{Let the countdown begin!}

33 Days until Christmas!

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your friends and family.  He had a nice time, some great food and some fun music with Ryan and Jussi on guitar and Mark on the child's accordion!

Speaking of countdowns, my Advent calendar from last year has been getting a lot of hits.  This was a class I taught at the LSS last year and no longer have any kits available.  However, I will gladly post the directions here along with the photo.  The "?" measurement will depend on the size cookie sheet you use.  If you decide to create this, I would love to see your version, so be sure to link me up when you post yours!  If you have any questions, feel free to contact me!  Enjoy!

Advent Calendar

How many more days until Christmas? 

How many times do you think you will hear that this season?  Well here is a fun way for your family to keep track.  This Advent calendar is created on the back of a cookie sheet using some fun chipboard pieces from Ki Memories.  All the numbers are easily stored on the inside of the cookie sheet when not in use. 

This can become a family tradition for counting down to Christmas…

Supplies:

Cookie sheet, 11 X 17 metal with a lip all the way around

White paint (I used Making Memories)

1 12X12 white cardstock

Strip of black card stock

Scrap of red cardstock

1 sheet pattern paper (I used Reminisce Christmas Confetti)

1 package Ki Memories Joyful HipChips (if you prefer blues, check out Ki’s winter

HipChips and matching paper)

1 package Thickers by American Crafts (mine are Root beer Float in Black)

4 felt flowers (optional, mine are from American Crafts)

1-yard thick ribbon

½ yard each of 2 other ribbons

Set of numbers, I used Quickutz Olivia font, you can also use small rub-ons or hand write

them.

Magnets, thin ones you can cut to size.

Glue dots

Adhesive

Black pen

Ruler

Crop-a-dile or drill

Sand paper or sanding block

Foam paintbrush

Instructions:

1.   Using your Crop-a-dial punch 2 holes at the top about 5 inches apart.
2.   Lightly sand the back of your cookie sheet.
3.   Use your foam brush to paint the cookie sheet.  You can paint the edges too if you would like.  You do not need to paint the middle where the paper will be.  Allow to dry.
4.   Cut your white cardstock to 10X10.  Use your black pen and ruler to draw out a grid 2” X 2”.  You should end up with a total of 25 squares.
5.   Cut your pattern paper ?X12 for the top and ?X12 for the bottom.
6.   Adhere pattern paper and cardstock grid to the cookie sheet.
7.   Lightly paint edges with the white paint.  Allow to dry.
8.   Use your ruler to align the title “Count down”.
9.   Use bits of ribbon and tie around the “C” and the “O” then adhere to cookie sheet.
10.   Outline a felt flower with your black pen.  Tie a bit of ribbon around the number “2” then adhere to the felt flower.  Adhere with glue dots under the title “Count down”.
11. Use your ruler to align the word “Christmas”.  Adhere to cookie sheet under the grid.
12.   Layout Hip Chips on grid as desired (do not adhere yet).
13.   Add felt flower backing and ribbons as desired.
14.   Adhere magnets to the back of each Hip Chip piece.  Remove the adhesive on the back of the Hip Chips and use glue dots as well since the adhesive is not strong enough to keep the magnets adhered when pulling them off the cookie sheet.
15.   Cut numbers from Quickutz (black card stock for 1 – 24 and red for 25) or use rub-ons.  Adhere numbers to the Hip Chips.  I ran mine through my Xyron X-box. 
16.   Adhere Hip Chip scroll under the word “Christmas”
17.   String thick ribbon through holes at top and hang on your wall or use an easel on your counter.
18.   Enjoy!

Comments

[Linda F.]

Glad you had a great day! Mine was so nice! (I blogged it, of course.) And I love your advent calendar. So cute!

[Kat]

love your new banner!

kat

[Brittany Hallman]

Looks like you all had a GREAT time during Turkey Day. When we are "home" for the holidays, my FIL and BIL's sing and play the guitar. I miss it!!!!!

Thanks for the comment about the banner. I did it with my photoshop. I have yet to take the kids to the park to get their Christmas photos done this year. Maybe this week I can squeeze that in!! LOL.

Have a great week!

[Chrissy Le]

Thanks for the Advent Calendar instructions, thanks Shirley!

[Jill brush]

I LOVE your blog! you are so talented! I think I'm gonna post a link to your blog on my blog-is that ok?

[Cflattop]

this advent calender....is so dang cute!!! and I can't beleive you're doing the countdown till christmas ....yikes!!!