x 12" paper to make (6 pieces) 2" x 12" paper strips.
I cut 1 of the strips down to 3" pieces and scored them in the center. I was able to then seal off the corners of my chipboard frame with those pieces.

I used 4 of the remaining black strips to cover the remaining exposed edges of the outer chipboard frame. It makes it look very finished from the outside.

At this point, I would leave this frame base, with all the shelves in place, to sit overnight.

In the morning, you can fix and adjust any shelves that are out of place or are crooked by using hot glue to allow for quick drying. I found that not all of my shelves were *exactly* 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" ... And after I did some adjusting I realized I had to accept that mine was not going to be perfect. So, if yours ends up perfectly even, I congratulate you!!

Now to make the little doors/tabs!! When I originally discovered this idea, the creator had made little drawers, which was a cute idea, but was pretty time consuming for what I wanted to create this time. So I decided on little doors. This was SO EASY to create! I cut a piece of 8 1/2" x 11" paper down to (7 pieces) 1 1/2"" x 8 1/2" . Then I cut those strips down to 2" pieces, following the pictures below. You should be able to get 4 pieces from each strip, totaling 28 pieces. I only need 24, but I made extra to allow for mistake.

Now, all of my cubby holes were not the same size. But luckily, they were pretty much 3 different sizes. So to adjust for this, I made each little door's tab different sizes to make different door sizes. Some doors I scored at 1 5/8", some at 1 3/4" , and some doors I scored at 1 1/8" (see the first pic below for a visual aid)

I used double sided tape at this point so that I could adjust which door which match up with with cubby. If you made your cubbies all exactly 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" , then you should score your doors at 1 5/8"

Next, I made little tabs! I just used a snippet of ribbon (about 2") and folded it in half. I used hot glue to adhere the little pull-tab.

On other tabs, I used a 3/4" circle punch and made a little thumb tab!

Next, I wanted to decorate the inside of the frame. I used another piece of decorative paper from this BoBunny line and cut it down. I just needed (3 pieces) 2" x 12" . I purposefully scored one of the pieces at 4 1/2" so that it would wrap around the corners of the inside of the frame. I then inlaid the other 2 pieces with just a little bit of overlap and they covered up all the remaining black chipboard that had previously been exposed.

Now, THE FUN PART!!!!

Lay out all your numbers, 1 - 24 and lay them down accordingly looking at the calendar below.

You can fill your little cubby holes with all sorts of fun candies, toys, notes, scripture... whatever your heart desires!!

And, the best part is, you can use it YEAR AFTER YEAR!!

It is so perfect, and for those of you who love to make things like this, you're sure to love the results!

We finished it off with a tree made out of rosettes (come see us at the store to learn how to make these!), a cute little banner, the little fireplace from Impression Obsession, and miniature presents!!!

This turned out so cute!! I hope it inspires you to make your own!!

Paper Lanterns!!

Altered Books

Miniature Ideas

Collage Papers, Demo Part:2

Recycled Cardboard, Demo

Shadow Box Cards, Demo

A Sneak Peek at some Classes...

September 09th, 2017

A fun project..

Fairy Lanterns, DIY Tutorial

DIY Snowflake Tutorial

Advent Calendar Step-by-Step Tutorial

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A fun project..

Stampadoodle'sBlogAll the newest stuff

Archives

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Stampadoodle's
Blog
All the newest stuff