Advent Calendar

Here's another clever way of making an Advent Calendar using the "Petal Card Double Punch". You could make little envelopes with a simple stamped image inside to peek at one day at a time as a countdown to 25 days until Santa comes! Here's how Debbie Henderson made hers.

Start by adhering a 12 x 12 piece of DSP to a cardboard piece of the same size. With your Big Shot and Clearlits Scallop Rectangle Die and cut out 25 from Certainly Celery cardstock:

Follow that by cutting out 25 of the Petal Card Double Punches using Real Red cardstock:

Decorate background piece of DSP with the new Tasteful Trim Bigz Die which allows you to create custom edges and borders with any kind of cardstock or material any time you need it. Includes scallops, rick rack, and pinking designs:

Once your scallop rectangles and little envelopes are all glued in place, stamp different images on a 1" x 1" square and insert in each envelope. Be sure the last one has a stamped image of Santa:

Add the "countdown" numbers to all of the envelopes. These numbers can even be made by hand if you don't have the SU dies with numbers.

The photo below is a close-up of a few of the stamped images. Make them age appropriate for whomever you're creating the calendar for. If you also add a solo Pearl Jewel to each envelope top, then as the 1 inch squares are pulled upwards in the reveal, you can actually turn the squares at a slight angle and they will sit exposed:

Punch 2 holes at the top corners and threaded Seam Binding through for the hanger. Add a bow to the top:

Now here's where you can get clever too... for older kids or even hubbies, you could put coupons for love notes in each too or ideas of things they can do.... here's some examples: Breakfast in Bed, Indoor Picnic in front of the Fireplace, Walk on the beach, You pick the movie-night,  Bake cupcakes together,  Go Christmas Caroling, Take a neighbor some Sweets, Coupon for babysitting, Lottery tickets, you get the idea?