Make the countdown to Christmas magical with Kate's DIY Festive Advent Calendar... read more
Fill your home with festive cheer and make the count down to Christmas magical with our charming DIY advent calendar. Crafted by the wonderful Kate, who blogs over at Beak Up Crafts, this make & do is the perfect festive project for both big kids and little ones alike…
If you’re looking for a stylish advent calendar which can be made to match your décor then this is the perfect DIY project for you. It’s easy to put together and can be used year after year and could even become a new Christmas tradition. The mini envelopes can be filled with treats, sweets and surprises for a more personal countdown to Christmas day.
What you need:
– Laura Ashley wallpaper – I used Mr Jones in Cranberry, Aston Silver Patterned, Henley Stripe Grey and Eaton Stripe Gold
– An A3 foam board/backing board
– An envelope template, which you can download here
– Glue gun
– Scissors
– Bone folder
– Stickers
– Number stamps/number stencils/pen – for the numbers, it’s up to you!
How to:
1. Print off and cut out the envelope template.
2. Draw around the template on the wallpaper. Cut out the shape you have drawn and put it to one side. You will need to make 24 of these and can mix and match papers for a modern look.
3. Now it’s time to make the envelopes. Use the bone folder to make the folds on each side of your envelope. Once you have folded the flaps in, use the bone folder again to go over them and make the fold smooth.
4. Fold the side panels in and stick down the bottom panel with a dot of glue. Put to one side to dry.
5. While the envelopes are drying, it’s time to make some numbered stickers. You can either hand draw them or use a stencil or a stamp. It’s entirely up to you!
6. Once you’ve finished with your stickers and the envelopes are dry it’s time to arrange them on your backing board. Play around with the colours and positions of the envelopes until you are happy. When you’re satisfied with the layout, stick them to the backing board using the glue gun.
7. When the envelopes are dry, fill them with treats, surprises and glitter before closing them up.
8. Add a sticker to each one to stop excited hands from opening them too soon!
And that’s it! You’ve just made a pretty and personal advent calendar which you can put on your mantlepiece and count down to Christmas.
With a few days to go before we turn the corner into December, will you be joining us as we count down to the festivities? For more of Kate’s Christmas crafting, stay tuned on the Laura Ashley blog for other exciting DIYs coming soon. In the mean time, pop on over to Kate’s blog here to bookmark many of her other genius tutorials.
Christmas starts here at Laura Ashley, whether you’re searching for the perfect present or looking to bring a touch of festive sparkle to your home, browse our online shop here.