Happy December! I’d thought I’d share with you a project I was working on for pretty much most of October and November and finally finished: a handmade Advent Calendar. Every Christmas, one of the joys of the season for me is to sit down in front of a favorite movie and craft. As a person who makes a living (well, tries to at least) from my art I can’t begin to tell you how refreshing it is to make something without the worry and other nonsense that goes into it like, “Will anyone want this? Will it sell?” Blah. Crafting just because? So fun!
I’ve wanted to make an Advent Calendar for several years now but finally got down to business last autumn. It required some very important research, hee hee: shopping for vintage goodies, miniatures, and Christmas-y doodads that I could embellish with. No hardship there! What fun it was to peruse the vintage “aisles” of Etsy, sort through the antique dollhouse collectibles in shops, browse German Christmas ephemera as well as finding miniatures on Ebay. Those hours spent preparing and gathering were little escapes into that magical feeling that Christmas has always brought to me and I think influenced the final design scheme: tiny Christmas and Wintry scenes in German paper maché pinecone boxes. Ta da!
In case you’d like to try something like this yourself–these would also make fine individual ornaments–here are some of the things I used:
German Pine Cone Paper Maché Boxes
Acrylic Craft Paint/Paintbrushes
Aleen’s Glitter Snow
Mod Podge Extreme Glitter Decoupage Glue
Various Winter and Christmas Miniatures, Paper Ephemera, Trims
Crystal Beads
Clear German Glass Glitter
Hot Glue
Scissors/Tiny Tweezers
Some of my favorite bits were discovering artists like Lauren Delaney George who made tiny versions of real Christmas things that I love: like a Shiny Brite ornaments box and a tiny A Christmas Carol book. My package of Christmas doodads from Julie Collings was wrapped with such care it looked like it was shipped direct from the North Pole and those teeny-tiny vintage reindeer from Debbi Does Vintage–so darling–still in their packaging from Mangelson’s of Omaha, NE. I treasure the vintage glass star buttons from The Gingham Girl for the bottlebrush trees.
As for displaying, I found a pair of old shutters I’ve kept over the years, cleaned them up, and hooked each pine cone to the slats. (Initially I had planned on hanging them on our feather tree but they were too heavy and it kept tipping over!) I wish this was a better photo but this room is very dark, especially this time of year, and trust me when I tell you it looks prettier in person. 😉
Now that’s done I think I’m crafted out and ready to just sit back and enjoy the season. How about you? Are you making anything special this year?
Oh my gosh, this is incredible and beautiful! Destined to become a family heirloom! I always have grand plans to make things, but I’m not sure if it will actually happen this year. I have a few embroidery ideas I’d like make happen 🙂
jess | Quaintrelle
Thank you Jess! I love embroidery projects… good luck with yours! 🙂
Absolutely ama-a-a-a-zing!!!
Beata xox
Thank you Beata! That means a lot to me coming from you!
So beautiful!!!!! In love with all the darling pinecone scenes.
Thank you Kimmy! Those pine cones were a real life saver–not sure how I would have made these otherwise. 😉
simply gorgeous!!
Thank you Jessica! Loved seeing your beautiful quilt come together!
WoW!! Stunning and so very precious and wonderful!! I was excited at first because I thought you were going to sell them. Phooey!
I am making too many things, as usual. Trying to finish 3 reindeer hats, wanting to start little snow globes, and an ornament kit (of 3) I bought from Posie Gets Cozy.
Certain events in November put a crinkle in my plan. I am about 90% better now, though. Now I just need to find my motivation! 🙂
or…make that a *wrinkle* in my plan! ha!
Haha I don’t know I kind of like crinkle in my plan–think I’m going to have to start using that! 😉
I love seeing all of your projects come together on the grams, you’re so talented. Glad to hear you are feeling better, too, I’ve been thinking about you!
This is amazing!!!
I’m hopping to make an advent calendar next year; I promised my family no projects this year:)
Thank you Laura! I understand you already have a lot of BARN-sized projects on your plate right now. 😉
This is so beautiful! When I saw photos of you making it on Instagram I was very intrigued. All the little bits and pieces are so lovely. (Those tiny bottle brush trees!!) But the finished product… delish hanging on those shutters!
Aw shucks thank you! It was so much fun to make, I truly enjoyed every moment.
Very sweet L. I love checking in to see what beautiful creative things you’re enhancing the world with!
Thank you Rachel! It means a lot to have you stop by! 🙂
where can I find pine cone box? Your work is beautiful
Thank you Karen!
I found mine on eBay so you might want to try doing a search there, first, for a lower price than a specialty shop. You can also buy them HERE. Good luck!
These are absolutely gorgeous! Fabulous project and a great job you did of it, too!