okay...so here's the story...as all of my craft projects tend to have stories. one night..my boyfriend and i were talking about the upcoming holiday season and stuff and things we could do since i'd be home from college and stuff. well..i ended up listing like ten billion cheesy christmas things we could do to make this the BEST CHRISTMAS EVER. hahaha. i was only semi-kidding when i was listing all these things....well...on
e day..i was flipping through a magazine and saw one of those boring felt grandma-y advent calendars (no offense to anyone!!) and i was like GASP OH MY GOSH I CAN MAKE AARON AN ADVENT CALENDAR!! haha and i could plan the funny events for different days and stuff.
so that's what i did...thus..about 100 dollars later (this includes all the things for events and stuff too!)...the best advent calendar in the world was born...
front (measures 12in x 15in)
side (2in thick)
close up
a couple details..
these little cookie cutters are SO precious and they are for the day that i have planned to bake cookies and other fun christmas treats!
this is a little dinosaur ornament..it's an inside joke with me and my boyfriend...but this is for the day we will decorate our own little tree in my room at home...
i hope you like this!! feedback would be lovely.
also...i took lots of progress pics and stuff so....if anyone wants a TUTORIAL...i'd be more than happy to make one!!
****EDIT****
so everyone wants a tutorial...so i will make one! as always, if you use my idea, please try to put your OWN creativity into it...dont just copy (afterall this is a very special, personal gift for my boyfriend) and PLEASE post pics of what you make!!!
materials:+ styrofoam block in the shape/size you want (i got mine from the section in hobby lobby where you get all the floral sutff)
+ thin cardboard (i used the pieces that come on the back of those pads of paper)
+ scissors
+ sharp craft knife/steak knife. whatever you see fit to cut through stryfoam...it needs to havea serrated edge though.
+ LOTS of different christmas themed paper
+ modpodge (i used about 3/4 of a 16oz bottle...youneed A LOT) and paintbrush to apply it with
+ ruler
+a circle cutter for paper comes in handy...but isn't a necessity
+ brads or your choice
+ any extra decorations you would like (i.e. buttons, ribbon, etc.)
+ lots of goodies to put inside!
{note: i got most of my supplies at hobby lobby...other than that..at target}
okay! let's begin!
step 1) using graph paper, draw out how you want your calendar to look like. once you've finished this you can figure the measurements you need for the calendar(you'll want to do this before going out and buying any of the materials you need)
2) cut the styrofoam to desired size. mine's 12in x 15inx 2in. yours can be whatever.
3) next, draw a graph onto your styrofoam, then draw your circles on...this is why it was important for you to draw the design on graph paper so you can get everything just right. once you've drawn everything...start cutting out your circles!
here's my circle cutting in prgress. my circles were no wear NEAR perfect...but that's okay...you can make up for that with the paper later on.
4) once you've finished cutting...you might want to take a break. if you're like me...my wrist was KILLING me afterward. anyway...then you will cover your styrofoam using paper and LOTS of modpodge...after this is COMPLETELY dry...cut the paper away from the circles like you see in the pic below. (i used an exacto knife for this...but you can use whatever)
5) next...figure out what paper you want to cover the insides of your holes. then cut the strips according to the depth of your calendar..then tear into strips like so
6) now comes the miserable part. (if you come up with some alternative to covering the inside of the circles, i would suggest this...unless you just loves hours of modpodging)
using the glue and the paper strips...cover the insides of the circles. you will press the strips from the top paper down and cover them with the strips of paper you're using (i hope that makes sense) you're finished porduct after this point will look like this...
the piece on the right is a sheet of thin cardboard that i covered in paper. this will be attached to the back of the calendar. i just used glue to attach it.
7) next you will take more of the thin sheets of cardboard and cut out circles that are slightly bigger than the ones you've carved out (for instance...my carved circles were 1.5in and 2.5in....my cardboard circles were 1.25in and 2.75in....you can do this however you want though...the trial an error till you find the size you want)
next you will take all that patterned christmas paper you have and cut in into circles. you will then cover the circles with the paper (i just used a glue stick for this)...once you've done this...you can arrange the circles on your calendar to find a pattern you like as shown in the pic below
9)the last step is DECORATE!! have fun with this. i used lots of different rubon numbers to add some variety and stuff. once you are done with this...cut out small strips of plain cardstock in whatever color you want and attach them to the back of your circles (i used those photo squares to attach them) then...stick a brad through and just press the brad into the styrofoam and WALA! you've got yourself a calendar.
okay i hope all this makes sense to everyone...this is the first tute i've ever done. if you have questions...feel free to ask.
oh yah...and one last thing...i thought i'd include the list of whats going into my calendar for everyday in case you guys are at a loss for ideas.
(some of the little things inside stand for events that i will be doing with my boyfriend on that day...i will have corresponding packages under the tree with the number of the day on these so he can open it to find out what we're gonna do!) oh and...to let him know which ones are "special" gifts..i put a star sticker on the back of the circle of that day.
okay. here's the list
1) candy
2) dinosaur ornament *(we will be decorating my room and our very own christmas tree this day...)
3) a little tiny clay stocking ornmant *(i made him a stocking)
4) candy
5) a little clay candy cane ornament *(there will be a box of candy canes under the tree..since we both LOVE these)
6) candy
7) a little tiny felt santa hat i made *(i will be decorating santa hats that i will force him to wear with me for pictures. hahaha)
candy
9) little gingerbread ornament *(we will be making a gingerbread TRAIN!!)
10) candy
11) a little ball ornament painted to look like the world it will say "you are my world" on a little piece of paper inside
12) candy
13) teeny cookie cutters *(we will be baking lots of goodness this day)
14) a music circle that play christmas carols. its on of those ones you can put in a stuffed animal or something...but it fit perfectly into my little circle and we both LOVE christmas carols so he can jsut press the button whenever he wants
15) a little star ornament with a piece of paper saying "you light up my life"
16) a little tiny bear ornament complete with a tiny blanket i knitted aww! *(this day will be a "cuddlin' day" under the tree will be a blanket and stuff to make hot chocolate for a wonderful day of cuddling. haha)
17) little funny fuzzy character i found
18) candy
19) a little strand of lights i made *(we will be going to look at christmas lights)
20) tiny little cow plush i found...it's an inside joke
21) a tiny little wrapped present *( we will be wrapping gifts and stuff. i'm not sure what tiny gift i am going to put inside the little box yet...maybe a necklace or something)
22) candy
23) you know those christmas shows that are always on this time of year? frosty the snowman...rudolph the rednose reigndeer? well i'm gonna put a little picture of one of those characters inside *(we will watch all these shows..because we love them. i will either buy the dvds or have my mom record them)
24) little clay present ornament **we will open our gifts to each other!! (since i've spent so much money on this...his gift will not be huge! i'm making us an ornament for "out first christmas" i'll also make him a card or something..and he's always wanting cds or dvds so i may get him a couple of those)
PHEWWW that was long freaking post.
