How to Make an Advent Calendar

This Ancestor Advent Calendar is Tim Holtz inspired. Each of the 25 envelopes is cut by hand and decorated with a portrait cut from Tim Holtz scrapbook paper. Each envelope is topped with a computer generated gold hinge, and contains a quote about art and a gold coin made from chocolate. I decorated the top with gold card stock that is dry embossed, plus three hand made Tim Holtz-inspired flowers. The roses are made from grunge paper and the rosette is made from the same scrapbook paper that I used in the Advent Calendar.

This calendar could be personalized by using actual pictures of your ancestors, and each pocket could contain a bit of writing about that individual. I think that would be a wonderful way to honor your family members and a wonderful gift for someone in your family.

A mini muffin tin, some magnetic dots from EK Success, patterned card stock and your imagination are all it takes to make this cute Advent Calendar.

It's so easy and fast to make, you'll want to make several sets of tops. Why not have Countdown Calendars for birthdays, graduations, Easter, the last day of school, retirement or for any other special occasion.

The video tutorial below shows you every step to follow.

This adorable countdown calendar is made with a kit from karen Foster Designs. The little boxes are reversible so you can make an Advent Calendar on one side and another type of Countdown Calendar on the other. Finding the kit may be the difficult part. They fly off the shelves in the craft shops.