Get The TechniqueLast year I shared with you that I've been making advent calendars for my mom's birthday for many years. Her birthday is November 25, so it's the perfect present, as it is so close to Christmas. Every day she gets to open an envelope with photos of her grandkids . . . it's just a bit difficult to come up with new ideas for how to package those every year. An additional challenge is that she travels a lot during those 30 days from her birthday to Christmas, so the calendar needs to be portable yet pretty. But I think I managed to come up with a good idea again. What do you think?!
It folds down to a small 'book,' but open it is quite decorative. And this is how I packaged it with some other goodies, thinking she could enjoy a nice granola breakfast while she opens her photos every morning:
A happy red tray and bowl, a pom-pom branch like I did in this year's Thanksgiving story, and my rubber stamp idea from the Barks & Brittle story (works for granola, too) complete the package. Happy Birthday, Mami!
1 The finished calendar, folded and held together.
2 Cut a sheet of Canson Mi-Teintes paper in half lengthwise, score the bottom three inches, and fold up.
3 Attach several pieces to one another with pretty tape to create one very long piece, and fold up the scored part.
4 Score and fold every 4 1/2.
5 Pull rubber bands around each fold. Think of it as the spine of a book.
6 It can stand like this.
7 Or lay down like that.
8 Each part you had folded up now acts like a pocket. All you need to do is put photos in envelopes and slide in.
9 Wrap with a twine or ribbon.
10 Happy Birthday!
From: Brooke | 11/26/10 at 2:58 pm
Silke,
Such a thoughtful daughter.. I love this!
B
From: Margin Notes | 11/27/10 at 11:37 am
Gorgeous. What a lovely present.
From: Sarah Macri | 11/29/10 at 12:25 pm
What a wonderful idea! My father's birthday is at the end of November, and would love nothing more than a countdown to Christmas, that might include celebrating his granddaughter! Excellent!
From: jbuck | 11/29/10 at 1:37 pm
great idea!
From: jbuck | 11/29/10 at 1:39 pm
I see that there is a personalized round stamp on the bag of granola. Is that some sort of kit, or did you have it custom made?
From: las sandalias de ana | 11/30/10 at 1:58 pm
ohhh, it´s lovely!!
From: Egg2Cake Blog» Blog Archive » D.I.Y. Advent Projects | 12/7/10 at 11:44 am
[...] thrill of a countdown calendar for a gift? Here’s a great idea from The Crafts Department at Martha Stewart. This book example travels well and includes a month of envelopes, each containing photos of [...]