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November 27, 2005
matchbox advent calendar
This was really fun to make. I've been wanting an advent calendar for a while now. (Here's an old post about an earlier abortive attempt.) Finally everything just clicked for this one. I'm super happy with it. Plus, I made it completely of supplies I already had, including some washi paper I got in Japan that I'd been hoarding. I glued a band of washi around each box, plus another strip to cover the ends and line the inside. Then I poked a hole in the end, threaded through some waxed twine, and tied a knot to secure it. I wrote numbers on wooden beads to thread on the twine hanger. Once we get our Christmas tree up, they will hang on the tree.
So, what's inside? Each day has a slip of quilling paper with a craft supply/idea I can use to make an ornament. Hopefully by Christmas, I'll have 24 new ornaments. We'll see how many I actually do. I'll post each day's idea if you want to play along at home.
Posted under Holiday at November 27, 2005 11:47 PM
Comments
they look so pretty all together. I've been wanting to make a little 'chest-of-drawers' out of matchboxes for an advent calendar--hmm, maybe next year, after grad school is over... ;) Neat idea!!
Posted by: eireann at November 28, 2005 12:35 AM
What a brilliant idea, i'm going for the stocking advent calander this year, still need to put stuff in them though, any ideas for a 19 month old?
Posted by: Nichola at November 28, 2005 03:54 AM
I absolutely love this idea. The wasabi paper, the wooden beads, its all great! This is one of my favorite advents so far.
Posted by: Blair at November 28, 2005 09:49 AM
This is an amazing idea, and a gorgeous execution. I love the concept of making an ornament each day in the season. Bravo!!
Posted by: Diane at November 28, 2005 10:35 AM
This is an amazing idea, and a gorgeous execution. I love the concept of making an ornament each day in the season. Bravo!!
Posted by: Diane Gilleland at November 28, 2005 10:35 AM
O this is great!
Posted by: laura r. at November 28, 2005 12:12 PM
So lovely! They'll be so pretty hanging from the tree!
Posted by: Carol at November 28, 2005 02:05 PM
Are those special match boxes? They look really plain. Can you buy them plain w/out the matches or a label?
Posted by: Anonymous at November 28, 2005 04:28 PM
love your advent calendar, the papers are wonderful, what a great idea
Posted by: kath at November 28, 2005 06:43 PM
Thanks for all the compliments! The matchboxes are plain white. I actually nabbed them from lab, where we were using them for storing electron microscope grids. I'm sure you can find them elsewhere, though. Good luck!
Posted by: Maitreya at November 28, 2005 07:23 PM
That's an awesome idea! Looking forward to seeing what's in each one.
Posted by: Michele at November 28, 2005 09:28 PM
wow! these are so very cool!!
Posted by: amy k. at November 29, 2005 12:39 AM
These are very nice. What a great idea.
Posted by: Lu at November 29, 2005 03:16 PM
what a great idea! they look lovely - i bet they'll be even prettier on the tree. :)
Posted by: laurie at November 29, 2005 05:00 PM
Aw, my favourit idea, the matchbox thing. YOurs are cool. I will come back to see if I get some ornament inspiration even though I don't christmas craft so often! :-)
take care!
Posted by: Hanna at November 30, 2005 09:21 AM
they are so lovely! Look forward to seeing the creations....
Posted by: Jess at December 1, 2005 04:31 AM
Pretty cool!Greetings from fan in Portugal- I wish this advent calendar was my idea!! Meeeerrrrry Xtmas!!!!
Posted by: belinha at December 1, 2005 12:26 PM
What a great idea! I might make it with my own matchboxes... Instructions here:
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/crafting/article/0,1789,HGTV_3352_1818266,00.html
p.s. I love the papers you chose too! Very pretty!
Posted by: andrea at December 8, 2005 08:47 AM
what kind of matchboxes did you use? They look handmade.
Posted by: joseph at August 16, 2006 12:39 PM
What a gorgeous calendar! For anyone looking for matchboxes, you can order them from the Oriental Trading Company, but they are called "paper drawer boxes". They cost about $4 for a dozen, if I remember correctly.
Posted by: Julie at February 20, 2007 11:26 PM
I love this advent... I was searching on google and your came up and i may do something like this but with xmas papers and such!!
Melissa
Posted by: Melissa at November 4, 2007 09:41 AM