I have to say, I think Granny is a very luckily lady.. she is the receiver of much crafty goodness produced by Red Ted and Pip Squeak… and because she is so wonderful about accepting it all, I do like to make her special things with the children too – bring on the Kids Art Advent Calendar – a perfect present kids can make for Christmas (with some help of course) and a lovely way to appreciate their art. We also rather like an Easy Snowman Craft or two! If you are looking for more Advent Calendar Ideas.. look no further!
Kids Art Advent Calendar – Materials
- paper for drawing (or some art your child has made already),
- a scanner and printer,
- glossy photo paper or very light card stock, scissors,
- Stanley knife, and
- glitter glue sticks
1) Red Ted drew a snowy picture for us – he decided on a snowman and we added some glitter glue snow.
2) Once dry, scan it and resize to A4 if need be. I printed it off on some glossy photo paper. If you haven’t got any, I would recommend printing it on some slightly heavier paper/ light card.
3) Then I made a print out in power point (which I have an advent calendar template pdf -ed for you). I printed this off and use it as a stencil/ guide to cutting the windows into our pieces of printed art. Remember to only cut 3 sides of your square. I made the right side open one way and the left the other way.
4) Pick out 24 family photos from the year gone by (or alternatively get your children to draw 24 little pictures into your calendar – i think this would only work with older kids, who have the patience.. no way I could have gotten mine to do it!). I resized my photos in power point.
Then something strange happened, I was going to use the same template again, fill it with photos, print off and place behind our windows. For some reason, I couldn’t print the same stencil off twice accurately. The new prints were slightly bigger. I have no idea why. So I created a lots of small photos in power point, the size of our calendar. Printed them off and stuck them on the paper behind the windows. A little more work, but fine. You will have to see how these print off for you and either you will have a v quick job or you may have a little cutting to do.
5) Once I had stuck all the photos behind the windows. I added a TINY bit of blue tack to help keep the windows shut!
6) Then at the very end, we added some numbers 1 – 24 and as Red Ted put it “Tricked Granny, by mixing all the numbers up”
AND FINISHED.
We are SO pleased with the results. Red Ted was so excited about seeing his piece of art as a calendar and they loved seeing all the year’s worth of photos!
Anyway, I am pretty certain that Granny will be pleased and will love seeing all the different photos!
Ali says
This is an incredibly sweet gift. I had a little laugh about Red Ted ‘tricking’ Granny 🙂
Red Ted Art says
Yes, I have to say, I thought it was rather cute too! Makes me smile…
maria says
such a lovely idea for a gift!
Red Ted Art says
Granny was super pleased. I know she will enjoy seeing “which photo we picked next”….
Sammie Hodges says
I love your advent calender! I am going to make it priority to make one at the weekend!!
Red Ted Art says
Awe that really makes me happy!! YAY! Have fun.
Emma @Sciencesparks says
oh lovely Maggy, and I love that you ‘tricked Granny’
Cerys @ Rainy Day Mum says
It’s wonderful Maggy – I love it and think we may have to make one for Nannie (may get my husband on the picture side of things!)
Red Ted Art says
Thank you! I think Nannie would love it!!!! 🙂
Deborah says
This is pretty cute! As an Aunt, I would love my nephews to do this for me!
Deborah
Pink Scissors Desing on Etsy
Jesse Tree Ornaments for Advent
http://www.etsy.com/listing/109692943/jesse-tree-christmas-advent-felt-jesse
Red Ted Art says
🙂 yes, wouldn’t that be nice.. you had better send them the link and a big *HINT*!
The Monko says
My friend did this for a group of her friends using store bought chocolate advent calendars and replacing the insides with photos of all of us in each window. It was really cute to open a door and see another friend each day. Unfortunately one of my friends who had given up chocolate for advent gave her advent calendar to a small child on a train never knowing what was behind the doors. That kid must have had an odd advent!
Red Ted Art says
Oh goodness how funny!!!!! Love that!
PragmaticMom says
What a great craft idea! My kids love Advent Calendars and last year we waited too long to buy one and couldn’t find any. What fun to see all the photos from the year!
Red Ted Art says
Yes! This perfect for when you missed out on the Advent Calendars in the shops!! Definitely!!!
Wendy says
I love the calendar, what a brilliant idea..xx
Red Ted Art says
I hope you make one too!
Tracy says
That’s such a clever idea, better get making one sharpish.
Red Ted Art says
Please do!
Deb @ Living Montessori Now says
What a great idea! I love the idea of kids creating an Advent calendar as a gift. I was happy to feature your post and photo in my 40+ Christmas Countdown Activities post.
Red Ted Art says
Thank you so much for the feature!
Jocelyn says
My husband made this delightful calendar for my mom and mailed it off over the weekend. She was so excited to receive it, and can’t wait for December 1. Thanks for a terrific idea.
Red Ted Art says
Awe I so happy he made one!! HURRAY!!
The Iowa Farmer's Wife says
This is THE sweetest idea ever! Featuring it tomorrow on the Sunday Showcase! LOVE!
Red Ted Art says
Awe thank you, so pleased you like it!! 🙂 and thank you for the feature!
Chris at Thinly Spread says
I know a Granny or two who would love this! Thanks for linking to Festive Friday, this is a lovely addition!
Carolyn @ Mama's Little Muse says
This is just the best idea! I know a grandma and granddad who will be so touched to have one of these from their grandson. Thank you so much for sharing this idea. I know it is a quarter through the month already but my parents would love to receive one of these anytime! Going to go start on it now! Happy Holidays!