Thursday, December 3, 2009

December Craft Challenge - Advent Calendar

I am so excited to participate in Heidi's Craft Challenge this month. The theme is Christmas and since I already had plans to make an advent calendar, I thought that would be a good craft to make for the challenge.

Initially I was going to do a traditional calendar with something for each day, but I ran out of ideas. So, I decided to have a weekly countdown to Christmas. I was inspired by this tutorial and tweeked it to my simplified calendar. So, the idea is that each week (on Sunday because that is our family day) we'll go over the activities that we'll do for that week. Here are some things we are going to do:

Watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas (we did this Monday...a day early)

Go to the zoo and see the Christmas lights

Drink hot chocolate

Make Jesus a birthday card

Put up our Christmas decorations

Make Christmas cookies

Watch the Charlie Brown Christmas Special (December 8)

Drive around and see the lights in our neighborhood

Read about Jesus' birth

So for the calendar I used paper mache boxes that will hold the list of that week's activities. I traced the lid and applied some festive scrapbook paper using Mod Podge (gotta love that stuff).

Here's one box with the paper glued to the lid. Then I used my Cricut and cut out the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 for each week. **I can tell that I do my crafting at night because there's always mood lighting in my pictures.

I cut out 25 squares from scrapbook paper and then mounted them on cardstock. I used my Cricut again to cut out the numbers for each square.

I made the 25 square slightly bigger and used scrapbook paper that says Merry Christmas.

Finally, I made a heading, glued everything to a canvas and then added some embellishments.

I am thrilled with the result even though I realize that I will only be able to use this for this year...still worth it.

25 comments:

Carrie said...

That is very cute! Such a great idea! I think I need something like that to keep our weeks more organized this time of year! I feel so busy! It looks amazing! I love it! We've always gone to the zoo to see the lights too, but I'm not sure we'll make it this year...but Emily and I are going to Disney on Ice this Sunday..she's very excited, and so am I! haha! We've never been before. Have a wonderful weekend!

jennykate77 said...

So so cute!! I love the little activities you've put in yours...so much better than a piece of chocolate. :) I love the way you've added the big boxes at the beginning of each week...very clever!

Hope you have a great day!!

Kelli W said...

Kelli, that turned out SUPER cute! I love that you put your own spin on the inspiration calendar. How funny that we used some of the same paper too...Hobby Lobby is my only place to buy paper:) I really like the big boxes...and I put some of the same activities in mine!

Joanna said...

What a cute idea! I love the calendar, but my favorite part is the activities!!

Miller Racing Family said...

What a great idea. I love the paper you used. I looked all over our small town for Christmas paper.
It must be the year to do advent calendars as I made one for my craft challenge as well.
Have a great day!

Emily said...

You did an AWESOME job!! Advent calendars are so fun and a great way to make the wait for Christmas seems less abstract.

Rhonda said...

I love you advent calendar! So cute and creative. I love the list of activities inside! This crazy time of year, it helps to plan quality time with the ones we love! Great job!

{I'm coming over from Heidi's}

Christina said...

What a wonderful idea. I'm determined to make a cute advent calendar now!

Sarah said...

Great job, that is SO cute! I love the paper you used. Merry Christmas!

jennykate77 said...

I left you an award on my blog! =)

Crystal said...

Very cute calendar! I love that you used a canvas and it sounds like you are going to have a fun month.

Sugarplum Creations Blog said...

ADORABLE! I love this! Advent calendars are such fun, and you've put a beautiful spin on this one.

Cheryl @ a pretty cool life. said...

Cute calendar! Now do you want to come over and make one for me?? It's December 3rd and I still haven't made a one... I guess it's not looking good this year! lol

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

So so cute! And I love the activities that you have planned too! Fabulous Kelli!

XOOX
Jen

Heidi Boos said...

Oh, Kelli! I love it!!! I'm so happy that you were able to accomplish the advent calendar and tweak it to make it work for you. What a wonderful idea to put all the activities into one at the beginning of the week. The papers you used are super cute and I appreciate you sharing how you put it together, so that others can try it out, too!! Thanks for sharing and passing along the inspiration!

Heidi Boos said...

Oh, I forgot to tell you that I really liked the idea of wrapping Jesus a present for his birthday...an idea I might have to borrow! ;)

Jamie said...

How cute! I love it! I need to make a calendar, too!

Lyndsey said...

It turned out very cute, the kids will have a blast with those activities!

Angie said...

So fun!

I love the calendar, once again you are the most awesome crafter.

Oh and fun activities!!

breanne said...

Thanks so much for visiting my blog! I love your calendar:)

Kelli said...

You continue to amaze me, you crafty girl you!!! =) This is too cute.

Jennifer Juniper said...

I love it! What fun you will have on Sundays discovering all the fun ahead :)

Unknown said...

So cute I love it! And I love your list I have already Tivo Charlie Brown's Christmas.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Carrie

Katie said...

Oh how fun!!! I love how you modified it to fit your needs, that's the best part of crafting...making something your own. It's really very cute and festive I love the paper mache boxes!

PS: Kelli: What cartridges do you have for your Cricut? Do you mainly use the one it comes with or have you gotten more?

Bobbi & Noe said...

ADORABLE!!!!