Category: Advent Calendar

Advent Calendar, 2017

11/25/2017

It seems like every year we get more and more people coming in looking to make their own Advent Calendar!!

Each year, we put together a design to inspire you.. last year we made a shadow-box style calendar.. and this year we are using *mini envelopes* !!

To make the calendar, you will need:

One large sheet Mi Tients Red Paper (19 3/4" x 25 1/2")
One piece of Poster Board
25 Mini Envelopes
Double-sided tape
Little tags or labels
The Ultimate Glue and/or Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive
Crystal Drops (1 or 2 colors)
3-5 colors of cardstock to go inside the envelopes
Stickers or other items to put in envelopes

To start, take your 25 Mini Envelopes and turn the flap inwards so you can easily put items in the envelopes

Next, you will need to cut down your Poster Board just slightly so that it will frame-out the Red Mi Tients Paper nicely.

Poster Board - 20 3/4" x 26 1/2"
Red Mi Tients - 19 3/4" x 25 1/2"

I generally use an X-acto Knife and a ruler to cut the Poster Board.. but if you don't have those things, using a ruler, pencil, and a pair of scissors will also work.

Once you have folded-in all your envelopes, take your 3 pieces of colored cardstock and cut them using a paper cutter.

You will need 25 squares that measure 2 1/2" x 2 1/2".

These will be the little notes that go inside each envelope.
We chose a few different shades of green and red cardstock..

Then, we started laying out the shape of the calendar.. . See how Bekah laid it out to look like a tree?!?! SO CUTE.

Take note that she used one of our Star-Shaped Ribbons to add the star on the top!! LOVE IT!!

I used my ruler to be certain that my tree was centered on my Red Mi Tients Paper!!

I found that 7" from the bottom left corner was a good place to lay down my first envelope. I made sure to do the *same thing* from the right corner.

Once you have decided where to place each of the envelopes, used double-sided tape to adhere them to the Red Mi Tients Paper

Then, we used this new label set from Sizzix, Tag Dies to make the little tag shapes!!

*If you don't have a die-cut machine to make these, we have a basic tag shape in our STORE die-cut machine that customers are welcome to use*

I figured out which tag went where.. BUT BEFORE I TAPE THEM DOWN I wanted to add my numbers!!

I used the Nuvo Crystal Drops to draw the numbers!!

*You can use a pencil first and then trace over it with the Crystal Drops* if you don't think you can do it free-hand!

Once your tags are all cut out, your numbers drawn and THEY HAVE FULLY DRIED, use glue (we used the Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive) to adhere a tag to the front of each envelope.

Then, we took some of our Christmas-themed ribbons and made little bows!!

Using The Ultimate Glue, adhere a bow to the top of each tag!! It really adds an extra touch.. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE

To finish it off, we cut out some fun Christmas Greenery using the Sizzix die-cut Holiday Greens.

Using The Ultimate Glue again, we put the Greenery on the upper 2 corners of the Red Mi Tients Paper

Last, but not least, TIME TO ADD IN THE FUN STUFF!!

We used the Removable Glue Dots to put little things on the paper note cards inside each envelope..

You can add stickers, coins, even a small piece of candy!! The possibilities are endless!!

Have Fun!!!

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!!

Advent Calendar, 2017

Advent Calendar Step-by-Step Tutorial

Stampadoodle's
Blog
All the newest stuff

Archives

Categories

Advent Calendar, 2017

Advent Calendar Step-by-Step Tutorial

Stampadoodle'sBlogAll the newest stuff

Archives

Categories

Stampadoodle's
Blog
All the newest stuff