The holiday season is a magical time filled with joy, anticipation, and cherished traditions. One beloved tradition that has stood the test of time is the advent calendar. Advent calendars are a fun way to count down the days until Christmas, with each day revealing a small surprise or treat. While store-bought advent calendars are convenient, creating a personalized felt advent calendar adds a special touch to your holiday decor and can become a treasured family keepsake. In this article, we will guide you through the process of making your own felt advent calendar, perfect for celebrating the festive season with your loved ones.
Materials Needed
Before we dive into the step-by-step instructions, let’s gather the necessary materials:
- Felt in various colors (green for the tree, white for the background, and assorted colors for ornaments)
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Ribbon
- Buttons
- Numbered tags or stickers (1-25)
- Dowel rod
- Decorative embellishments (optional)
Step 1: Create the Background
- Cut a large rectangle of white felt to serve as the background for your advent calendar. The size will depend on your desired dimensions, but a good starting point is 18 inches by 22 inches.
- If desired, add a border to the background using a contrasting color of felt or decorative ribbon.
Step 2: Make the Christmas Tree
- Print out a Christmas tree template or freehand draw a tree shape onto green felt. Make sure the tree is large enough to accommodate 25 ornaments.
- Carefully cut out the tree shape using scissors.
- Cut a small rectangle of brown felt for the tree stump.
- Using a hot glue gun, attach the tree and stump to the white background.
Step 3: Prepare the Ornaments
- Choose an assortment of felt colors for your ornaments. You can use a pre-made color palette or mix and match your own.
- Cut out 25 ornament shapes from the felt. Simple shapes like circles, stars, and hearts work well, but feel free to get creative!
- If desired, decorate the ornaments with ribbon, buttons, or other embellishments.
- Using a hot glue gun, attach a small loop of ribbon to the back of each ornament. This will allow them to hang from the buttons on the tree.
Step 4: Attach the Buttons and Numbers
- Space out 25 buttons on the Christmas tree, ensuring they are evenly distributed.
- Sew the buttons onto the tree using a needle and thread, or use a hot glue gun for a quicker option.
- Attach numbered tags or stickers (1-25) to each ornament. You can purchase pre-made tags or create your own using felt or paper.
Step 5: Hang the Advent Calendar
- Cut two small pieces of ribbon and hot glue them to the top corners of the background felt, creating loops for hanging.
- Insert a dowel rod through the loops, ensuring it is secure.
- Hang your completed advent calendar on a wall or door, ready to be enjoyed throughout the holiday season.
Using Your Felt Advent Calendar
To use your advent calendar, simply attach an ornament to its corresponding button on the tree each day, starting with December 1st and ending with December 25th. You can fill the pockets behind each ornament with small treats, notes, or tiny gifts to add an extra element of surprise and delight.
As the days pass and more ornaments adorn the tree, the anticipation and excitement for Christmas will grow. Your handmade felt advent calendar will become a cherished part of your family’s holiday traditions, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Conclusion
Creating a felt advent calendar is a wonderful way to add a personal touch to your Christmas celebrations. By following these simple steps and letting your creativity shine, you can craft a beautiful and unique advent calendar that will be treasured for years to come. As you count down the days to Christmas with your loved ones, remember the joy and magic of the season, and cherish the special moments spent together.