I crafted!

I did it!  I really  did it.  I crafted!  Ok.  I'm sure that using "crafted" in that sense would totally send an english teacher over the edge but I'm celebrating my contribution to my family's Christmas celebration today!

I saw an awesome idea via Facebook to make an unconventional Advent calendar to countdown the days until Christmas and I just loved it.  If you're less crazy than me, you can totally just BUY it here.  I had specific colors in mind so I made mine.  It wound up taking me right at three hours... though if I were to do it again, I'm sure I could do it much quicker as I had to hunt down some old Creative Memories tools.

Yesterday I took the kids (plus one) to Michaels to find the paper and supplies that I needed for this and a few other crafts that we'll do in the near future.   I found the perfect blue and red paper.

Aren't they lovely?

So, I laid all my supplies on the table... except the additional Creative Memories cutting tools I decided to track down after I got started.

Here's what I had:

            25 white envelopes
            6 sheets of two sided coordinating paper
            10 sheets white cardstock
            2  28ft tape runner
            hemp twine
            tiny clothespins
            black pen
            number stencil

Step 1:  Cut pretty paper to fit on envelopes.  I did 6" x 3.5" and it left a nice white border on the edge.
Step 2:  Use tape runner to attach to envelopes.  (I know.  This is totally rocket science and you're totally impressed by me so far but just wait!)  ;)

Step 3:  I decided I wanted the numbers to be on circles so I drug out the CM stuff (aka- drug out what I could find and then went to Eileen's to get what I couldn't find) and made circles with the white cardstock.

Step 4:  I used a complimentary "Pretty Paper" to make a strip on each circle for accent.

Step 5:  Attach to envelopes via rocket science discussed in step 2.

Step 6:  Stencil numbers onto circles.  Here's where I've gotta give CM markers total props.  I have not had my scrapbooking stuff out in AT LEAST five years and this marker still worked perfectly!  It's the small things... right?

Step 7:  Hang hemp twine and attach fabulous envelopes with adorable clips.

Ok.  You're not actually finished at this point but the cuteness is up and that alone makes you feel good!

Step 8:  Make a list of Advent Activities that suit your family.
Step 9:  Put them into a word document and print.
Step 10:  Cut the cards to a size that will fit into your envelopes.
Step 11:  Print your family calendar.
Step 12:  Taking into consideration your family calendar, put the cards into the appropriate envelope.

That's it!  Now you can begin making family memories! 

Isn't it so cute!  I love it already and cannot wait to see the fun family memories that happen because I took one afternoon to do this!  Tomorrow on the blog is the Christmas tradition we added last year... the Jesus Tree!