Enhanced with Stamps

With time marching swiftly forward and Christmas looming ever closer, we decided to highlight a Christmas Advent Calendar with a Family focus.

Each square on this board is mounted on a small nail so that the card can be turned over as each day before Christmas passes to reveal a family photo.

To make this advent Calendar your will need:

• Clear Number Rubber Stamps
• Sayings Clear Rubber Stamps
• Ink for distressing
• 3-4 coordinating patterned scrapbook paper
• Solid Heavy Card stock
• Access to a laminating machine
• die cut letters for the heading
• 16″ x 26″ board – 1/2″ – 3/4″ thick
• 1″ finishing nails
• hammer
• Modge Podge
• Acrylic paint (we used a dark brown)
• Paint brush or foam brush
• Family photos measuring 2 3/4″x 2 3/4″
• Small circle punch or eyelet setter

To make this project:

1. Prepare your board by sanding the edges (and the surface if needed). Paint the edges of your board in a solid color using the craft paint. Be sure to extend the painting area to cover a 2″ border on the front of your board.
2. Using modge podge and scrapbook paper begin covering the surface of the board. When using large pieces of paper with modge podge first cover the board with modge podge and then add the paper. Distress or tear the edges if you desire. Allow the first coat of modge podge to dry, then cover the entire surface again. This eliminates bubbles and undesired creases. Set your board aside to dry.
3. Cut 24 squares from your heavy card stock measuring 2 3/4″ x 2 3/4″. Cut 6-8 squares from the patterned scrapbook paper measuring 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″.  Distress the edges with Ink if desired. Glue these pieces onto the heavy card stock allowing the card stock to mat the patterned scrapbooking paper. Lay out your cards in a 3 x 8 grouping to decide on the placement of each patterned piece.
4. Using your Clear Number Rubber Stamps  begin stamping the numbers from 1 to 24into the corner of each square. Enhance each square with family words or designs stamped on with your Sayings Clear Rubber Stamps and other favorite clear stamps you wish to use.
5. Cut your family photos to measure exactly 2 3/4″ x 2 3/4″. Glue them onto the backs of your numbered cards. Laminate all the cards and trim. Using a small hole punch or eyelet setter, punch a hole in the top center portion of each card and lay out onto the board. The three rows of eight should fill the bottom portion of the board leaving room for the title at the top. As you put the nails in ensure that the spacing is correct, the cards are centered and will hang straight.
6. Using your die cut letters (if you have a cricut you may wish to use vinyl) secure your title to the top of the board using modge podge. We further enhanced our board by adding a bead of glitter around the edges of the letters in the word FAMILY. Add bling, ribbons or anything else you desire to further enhance your board.

Happy Crafting!!!