If you remember yesterday's post, you'll know that the boy (who's 6 years old) and I were busy busy working on our little Advent Calendar. This is our very first handmade Advent Calendar! I know, crazy. Before this year, we've always bought them, tisk tisk. It was never on my radar before... But with the "advent" of the blog (chortle), I've been inspired by so many amazing crafters and their amazing Advent concoctions! So I thought I'd get the boy involved and create one of our very own design and making.
I sketched 3 different possibilities and passed them by the boy. He, being president of Everything, chose the final design: the Advent Clock Calendar. Here you see it partially made, most of the components ready for assembly.
It is made out of a large cardboard box, frozen concentrated juice containers and their metal lids, some ribbon, a piece of newsprint, a few bits of used giftwrap, some regular white paper, paint and Mod Podge.
The boy is a snowflake expert (he was making snowflakes back in the womb) so he helped with the lid embellishment including the cutting of circles of paper and of all those little snowflakes that you see on the tops of the juice lids. He also penned all the numbers which I then cut out. I'm darn fond of The Boy Font, and use it whenever possible. It's got character, ya know?
We got Lo involved by forcing him to poke holes in things and by sending him out to get the goodies for the little snowflake cups.
Today I put it all together and spent some time gathering Christmas jokes to add to every cup. The boy loves a good joke. Whenever he tells a joke, he always asks: "Do you get it?" and proceeds to explain the ins and outs of the joke, and exactly why you should be laughing.
After school, he excitedly threw off his coat, hat and boots, like a flash raced to the Calendar, and swiftly found the goodies and the joke that were waiting for him. Then he begged me to let him do tomorrow's today to which I said: "No way, José!"
Pretty sure he likes his Advent Calendar! Yay!
Now you go have yourself a lovely evening!
It's gorgeous!! It is so original!! You will be able to use it for years to come! I love it!!
ReplyDeleteFantastic looking advent calendar Michele - Hugs Nat
ReplyDeleteAwesome advent calender......
ReplyDeleteSo cool! I love the concept, the execution and the story. What a big, fun, mechanical advent! Boy friendly and neato for him, beautiful for us. His snowflakes and numbers are lovely. So much talent in one family. The jokes are such a great idea! I don't think I know any Christmas jokes. Can you post one or two you like?
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely WONDERFUL! So beautiful, exciting and different! I LOVE IT!!!
ReplyDeleteThat is just perfect and all the more perfect because your young crafter was so involved :-)
ReplyDeleteA x
Such fun!! I have a hard time finding goodies small enough for the doors on ours...ideas? Did Lo find anything good? I only fill each door the night before to prevent sneak peeks. So I have time still! You did a great job on this!
ReplyDeleteVery original idea.
ReplyDeleteI've been saving juice lids all year for an Advent Calendar. I really like what you did with them.
ReplyDeleteI love it. Very nice and i Love the color combination. Thanks for sharing
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Very nice idea !! So original , as usual !
ReplyDeleteThis is really smart,another nice idea..thanks f0r sharing...
ReplyDeleteThis turned out fabulous. You are such an inspiration...
ReplyDeleteRidiculously cool. The Boy Font is most impressive. His numbers are neater than my Teen Boy Font!
ReplyDeleteWhat imagination and skill! Good for the little boy - he must be very contented and proud of his work! You, too!:) I find the clock amazing and pretty, but maybe the most interesting thing is that it's full of surprises!:)
ReplyDeleteI love it! Our boy has some interesting lettering tricks up his sleeve too, brilliant aren't they! I really wanted to make an advent calendar this year but haven't got to it in time.. maybe we'll make something at the weekend, it will be a few days late but better late than never! (or next year!)
ReplyDeleteThis is way cool! What a great Christmas tradition that you've made together!
ReplyDeleteI love the colors on this - and that it is so unique. Great idea, thanks!
ReplyDeletelindsay
Somehow I missed this in my blogger reader thing --THIS IS SO COOL! Im just dying to know what you put in each of the little boxes (I'll bet your son is just itching to see!)....what fun, and what a great idea!!!
ReplyDeleteWould also like to express admiration for use of the term "chortle"
ReplyDelete....another word I will need to use more often!
Love this! What a great spin on the advent calendar!
ReplyDeletewhat an awesome, creative, original idea. I love it! Great teamwork to create this together!
ReplyDeleteHi Michele!
ReplyDeleteSorry - I just realized that I overlooked your cute clock advent in my advent round up last night. So I have added it in.
Love it!
xox
Jen
Hi Michele-- Featuring you and your co-artist at A Crafty Soiree...
ReplyDeleteMalia
www.yesterdayontuesday.com
I love it! SO creative and fun! Great idea :)
ReplyDeletea very clever idea.
ReplyDeletei really like it.
I linked to your tutorial on my blog - thanks for sharing!
doro K.