mixed media ATC Advent Calendar!

[OriginalYouth]

25 mixed media ATCs for my Advent calendar.
Mostly recycled/upcycled papers, combined with paint, inks, tissues & textures & other random add-ons[/b].

sneak pic money shot:

I cut 25 ATC sized (2.5x3.5") cardboard from cereal and cracker boxes (I love to use upcycled materials as much as possible!!!)  and laid them out on a canvas.  It took a bit to figure out a layout for a TREE shape, but I got it.  I numbered each card, starting at the bottom left and working upwards.


I used paint, inks, scrap papers, tissue, textures, a bit of scrapbooking stuff (paper, stickers, rub-ons) and some of my 'ransom collage sheets' for the backgrounds, central images and numbers.  Each one is unique, but ties in some of the same colors as the others, for a rusty, aged textured look.

A few cards I'm more fond of:
 

When it was done, I put each card in a plastic sleeve, and glued them to a canvas (22x28") that I painted.  


For each day, you pull out the ATC and read what is on a small tag attached to the back for the daily surprise or treat!  You leave the tags hanging out of the slot when the cards go back in (like ornaments!) so you'll know which days have past.  I actually don't have all the tags on them yet (I can do a few each day this month, to keep ahead of the dates) cause life is busy, ya know?  ha ha.  I just taped the ribbon that the tag hangs from to the back, so I can change them each year and rearrange them.  I glued an envelope to the back of the canvas, I can just grab whatever tag is appropriate for that day to tape to the card.

Examples of what's on the tags:
It's hot cocoa and Christmas story night!
Let's all go to Nanna's to see her tree!
We are popping popcorn and watching Rudolph tonight.
Family holiday puppet show!
Christmas cookie baking night!
You get to open one small gift tonight....
Check your stocking for a little treat!
It's Mommy's birthday, let's go out to eat!

Here's a bit of what it looks like with some of the tags 'ornaments' hanging down!


See part of the Work in Progress on video: www.youtube.com/user/TheOriginalYouth#p/a/u/0/VAbEECrkpeE

All 25 cards (a snippet of each)

You can see all the photos here (and some more!) in my flickr photoset as well.



Thanks for checking it out!  Hope it inspires some of you in some way or another.  Lemme know if you have any questions, por favor.
Happy Holidays!
OY

[Dragonflower]

That's gorgeous! I love that it's so personalized.

[loves2experiment]

Brilliant!  This beats all the commercially produced advent calendars!   

[rackycoo]

That's such a great idea, OY! Your cards are all so beautiful, as usual. 

[LeapFeetFirst]

What a beautiful advent calendar. I love that you put activities for the family to do instead of the usual candy under each day.

[alwaysinmyroom]

OY--you always inspire me!! I love this idea--your art is beautiful and, in this case, functional!!

[goatgoddess]

how very cool - 

[OriginalYouth]

Thanks so much guys!  I used some old traded ephemera too, I think the #12 canadian tire dollar thing is from Alteredmommy!

I think I'll scan the card next year, and sell them on printable sheets, so others could just print them, crop to whatever size they want and make their own, using my basic numbered bits as template.

I got most of the tags cut and decorated today, I'll make sure to post a pic when I get them all on there.

[notanotherxerox]

This is the most amazing advent calendar I've ever seen. Absolutely love it!

[OriginalYouth]

Thanks!

Papercrafting gang question...what glue or adhesive would you use to attach the plastic sleeves to the canvas?  I used some elmer's that seemed to hold fine, but it's not.  Advice?