DIY Christmas Advent Calendar + Printable Activity List + A Coupon
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December 06, 2013
Hello everyone! I know It's been busy on the blog lately, haha! But it's better to share a Christmas advent calendar earlier than later, right? Even if you don't do countdowns for Christmas, you could use it to collect love notes to family members or simply as a decoration, in a fabulously festive way. I've got lots of photos to share today!
Learn how to make the big 3D star, paper trees and reindeer in my post here.
We've had this tree for a long time. I think it is easy to find an alternative or you can just hang the envelopes together on a hook or a string across your mantel.
Cut paper to 3"x3" and start scoring at 1-3/4" to make this envelop:
For this envelope size, two of the corners will stick out a little. You can snip off the extra or use a corner punch with a bigger radius:
I used an 1" circle punch to punch the numbers out here but you can just cut around them by hand. Remember to put the twine (for hanging) and the activity cutout in before you seal it.
For the bigger envelope - Cut paper to 4"x4" and start scoring at 2-1/4".
I made this envelope size so I can use the bracket numbers cutout from the paper.
Did you notice the big red doily the tree is sitting on? It was punched with a doily punch! I've been wanted to try one of these ever since I saw them at CHA back in January this year. And Thanks to the coupon, I finally brought it home!
Use it in-store or online. Use it on the Envelope Punch Board, Martha Stewart Circle Edge Punch Starter Set, or any other cool stuff you've wanted.
This post is part of the Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores® Celebrate the Season campaign. I received compensation in craft supplies; however, this is my personal, honest opinion based on my experience. All products used were my personal choice.

Supplies
Printable Christmas Countdown Activity List (free download here!) Paper Scissors Adhesive String (I used twine) Envelope Punch Board (Or a scoring board to make envelopes) Crazy Mesh (Gold Metallic) [Optional] Decorative Punches [Optional] * All supplies were found and bought at Jo-Ann Store (coupon linked below)
The Tree
The first thing I did was to wrap the tree with some gold metallic mesh for an instant festive lift.

How to make the envelopes
I used two sizes of envelopes on my tree. The activity cutouts from my list (linked above) will fit nicely in the smaller envelopes:





Decorate the Envelops
Almost all paper pads have a couple of journaling or accent paper. I cut the elements out to decorate the envelopes.

More Photos




The 50% Off Coupon

More Inspiration
I would like to take the chance to thank Jo-Ann for having me in this campaign. I've known that Jo-Ann has the widest selection of products and best deals all along. And now I've grown the habit to check out the Idea Sheets displayed at my local Jo-Ann store every time I go there. I can tell that Jo-Ann has put a great effort in providing us with more craft inspirations. You can find some really amazing projects in their Holiday Craft Catalog here: http://bit.ly/1dZqWsw. Here are the links to my other posts for this campaign: Rustic Fall/Thanksgiving Tablescape Pom-Pom Spider for Halloween Decoration I hope that you will have tons of fun creating for this fabulous holiday season. Stay warm! Stay connected via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube!10 comments
- #TBT
- 100% Love Stamp Set
- A Bunch
- A Bunch Stamp Set
- A Homemade Christmas
- Amazing Word Die
- Anything Paper but a Card
- Awesome Word Die
- Back to Basics
- Balloon Messages
- Be My Guest
- Be My Guest Stamp Set
- Birthday Fishes
- Birthday Fishes Stamp Set
- Blog Hop
- Bowtiful
- Bowtiful Additions
- Bowtiful Additions Stamp Set
- Bowtiful Die Set
- Calendar
- Calendar Numbers
- Celebrate Word Die
- Challenge
- Chirp Chirp Dye Ink
- Christmas
- Claire
- Claire Stamp Set
- ColorStory Inks
- Congrats
- Congrats Word Die
- Cool Tools
- Cutaway Alpha
- Daydreaming Dye Ink
- Design Team
- Dimensional Frames Die
- Doily Circle
- Doily Circle Die
- Doily Square
- Doily Square Die
- Doily Square Stamp Set
- Downloads
- DT Mix
- Egg Hunt
- Egg Hunt Die
- Fall Blend Inkpad
- Faye
- Faye Stamp Set
- Feather More
- First Step
- Five for Friday
- Flower Circles
- Flower Circles Die
- Flower Circles Inverted Die
- Flutter
- Flutter Stamp Set
- Fun Finds
- Gemstone
- Gemstone Stamp Set
- Gift Bag Die
- Give Thanks
- Give Thanks Die
- Giveaway
- Good Stuff
- Good Stuff Die
- Guest Design
- Handmade Embellishments
- Happy Go Lucky Dye Ink
- Hey Mr
- Hey Mr Stamp Set
- Hibiscus
- Holiday Label 1 Die
- Holiday Labels
- Holiday Labels Give Thanks
- Holiday Labels Give Thanks Stamp Set
- Holiday Labels Merry
- Holiday Labels Merry Stamp Set
- In Every Way
- Inks
- Inspiration
- InstaLove Die
- Jumbo Letter Die
- Jumbo Letter HI
- Lace Tape
- Lacy Flower
- Lacy Flower Mats Die
- Lacy Flowers Die
- Lacy Layers 2 Die
- Lacy Layers Die
- Leafy
- Life Anchor
- Little Gifts 3D Die
- Little Gifts Stamp Set
- Little Mermaids
- Lotus
- Loved
- Magical
- Magical Die
- Magical Word Die
- Mailable 3D Bow Template Die
- Meet-up
- Mini Trifold Notes Die
- Monochrome
- My Pleasure Dye Ink
- New Fish in Pond Dye Ink
- New Release
- Notions
- Oh Happy Day Dye Ink
- On My Mark
- On My Mark Die
- PaperCut Alpha Die
- Partly Cloudy Die
- Pattern Play
- Peace On Earth
- Perfect Word Die
- Petal Holder Die
- Pinking Layers Die
- Planner - Stay Focused
- Planner Add-on
- Planted
- Planted Stamp Set
- Pots Die
- Potted
- Product Love
- Publications
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- Recharge
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- Rosette Hearts Die
- Safe Choice Dye Ink
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- Shellabrate
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- Shower
- Shower Stamp Set
- Silhouette Cameo
- Sketchy Alpha Stamp Set
- Sketchy Letters Stamp Set
- Sketchy Numbers Stamp Set
- Snail Mail
- Snail Mail Stamp Set
- Spread the Word
- Spring Blend Inkpad
- Stamps & Cards
- Starry Night
- Starry Night Stamp Set
- Stay Focused Die
- Stocking
- Stocking Die
- Stocking Stamp Set
- Storage
- Succulents Stamp Set
- Summer Blend Inkpad
- Surface Tag
- Surface Tag Die Santa Add-on
- Surface – Tag
- Surface – Tag Die – Scallop Add-on
- Surface – Tag Die – Starter Kit
- Technique
- Tiger & Lily
- Tiger & Lily Stamp Set
- Tiny Circle Die
- Tiny Die Trio
- Tiny Heart Die
- Tiny Love Bubble Die
- Tiny Pumpkin Face Die
- Tiny Star Die
- Tiny Twine Bow Die
- Tiny Wings Die
- Tiny Word Bubble Die
- Tribal Bear
- Tribal Pattern Die
- Tribal Thank You
- Tribal Thank You Stamp Set
- Trick or Treat Die
- Trick or Treat Stamp Set
- Tutorials
- Uncategorized
- Video
- Waffle Flower Crafts
- Warm Wishes Stamp Set
- Watch It Wednesday (Videos)
- Welcome Spring
- Welcome Spring Stamp Set
- Wild & Free
- Willy
- Willy & Friends
- Willy & Friends Die
- Willy & Friends Stamp Set
- Winter Blend Inkpad
- With Love Word Die
- Yippee Word Die
- You Said What Dye Ink
- zChallenges
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Playing with Gift Box Punch Board + Giveaway
Categories
- #TBT
- 100% Love Stamp Set
- A Bunch
- A Bunch Stamp Set
- A Homemade Christmas
- Amazing Word Die
- Anything Paper but a Card
- Awesome Word Die
- Back to Basics
- Balloon Messages
- Be My Guest
- Be My Guest Stamp Set
- Birthday Fishes
- Birthday Fishes Stamp Set
- Blog Hop
- Bowtiful
- Bowtiful Additions
- Bowtiful Additions Stamp Set
- Bowtiful Die Set
- Calendar
- Calendar Numbers
- Celebrate Word Die
- Challenge
- Chirp Chirp Dye Ink
- Christmas
- Claire
- Claire Stamp Set
- ColorStory Inks
- Congrats
- Congrats Word Die
- Cool Tools
- Cutaway Alpha
- Daydreaming Dye Ink
- Design Team
- Dimensional Frames Die
- Doily Circle
- Doily Circle Die
- Doily Square
- Doily Square Die
- Doily Square Stamp Set
- Downloads
- DT Mix
- Egg Hunt
- Egg Hunt Die
- Fall Blend Inkpad
- Faye
- Faye Stamp Set
- Feather More
- First Step
- Five for Friday
- Flower Circles
- Flower Circles Die
- Flower Circles Inverted Die
- Flutter
- Flutter Stamp Set
- Fun Finds
- Gemstone
- Gemstone Stamp Set
- Gift Bag Die
- Give Thanks
- Give Thanks Die
- Giveaway
- Good Stuff
- Good Stuff Die
- Guest Design
- Handmade Embellishments
- Happy Go Lucky Dye Ink
- Hey Mr
- Hey Mr Stamp Set
- Hibiscus
- Holiday Label 1 Die
- Holiday Labels
- Holiday Labels Give Thanks
- Holiday Labels Give Thanks Stamp Set
- Holiday Labels Merry
- Holiday Labels Merry Stamp Set
- In Every Way
- Inks
- Inspiration
- InstaLove Die
- Jumbo Letter Die
- Jumbo Letter HI
- Lace Tape
- Lacy Flower
- Lacy Flower Mats Die
- Lacy Flowers Die
- Lacy Layers 2 Die
- Lacy Layers Die
- Leafy
- Life Anchor
- Little Gifts 3D Die
- Little Gifts Stamp Set
- Little Mermaids
- Lotus
- Loved
- Magical
- Magical Die
- Magical Word Die
- Mailable 3D Bow Template Die
- Meet-up
- Mini Trifold Notes Die
- Monochrome
- My Pleasure Dye Ink
- New Fish in Pond Dye Ink
- New Release
- Notions
- Oh Happy Day Dye Ink
- On My Mark
- On My Mark Die
- PaperCut Alpha Die
- Partly Cloudy Die
- Pattern Play
- Peace On Earth
- Perfect Word Die
- Petal Holder Die
- Pinking Layers Die
- Planner - Stay Focused
- Planner Add-on
- Planted
- Planted Stamp Set
- Pots Die
- Potted
- Product Love
- Publications
- Purse-nality Die
- Purse-nality Stamp set
- Quick & Easy
- Rain Check
- Rain Check Stamp Set
- Recharge
- Riverside
- Riverside Die Set
- Riverside Stamp Set
- Rock My World
- Rock My World Die Set
- Rock My World Stamp Set
- Rosette Hearts Die
- Safe Choice Dye Ink
- Sew Fun
- Shellabrate
- Shellabrate Stamp Set
- Shower
- Shower Stamp Set
- Silhouette Cameo
- Sketchy Alpha Stamp Set
- Sketchy Letters Stamp Set
- Sketchy Numbers Stamp Set
- Snail Mail
- Snail Mail Stamp Set
- Spread the Word
- Spring Blend Inkpad
- Stamps & Cards
- Starry Night
- Starry Night Stamp Set
- Stay Focused Die
- Stocking
- Stocking Die
- Stocking Stamp Set
- Storage
- Succulents Stamp Set
- Summer Blend Inkpad
- Surface Tag
- Surface Tag Die Santa Add-on
- Surface – Tag
- Surface – Tag Die – Scallop Add-on
- Surface – Tag Die – Starter Kit
- Technique
- Tiger & Lily
- Tiger & Lily Stamp Set
- Tiny Circle Die
- Tiny Die Trio
- Tiny Heart Die
- Tiny Love Bubble Die
- Tiny Pumpkin Face Die
- Tiny Star Die
- Tiny Twine Bow Die
- Tiny Wings Die
- Tiny Word Bubble Die
- Tribal Bear
- Tribal Pattern Die
- Tribal Thank You
- Tribal Thank You Stamp Set
- Trick or Treat Die
- Trick or Treat Stamp Set
- Tutorials
- Uncategorized
- Video
- Waffle Flower Crafts
- Warm Wishes Stamp Set
- Watch It Wednesday (Videos)
- Welcome Spring
- Welcome Spring Stamp Set
- Wild & Free
- Willy
- Willy & Friends
- Willy & Friends Die
- Willy & Friends Stamp Set
- Winter Blend Inkpad
- With Love Word Die
- Yippee Word Die
- You Said What Dye Ink
- zChallenges
I absolutely LOVE punching and glueing and this post is a paper crafters DREAM! So many fun elements. Very inspirational, Nina. And a huge THANK YOU for the awesome coupon!
michellezerull on
Such a very sweet tree and idea..cute little envelopes too..I have the SU envelope punch board since a week love it!
Holly Saveur on
Thank you Holly! Have fun with your punch board!
Nina on
Oh Nina I think this would be a simple and fun way to do an advent calendar (of course I already have the tools). For this year you could even do a 12 day count down and do a full countdown next year. I want to thank you know for sharing many wonderful projects and products this year and I’m looking forward to 2014. Have a blessed holiday season ;)
Deborah S on
I’ve never tackled an advent calendar project. This is so lovely … such sweet envelopes!!
Lillian Child on