2010-12-01

December 1st

** Welcome to my little Christmas blog! Here you'll find something Christmassy every single day until the big celebration on 25th of December! Some of the things I have created myself and some have been made by you, my dearest readers!
Thank you and the Happiest Holidays!**

DECEMBER 1st

Christmas-calendar is something I just cannot miss - I need to have one every year! This year I wanted to create something pretty by using materials that could be found in home. By surfing the net for inspiration I saw these beautiful Wood&Wool Stool trees by Ingrid Jansen, found my way to her etsy-shop and flickr-pictures, and just fell in love with these beautiful designs:

wood & wool x-mas trees wood
Thank you Ingrid for letting me share these!

A tree calendar! I started to look for something I could use for mine and remembered that I have saved some empty matchboxes... That's it! I am going to make my tree-calendar from these little (and some bigger) boxes. At home you can use any boxes you have available as long as they can be opened after they've been clued together.

You'll need:

25 empty boxes
scissors
glue
tape
(double-sided tape is great for decoration)
pretty papers or paint for decoration
pen or stickers to mark 1-25
(optional: some metal brads for handles)
little gifts inside (can be anything you like!)


Start with designing your tree, and make sure, that the boxes can be opened after they've been glued together. I spent some time before I ended up a design with 22 smaller boxes and three bigger ones. In my tree the little boxes can be opened by pushing them from the back (and bigger ones open both sides).

I glued the rows of little boxes together and used some tape too to secure the rows. I left the bigger ones untouched yet as I'll need to decorate them from more than one side before putting three together for good.

And now the funniest part: decoration! I used for mine clippings from magazines and a Christmas-paper set I got when I purchased a craft magazine years back, but you can paint, use fabric, old Christmas cards - anything you love! My tree has a green-red theme and there are some pretty snowmen and baubles too.


I used double-sided tape to secure the decorative papers in the boxes. I placed the tape on the box front and the paper into it, and just cut the extras off. I chose some plain and some more merrier papers and just mixed them happily. I also decorated the parts that will be shown when the tree is put together. You can see those by putting the rows of boxes together
and having a look of it from different angles.

To put the tree finally together I used both clue and double-sided tape
to stick the layers firmly. And as my tree came out quite colorful, I ended up writing the numbers with a black marker only - you can go for more decorative options!


And the finished tree? I love it! It stands in my bedroom next to my Maileg piggies and snowmen and it will be the first thing I see every morning! And the little gifts? Today's gone already - I opted for my favorite: chocolate!

What will be in yours?

Happy 1st December!

Yours,
Mia

18 comments:

Jane said...

Good mornig Mia and what a wonderful crafty start to December. You have created a beautiful advent tree. I spotted a "Maileg" pig in your photos..wonderful, we saw a shop in York which sold this charming brand but did not see pigs or one would have come home! I have just opened my advent calendar and found a child on a rocking horse in mine. Enjoy your chocolate. I'm now going to try to walk to work in the deep snow...have a great day.Thank you for sharing such a lovely craft post.
Love Jane x

Mia said...

Dear Jane,

Thank you so much for your comment! I bought my maileg-pigs and snowmen last year, and added the little tree to my collection this year.

It's absolutely freezing here, -25,5 as we speak so I am making my soon-to-appear December-posts INDOORS today.

Stay warm!

Yours,
Mia

Pam said...

I think I'm going to be very busy on the run up to Christmas - making all the lovely things on here. Now, where did I put all those match boxes?
Have a lovely day Mia - keep warm and cosy. We've got even more snow falling now and am a bit worried that it's never going to stop.
Another day by the stove I think.
P xx

Mia said...

Hi Pam,

I am busy too, but in a lovely way :) as I know there are the holidays coming! I hope you're feeling good too with all your "to-do´s" and I wish the mailman visits you soon, too!

Happy Wednesday!

Yours,
Mia

Helen Philipps said...

What a wonderful crafty Christmas tree! That is such a fantastic idea and so well made too! I love your Christmas blog ideas and will be back to see the next one.
Have a great day. Helen x

Mia said...

Thank you, Helen!

I am enjoying these crafts even more because I can show them to you all! I am so happy you liked the little tree!

Happy day and see you tomorrow :)

yours,
Mia

Anonymous said...

Happy 1st December Mia!! :)
And what a great start with your beautiful advent calendar, brilliant idea!!
We've had a bit more snow this morning but it's still pretty snow and not annoying snow!
Off to bake some shortbread now, have a great day and I'll see you tomorrow!
Vivienne x

Mia said...

You too, Viv, happy 1st!

See you here tomorrow especially as... You know what might be coming up :)

Yours,
Mia

verykerryberry said...

A great start to your Christmas calendar- I have linked to it today!

Mia said...

Thank you so much, Kerry!

I am happy you liked my start - and more to come tomorrow, welcome!

Happy December 1st!

Yours,
Mia

Karen said...

Thats a lovely idea Mia. I will have to hunt about for enough boxes and some pretty paper. Definitely an indoor day as its very cold here. Karen X

Mia said...

Thank you, Karen!

I have been enjoying indoor things for a couple of days now (to get something to show to all of you!) and huh, the weather has been just right (over -20c still and a bit windy).

Stay warm!

Happy December 1st!

Yours,
Mia

Anne said...

Happy December!! Thanks for sharing this lovely Advent tree.
It is a good day to be indoors crafting.
Anne at PlumCreek22

Mia said...

Thank you, Anne, and happy December 1st!

It's a bit better here today (only -10c or so) but I still have more crafts to do!

See you here later again, and especially 4th :)

Yours,
Mia

Teje said...

Hi Mia! This is so wonderful idea and you have created it so lovely! I think mine would have chocolate every day!

Mia said...

Hei Teje!

Suklaa on ihan paras joulukalenterin täyte, ja joulun aikaan sitä saakin mussuttaa ihan surutta, täydellistä!

Mukavaa kun ehdit taas piipahtaa, ja tervetuloa taas, joulukuussa postaillaan joka päivä!

Pakkasterkuin Mia

vintagerockchick said...

Great tree - what a brilliant idea. And it would have to be a chocolate in every one. Unless it was two chocolates.

Mia said...

HI vintagerockchick,

So great to have you visiting me here! I am so happy you have enjoyed my Christmas-blog so far, there's many more to come :)

Happy December!

Yours,
Mia

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