Christmas Tree Advent Calendar

Materials Needed:

• 2 poster board 
• Craft Glue
• Glue Gun
• Glue Sticks
• 3/4 Yard of green felt
• 1 Square of Yellow or Gold Colored Felt
• Glitter Glue (Red, and Gold)
• 1 Foam Board (any color)
• Snowflakes or balls for decoration
• Utility Knife and blades
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Chalk
• Straight pins
• Spongee paintbrush for graft glue
• Popsicle stick or wooden skrewer
• Dog Bones or Candy

Green felt was on clearance at Walmart and everything else we found at the Dollar Store here in Baltimore. This Advent Calendar is rather large and it cost about $10.00 total to make (material only)

Directions

Making the Pattern

TREE: The tree itself measures---from the tip to bottom it measures 22" inches tall by 13 3/4" inches wide.

Fold poster board in half, length wise and draw tree as shown in picture. I used 5 petals. I had to draw it twice to get it "just right" ---it's only your pattern so don't be hard on yourself if you mess up. I was able to get the tree, my base and the dog bone all from one piece of poster board. 

BASE: The base is 13.5" inches wide and 5" inches high. 

BONE or STAR : The bone is 5"inches in length by 2" inches high (in center) or make a star if you want it for children.

POCKETS: 

Measure on poster board to make a pattern. Cut 1 of each

 

Measure and cut 5 1/2" wide by 2 3/4" high. (This will be for pockets 1 and 2).

Cut 8 3/4 by 2 3/4" (This is for pockets 3,4,5,)

Cut 11" wide by 2 3/4" high (this is for pockets 6,7,8,9)

Cut 13 3/4" wide by 2 3/4" high (this is for pockets 10,11,12,13,14)

Cut 16 3/4 wide by 2 3/4" high (this is for 15,16,17,18,19,20)

Cut 19" wide by 2 3/4 " high (this is for pockets 21,22,23,24)

*There is no pocket for 25.

It will look like this

Now that you have your pattern you are ready to begin making your calendar....

1.Once you get your pattern cut then lay your tree on top of your foam board and trace your tree. The foam board will be the base for your advent calendar. 

2. Fold your green felt in half so that you have two pieces. Now lay your foam board on top and trace your tree BUT and this is very IMPORTANT trace your tree but after you trace it trace again but measure 1 1/2 inches so that you have 1 1/2 inches of space around your original trace line. When you get doner you will have two chalk lines and you will be cutting on the second line. This extra space will allow you enough fabric for when you glue.

3. Now cut your fabric. After fabric is cut you want to sandwich the foam board in between the two pieces of fabric. Using your craft clue and paintbrush glue the felt onto the foam board (the foam board is in between each piece of felt).

I rolled a piece of 10" felt to make it look like a shoe lace and then I glued it to the back of the tree so that it could hang on the wall.

5. Cut 5 pieces of green felt for your pockets. I didn't make individual pockets 

Each pocket will be 2 5/8" so stick a straight pin and you can either eye it up or mark with chalk. I pinned the pockets onto the foam board and then I carefully marked with chalk and glued them onto the tree moving along very slowly using the glue gun. I used a skewer to push it down as it got quite hot on the fingers. Once dry you can add numbers. I drew them lightly in chalk and then just traced over it. ***Let sit overnight to dry fully. 

Finished product!

My niece wanted a "Doggy" advent calendar but you can make it for Children too. This one has a bone for the star but you can make a star if you want to do it for children. 

School Year Template

This is my adorable niece. Adorable with a capital "A"!! I'm prejudice I know but this little girl is such a sweetheart and she's not just cute she has a heart of gold.

My niece (her Mom) Brandi made this. She found the idea on Pinterest and she and her sister recreated the idea. 

Materials Needed:

• Large Foam Board (from the Dollar Store) or Cardboard 
• Aluminum Foil
• Scissors
• Large Marker
• Compass
• Tacky Glue
• Craft Paints (White, Yellow, Red and Silver)
• 1 piece of chalk

Directions:

1. Depending on the size of your poster board cut a rectangle shape about the size of 12 x 18  out centered and about 3 inches from the bottom of the board.
2. Cut 2 large circles out. The circle will need to be approximately 4"
3. Next--cut 2 small ovals and 2 larger ovals and then 1 extra large oval.
4. Paint the two smaller ovals with silver paint.
5. Glue everything in place using the photograph as your guide. 
6. Once everything is glued you can add the grade. Write it in chalk so that you can use again and again.

stencils for bus

Modpodge Picture Coasters

 My niece made these for Christmas presents. Her husband is a contractor and had leftover ceramic tiles. 

Supplies:

• Ceramic Tiles or even blocks of wood will do.
• Choose pictures, a magazine photo or print one on your computer (cut to fit)
• Mod Podge 
• Felt
• Flat paintbrush or sponge brush

Directions:

• Position the picture onto each tile
• Glue in place.
• Once it dries coat with Mod Podge Give it several coats. You must let dry between each coat. Be careful so that you do not get air bubbles. If you do you can smooth it out with  your finger.
• When the tile is completely dry add a felt backing so it doesn't slide or scratch your tables. 

In case you don't know what mod podge is this is what it looks like and it can be bought at Walmart and any craft store.

DIY Decorative Lamp Shade

I had a small lamp on my vanity that had a tiny lampshade. I tried to add a larger shade but it just didn't look right yet the little one didn't look right either so I had to improvise. Since I love anything that shines and glitters. I decided to add beads to it. I bought some tiny crystal beads from Walmart and strung about 12-15 per string. I knotted the first bead so that it wouldn't slip off and then I just continued stringing them and sewed them onto the lampshade. 

It turned out so cute and looks perfect on my vanity. I wasn't planning to add it to this page but I thought someone might like the idea. 

So enjoy!!

Here is a link to the crystal mirror I also did awhile back that's also on my vanity.

http://franandfriends.blogspot.com/2013/03/mirrormirror.html