Hi friends! I'm so excited to share a fun and simple idea for creating an advent calendar today! Since we don't have kiddos, but I really wanted to make this, I asked my friend Katie if I could make one for her little cuties! She was all for it and sent over some of her favorite photos for us to print. The photos felt like a needed touch to make it more personal, so it seemed like another great candidate for our Canon USA collaboration. It's so much fun and really simple too. You can knock it out in an evening!
Supplies needed: 13 pieces of double-sided 12×12 scrapbooking cardstock (I used my Project Life designs), 6-8 6×4-inch printed photos, a sewing machine or a stapler, clothes pins, twine, number stickers and goodies to fill the 25 envelopes!To make each envelope cut two pieces of paper: the first 6×7 inches and the second 6×5 inches.
Next, fold the larger paper over the top of the smaller paper to create an envelope.
Print six to eight 6×4 inch photos. We printed ours out, 2 at a time on Canon 8.5×11-inch semi-gloss photo paper with our MG7120. We've actually gotten in the habit of using the Pixma Printing Solutions app for printing almost all our photos. You can use these in the place of the 6×5 pieces on some of your envelopes. (In case you are curious—that missing inch will not make a difference in the final envelope because the flap covers over it.)
Next use your sewing machine to stitch around the bottom three sides of the two papers, creating an envelope! If you don't have a home sewing machine you can use a stapler to secure the three sides instead (each side will need 3-4 staples). I love how cute and colorful they are! Your little ones will love seeing their photos from the year included on the envelopes!
Now comes the ((extra)) fun part… filling the envelopes with prizes! We chose an assortment of party store prizes including candy, fruit snacks, tiny stationery, temporary tattoos and small games. You can also include notes with activities to do that day like "make hot chocolate", "look at holiday lights" or "shop for Christmas gifts"!
We hung the envelopes in five rows of five. The last step is to use letter stickers or stamps to label each day. Your family will love this tradition. I can't wait to share it with our little ones someday. XO! Elsie
Credits // Author and Photography: Elsie Larson, Project Assistant: Laura Gummerman
I made our advent calendar this year totally inspired by yours! The kids are loving it and I love how easy it was! Thanks for the idea!!!
I am using much similar PRODUCTS, I thank you for the detailed information about this.
Industrial Staple Pin Manufacturers.
THanks for the inspiration girls! I have made my own Advent Calendar following your instructions and we love it. I have it on my blog here. http://www.polkadotcreative.com.au/2013/our-advent-calendar-for-2013/
Love this! I hope I can do some more productos for next year’s advent calendar…really inspiring!
I LOVE this idea! I was trying to find a neat advent calendar for my kiddos, I think this ones the winner!
such a wonderful idea! so creative and fun – thanks for sharing!
What a fun and special project!! I never would have envisioned an advent calendar taking this form – so colorful!
Bailey
http://akaBailey.blogspot.com
Love this idea. So personal and fun!
You are amazing. THis is the cutest thing ever!!
cute, cute , cute – I can’t wait to have kiddos and do this fun stuff with them!
grace
http://herumbrella.com
http://outsidetheboxpapers.com/blog
Oh my stars! I’m so in love with this and it’s so easy. A definite do! 🙂
What a great project. We have done something very similar for our 25 day countdown to xmas, starting next week. But our paper advents are not photographs, (which I love) they are paper stars glued together with glitter, and paint and a bit more of a christmassy vibe to it!
BTW – LOVE your smiley sweets you have used!!
SmileyCulture.com/
I’ve been shoving this d.i.y. project further & further down my priority list for so long! Thank your for re-inspiring me! 😉
<3 Carsla
Founder & CEO of Connect-the-Cloths
www.connect-the-cloths.com
A stylist’s, foodie’s, & writer’s blog in development.
It’s really pretty to spice up a plain wall! It’s such a pity we don’t have advent here in Singapore ):
It’s cute and all, but any reason in particular why you didn’t try to make it more festive or Christmas-y? I’m not getting the X-mas vibe at all.
Also, I thought advent calendars usually only went up to 24. Any particular reason why you guys decided to include Christmas Day?
These are really cute! I’ve always had trouble getting my machine to sew through paper, though. Any suggestions?
Love this calendar!
If anyone wants to join in with #ShareAdvent I’d love for you to take part: http://www.skinandblisterblog.com/2013/11/shareadvent-2013-with-love-and-joy-for.html
Anna x
Such a good idea! Thanks!
So sweet! And such a fun way to celebrate advent! Love it!
http://sometimesgracefully.com
suuuch a lovely idea!
xo, cheyenne