Christmas Advent Display

Hey, CutCardStock friends! Cassie here with you today. I’m excited to share something a little different from my usual projects. As a family, we have a few cherished traditions that we look forward to every holiday season. I wanted to find a creative way to document those special moments.

To celebrate our family’s holiday activities, I decided to create an advent display for our home. This display will not only serve as a festive decoration but also as a countdown to the big day, highlighting the activities we plan to enjoy together. While I haven’t started decorating just yet, I’ve been busy brainstorming and planning all the fun things we want to do this season, from baking holiday treats to visiting festive light displays.

I can’t wait to share the process with you all, along with the final display.

Getting Started

The first step in my project was to pick up a 12×12 wood blank from a local store. I wanted something sturdy that would serve as the perfect foundation for my advent display. Once I had my wood blank, I got to work creating a list of our family’s top nine holiday activities. I found it a bit challenging to narrow it down, and ultimately I decided to focus on our top six favorites. This made the project feel more manageable and allowed me to highlight the moments that mean the most to us.

My plan was to create individual pockets on the display that would hold a tag for each activity. Each pocket would be a little surprise leading up to the big day, adding an interactive element to our countdown. As I worked on my list, I also explored my Silhouette Studio library for coordinating designs that would enhance the look of each pocket. I wanted them to be festive and visually appealing, capturing the essence of our holiday spirit.

With the designs ready and the concept in mind, it was finally time to grab my cardstock! I chose some vibrant colors and textures that would complement the wood blank and the holiday theme.

I started with a piece of the Stardream Metallic Quartz cardstock to use as the cardstock for the pockets. The other colors for all the designs on the pockets are DCS Canvas Textured Wedding Cake White cardstock, DCS Canvas Textured Ginger Snap cardstock, Lessebo Coffee Bean cardstock, DCS Red Pepper cardstock, DCS Blast off Blue cardstock, DCS Canvas Textured Yellow Jacket cardstock, DCS Canvas Textured Scottish Highlands Green cardstock, and DCS Canvas Textured Bonsai Green cardstock.

Creating My Background

For my wood background, I began by applying two thin coats of white acrylic paint. I wanted a clean, bright base that would really make the colors and designs pop. After allowing the first coat to dry completely, I added the second coat, ensuring an even and smooth finish. Once the white paint was fully dry, it was time to add some personality and a touch of elegance to the piece.

I mixed together some gold paint with clear texture paste to create a lovely shimmering effect. This mixture would add depth and interest to the background, making it visually appealing without overpowering the overall design. Using a wide brush, I applied the gold paste mixture in bold, sweeping strokes across the entire piece of wood. I varied the pressure of my brush to allow some areas to be more heavily coated while others had a lighter touch.

Creating Pockets & Embellishments

I started by cutting out all the pockets and die cuts using a variety of files from the Silhouette Studio store. After carefully choosing the perfect patterns and styles, I set my machine to work, watching as it effortlessly cut out each piece from the colorful cardstock I had chosen.

Once all the designs were cut, I started the assembly process. I carefully folded and glued each pocket together, making sure they were secure and well-constructed. Next, I added a die cut design to the front of each pocket using foam tape, ensuring they were festive and would give a little hint to the item on the advent list. At this stage, I also added a number to each pocket. I used a contrasting color for the numbers to make them stand out, which would help with the countdown aspect of the display.

Finishing the Display

My first step in assembling the advent calendar was to securely attach each pocket to the wood background using hot glue. The hot glue provided a strong bond, ensuring that the pockets would hold up well throughout the holiday season.

Once the pockets were firmly attached, I created the six tags that would go inside pocket. I wanted these tags to be both functional and pretty. I made sure to select photos that represent each of our holiday activities.

For each tag, I also designed a coordinating label that included the name of the activity. I used a playful font stamp, and I chose tag colors that complemented the overall color scheme. After cutting the tags to size, I carefully attached each photo and label, ensuring they were centered and secure.

I truly hope you enjoyed this project as much as I did! Creating this advent calendar has been a wonderful way to celebrate our family’s holiday traditions, and I’m thrilled to share the process with all of you. It’s always a joy to infuse a little creativity into the festive season. I hope it inspires you to embark on your own holiday crafting adventures.

Thank you for joining me today! Your support and enthusiasm mean so much, and I love connecting with fellow crafting enthusiasts. If you decide to create your own advent display or any similar project, I’d love to see your creations! Feel free to share your thoughts or questions in the comments, and let’s keep the holiday spirit alive together. Happy crafting, and may your season be filled with joy and creativity!

Make sure to check out the sale on all Lessebo Cardstock this month! 

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