Advent Calendar Tutorial

Hello Sweet Friends!  A few weeks ago I shared an advent calendar I made featuring Sweet N Sassy Stamps on my Instagram (@stampymom5).  I promised to write a tutorial-how-to at that time.  I've had so many technical problems--it's taken nearly a month to get here!  I apologize for that and for some of the formatting, but I hope this is useful to help you create your own project!

 You will need chipboard, designer paper, cardstock, adhesive, stamps, ink, circle punch (optional) and a scoring tool. Copy and paste into blogger has been a real bugger!  I hope this remains clear for you!

Supplies:

Chipboard                        7 x 9 (2)

                                         2 ½ x 9

Designer Paper                8 x 10 (2)

                                         3 ½ x 10

 Spine Foundation            4 ½ x 9

Cardstock for boxes        4 x 7 (24)

Other                               Scissors

                                         Scoring Tool

                                         Adhesive (tape and glue)

                                         Stamps

                                         Ink

                                         Circle punch (optional)

Creating the Calendar “Book” Base

Step One:           Cover all chipboard pieces with designer papers.  Be sure to miter corners as shown below.

                        

Complete the larger pieces with an additional piece of designer paper or cardstock, measuring just slightly smaller than the 7x9 dimension of the cover pieces, to finish the front and back of each.  You will not need to do this for the smaller spine piece.  See step two.  

Step Two:  Adhere the smaller covered chipboard piece in the center of the spine foundation piece.  This piece, along with the two covers, forms the book-like base for your project.

Step Three:  Working on the backside of the spine section, place adhesive on each edge and adhere the covers.

Be sure to leave a small space between the chipboard pieces when assembling so they open and close without interference.

Decorate the front cover and set aside, moving on to creating the individual boxes.

Creating Daily Calendar Boxes:

Step One:           Score, on the long side of each 4 x 7 cardstock piece (24) at 1”, 3”, 4” and 6”

Rotate the cardstock and score again at 1” and 3”

Step Two:           Trim scored lines and corresponding flaps as shown below.  If desired, you can create a half circle notch on one end flap with a circle punch.   I used a 1 ¼” circle punch.

Step Three:        Place adhesive on the front and back flaps as shown.  

Step Four:          Fold and adhere each box (24) as shown.

Putting It All Together:

Step One:           Adhere each box to the base. I use a wet adhesive rather than tape for this step.  It is faster and I can get better overall coverage.  Pour a liberal amount of adhesive on your non-stick surface and dip each box bottom in for complete coverage from edge to edge.  As seen in the photo, the box bottom is the piece with the notch.  The three flapped piece is the cover—which I have begun to decorate with the red cardstock square.

I apologize for this partial picture, but you still get the idea.  You will adhere 12 boxes on each cover; four rows of three boxes.  Be sure to leave enough space between the rows so you are able to open each box.  I place a glass mat on top of the boxes while the glue dries to insure each box is well secured.

While the glue dries, decorate the box covers, numbering them from 1-24.

Adhere the numbered decorative pieces to the box tops in a random order.  Fill each  box with a small treat, toy and/or scripture verse. 

This is really a fun project!  I sure hope you give it a go!  Tag me @stampymom5 when you do--I'd love to see your work!

TTFN, Jane