Advent Calendar

Chipps

Hi, glad to have got you imagination up & running!
I actually made one of those a couple of years ago - for my mum! 24 matchboxes (it took ages to save them up!) - glued together, covered the whole thing in Christmas wrapping paper, numbered the drawers & put a split pin - as in picture - on each for a handle. Then we put sweets & other little things in. I remember putting earrings & tiny ornaments. Also got the kids to write sweet little notes for some of the days, too.

carrottopsuk

Chipps - you've given me an idea.
We have one (for the whole family) advent calendar which is a string with 24 little Christmas stockings.
I'm going to make a jigsaw puzzle from a family photo of last christmas and cut it into 24 pieces and on the last day the picture will be complete! I suppose I'd better put a few sweets in to keep everybody happy as this will be unexpected. ::)
i'm thinking, it would be good to do this every year so we can remember what last year's Christmas was like (start a new family tradition).
Actually last year's in our house wasn't brilliant but I do have a nice photo. I may be full of enthusiam and getting just a bit carried away  ;D ;D- we'll see how it goes down.

Hi Chris ;

Just wondering how you were going to make a photo jigsaw puzzle?

16011996

i have blown up a family photo to A4 on the photocopier and am going to stick it on card and chop it up. ;D

hilstep2000

Went into my local pound shop this morning, and they've got fabric advent calendars (with the pockets) for £1 ! Just need to add the sweets or prezzies!

Chris25

Puddytat - thought I'd do the same as 160. I have some extra strong card from the back of a sketch pad and will use that. I think I'll probably paste PVA glue over the whole picture to give it a bit of longevity (don't know if this will work, but I can only try).

Actually, I'd better get cracking as there aren't too many days left now - groan, groan!

16011996

i covered mine in pva glue, mixed with water (half of each) makes it less sticky, and spreads easier. you can always use 2 coats for a real shine on it.

hth

160.

MATH

Hillstep and re-usable calendar for £1 is an absolute bargain. Ours cost £18 from QVC (it was a gift from Gran). It would cost you more than £1 for a cardboard one.

Do any of you use plastic Santa Sacks to put ya kids toys in? I made each of my kids a red plush sack with tie top. On one side it has an enormous appliqued felt Christmas tree with dangly decorations on it and on the other their name cut out of some holly material off-cut and stitched on. Re-usable year after year and something I hope they keep when they don't believe in the bearded one anymore.

16011996

mine have purple stocking ones with a penguinon from tesco a couple of years ago, they were £1 each in a sale in about july and got 3 for my kids and 3 for nephews. ;D

Galtizz

Puddytat - thought I'd do the same as 160. I have some extra strong card from the back of a sketch pad and will use that. I think I'll probably paste PVA glue over the whole picture to give it a bit of longevity (don't know if this will work, but I can only try).

You could scan the photo and print it out on Magnetic paper then cut out the jigsaw shapes, then you can keep your photo on the fridge all year.

(Thanks for the magnetic paper link 160, I finally ordered some and it arrived yesterday - perfect for my homemade fridge poetry)

16011996

no problem, its good tho isn't it. ;D