Christmas Craft Collab: no. 1, Count-down Calendar

Are you excited about Christmas?!?

I am! And what better way to celebrate Jesus' birth with friends and family (and dolls!)! Several people came really close/ or actually guessed Madi's secret (over at Delightful World of Dolls) when she posted 'Detective Work'. But was I supposed to tell? Oh well! Introducing...

The Christmas Craft Collaboration with Madison the Awesome!

(a.k.a. The Christmas Craft Collab with Madi)

 

I was super happy when she came up with the idea. My only problem is living up to standard now! The first craft, posted on the first day of December (Christmas is only 24 days away, ya'll!) is a Count-down Calendar! Your dolls can put up this Christmas scene calendar/poster up on their wall and open each flap as they wait for Christmas!

Onto the craft!

You will need:

- craft knife

- 2 sheets of cardstock

- pen and pencil

- glue stick

- Bible

- colorful paper (optional)

- chocolate/ candy wrappers (optional)

Start with a coloring page printed on cardstock. This particular coloring page I got from Doll Days when she had her giveaway and you had to color this sheet that she drew to enter. Definitely go check her out, and print out her amazing coloring sheet  (the giveaway is over, but the coloring sheet is still there!)!

You'll also need a craft knife of some sort.

Tip #1: do NOT use a kitchen knife unless it is your LAST resort. Even I gave up on it and borrowed my brother's pocketknife - that ought to tell you something! Craft knives work best.

Tip #2: Make sure to have a parent's permission or adult supervision when using a knife.

Using the knife, cut three sides of a square, leaving the top intact to make it into a flap.

Tip #3: I used the window because there was already a square there, so starting with a shape that is already there will help!

Next, trace around a square template (I traced the window square for starters) with pencil onto different places on your coloring sheet. I chose the fire, the bow on the wreath, part of the stockings, and several others that you'll see in a few minutes.

You'll need twenty-five of these little flaps.

Tip #4: I made a few of them smaller than the original square.

Once you have your 25 flaps, one for each day leading up to Christmas, flip it over.

This is a waaaay easier way to count, in case you were wondering!

Cover the areas WITHOUT flaps with glue. DO NOT put ANY glue on the flaps, this will mess it up.

Lay it down on top of the second sheet of cardstock, lining up the edges.

And, tada! You've got your base calendar! Here comes the fun part...

 

Using a pen, write 1-25, each on a different flap. You can do it randomly, in line, or choose flaps that correspond. I chose the star for Christmas,

A present for day 12, just because I was thinking, 'On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me'!

I added numbers inside the ornaments. That was fun, though I had to write pretty tiny (I've got experience at that- it's called writing 'sewing kit' over 25 times on one label) to fit in two numbers!

I thought this one was funny, the #2 on the pom-pom thingy.

Hang your stockings on Christmas Eve!

And day one started with a bow!

 

Now, to fill the calendar with all sorts of goodies!

Here's a compiled list of ideas:

- Bible verses

- chocolates and candies

- clues (to finding surprises)

- quotes and phrases

- anything else that can fit in a tiny square

 

My favorite was a chocolate that I made out of a candy wrapper- cut out a square, put glue on it and folded it in half. Stick it in a square and you're done!

I also added Bible verses:

'For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;

Isaiah 9:6 (a)

Jesus is born!'

* * * * * *  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **

If you make it, email me a photo or leave me a link in the comments- I'd love to know! You can find the email in the 'Contact Me' section! The tentative craft schedule (from what I understand!) is that Madison and I will each give you a Christmas craft each week- one a week, leading up until Christmas, where we'll... have a surprise (in the form of a photostory or photoshoot using all of the aforementioned crafts)!

Look out for another post REALLY soon (like, today!) on a really big project that I've been working on and can't WAIT to show you!

~ Light4theLord