- 16×20 Canvas (you could probably go one size larger)
- Paint
- Vinyl Lettering and Embellishments
- Glitter
- Clothes pins in 2 sizes
- Scrapbook Paper
- Glue (I used Mod Podge, hot glue and a glue stick)
- Distressing Ink
The first thing you want to do is to paint your canvas. I used Krylon spray paint. It covered well and dried quickly. Next I cut out some vinyl letters and the Christmas tree you see on the bottom right with my Cameo and stuck them to the canvas. I covered the whole canvas in a coat of Mod Podge to seal the vinyl (not necessary but since I wanted to add some shimmer it’s what I did) and then while it was still wet I gently sprinkled the canvas with glitter and allowed it to dry.
In the meantime I took 25 clothes pins (using all small ones probably would have been better but since I had just enough of both sizes for this project, I made do with both sizes) and embellished them with scrapbook paper using Mod Podge. I used 2 different patterns of paper so that when I added them to my canvas the pattern would alternate. I then roughed up the edges of the paper covered clothes pins with sand paper and distressed the edges with distress ink. {You can find the distress ink in the stamp section of your craft store near the stamp pads.}
I attached my embellished clothes pins to the canvas using hot glue. I should have measured because once I added my numbers/tags, i noticed that some were overlapping, some had more space than other, etc.
Again, using my Cameo I cut tags out of scrapbook paper and card stock in 2 different sizes so that I could layer them and just glued them together with one of those little glue sticks.
In between all of this I had come up with a list of activities to put on the back of each calendar day until Christmas. I printed them out on blank address labels and stuck them on the back. I may have to make some new labels next year because some of our activities were for special events that we already had planned for this month but it definitely works for us this year.
Overall I’m really happy with how it came out. This project took me awhile which is HUGE for me. lol I normally like to do projects that I can bang out while Kole is napping but I’m glad I stuck with it and finished it. My girls are enjoying discovering the daily activities.
So cool
I love this idea! I made one too but I think I like yours better – maybe next year 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Very cute, Diana! Love the colors!
very cute and I am so pinning it!
I love this advent calendar, Diana! It looks easy and I love the little to-do list for everyday on the back. What a great idea! Oh I’m definitely pinning this one!!!
This is great! I pinned it and cant wait to see all of the projects.
Totally pin worthy!
I love that you did yours on a canvas, great idea!! That’s too funny…I posted an advent Calendar today too to kick off the week, great minds think alike! 😉
I love your tutorial that i added it on my blog thank you
http://ourlittlenestonthelake.blogspot.com/
Would luv for you to add it in our linking party, so our readers will discover this awesome project at http://www.passionatelyartistic.com/2011/11/5-fabulous-christmas-card-ideas.html
Have a great week,
Maggie
http://passionatelyartistic.com
Thanks so much for this!! I linked to our blog so that we can follow along!!
Nadine
I love how this turned out! I’d love it if you would add this to my party at http://raegunwear.blogspot.com/2011/11/link-party-what-we-wore-and-made_29.html
Love it! Especially those cute clothespins 🙂
Cute idea…could be customized in so many ways. Like the canvas as a background~
Wait! I thought this started tomorrow 🙁 I was planning on “co-hosting”….but was there something apecial I needed to fill out or do?? I commented on your original post about it. I hope I’m not too late!
This is sooo cute! I’m linking up everyday but I was too nervous to commit to being a hostess! I am really loving this whole thing though! Thank you so much for organizing it!!
Very Sweet! 🙂
Wonderful!! I found you on Tip Junkie’s Christmas In July! I’m actually going to TRY to do some stuff now and be ahead of the game while there’s a little lull between 4th of July and fall fun!! I love this calendar!! Thanks for the inspiration!
Regarding replacement ideas for your activities … not sure what activities you’ve already included on your tags, but you could include some key Bible verses from the Christmas story to ponder on for that particular day! May lead to asking questions such as “Why do you think that it was shepherds that God sent angels to with His special message?” or “What do you think might be the reason God allowed Jesus to be born in a stable?”
I blog over at http://www.2crafty4myskirt.blogspot.com/ and I just wanted to let you know that today I posted a round up of Christmas Countdowns. I featured this project in the round up. Please let me know if you are not ok with that and I will remove it from the post! Thanks!
LOVE this but I’m so sad I’m just now seeing this 10 days into December! Oh well–now I have a DIY project lined up for next year 🙂
Kristen at http://primaldifference.blogspot.com/