The Countdown Begins | DIY Advent Calendar

DIY Advent Calendar | Motte's Blog

In Germany we say: “Vorfreude ist die schönste Freude.“ Which roughly translates to: ”The greatest joy lies in the anticipation [rather than in the event itself].”

Perhaps that is why advent calendars are so popular in German-speaking regions. The tradition reaches all the way back to the early 19th century, but even today I can hardly name a family in my immediate surroundings that doesn’t have at least one advent calendar up on the walls; bursting with goodies and ready to be plundered by impatient offspring and well, adults just the same.

Growing up my siblings and I always had an advent calendar sitting on the bedside table in the Christmas season. Starting on the 1st of December, first thing each morning another window would be opened with utmost care (which would work better at times, less at others) and great anticipation (which always worked just fine).

Perhaps, just maybe, two or three windows would be opened secretly a few days in advance – but just to be sure that we had something to look forward to!

Following a somewhat forgetful, overtired morning, the joy would only rise to find that you were later actually permitted to open not one, but two windows – all on the same day! Imagine the joy in our eyes! And in our hearts not to mention!

Which might have been even greater if only we had had one of those calendars filled with sugary sweets and pocket-sized toys…

Instead, we had the most traditional form of advent calendars in our home: made from paper, with tiny paper windows, concealing little paper illustrations of wooly mittens and furry animals tumbling through the snow.

DIY Advent Calendar | Motte's Blog

DIY Advent Calendar | Motte's Blog

DIY Advent Calendar | Motte's Blog

Truthfully, I often find these the most beautiful calendars because they are made with so much care and there are always more details to be found. Even on Christmas Eve – 24 days later – I would still notice a little something new: the mouse peeking out from behind the trunk of the pine tree (I swear it wasn’t there before) or the little girl all the way in the back bravely licking on her ice cream cone…

At some point my sister got an upgrade to chocolate advent calendars.

I don’t know what happened there. I really don’t.

DIY Advent Calendar | Motte's Blog

DIY Advent Calendar | Motte's Blog

DIY Advent Calendar | Motte's Blog

This year – now old enough to make my own adultly decisions – I have opted to finally make a calendar with said (semi-pocket-sized) toys and other goodies! This is a perfect gift for somebody close to you that can be individually designed. I went for a simple look that goes well with my Christmas decorum.

Feel free to follow my instructions and to add any elements that make the calendar more personal to you.


HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

MATERIALS:
  • white acrylic paint
  • 24 charming little gifts in boxes
  • brown packing paper
  • white sheets of paper
  • a (wooden) clothes hanger
  • string
  • pine cones and other embellishments


TOOLS:
  • paint brush
  • scissors
  • tape
  • glue stick
  • wire

DIY Advent Calendar | Motte's Blog

Step 1: Start by lightly brushing the tips of the pine cones with acrylic paint and set aside to let dry.

DIY Advent Calendar | Motte's Blog

DIY Advent Calendar | Motte's Blog

Step 2: Wrap your 24 goodies in brown packing paper. (Truthfully, an easy step, but surprisingly time consuming with so many boxes:)

Step 3: From a few sheets of paper, cut the numbers 1 to 24 using a pair of scissors. Make sure they fit onto your gifts, depending on the size of your boxes. You might want to use a template or print out numbers from your computer (without filling, only with the frame).

Here’s what you’ll need in quantity:

2 x 0
13 x 1
8 x 2
3 x 3
3 x 4
2 x 5
2 x 6
2 x 7
2 x 8
2 x 9

Adhere the numbers to the boxes with the help of a glue stick. If the order of the gifts is important to you, be sure to find a way to mark the boxes or place them in the correct order before wrapping.

DIY Advent Calendar | Motte's Blog

Step 4: Arrange the now-dried pine cones and other embellishments on the clothes hanger with some wire. Try to keep the wire hidden.

DIY Advent Calendar | Motte's Blog

DIY Advent Calendar | Motte's Blog

DIY Advent Calendar | Motte's Blog

Step 5: Using the string, wrap around one box at a time, securing safely. Thread over the clothes hanger and tie the loose end to another box. Be sure to vary the string in length for a more organic look.

Step 6: Mount the hanger to the wall and may the countdown begin!

DIY Advent Calendar | Motte's Blog

DIY Advent Calendar | Motte's Blog


Happy counting!





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