Kids can enjoy a literal buildup to December 25th with this add-to-it-each-day twist on an Advent calendar.
Tips
After the collage is finished, print out the classic
holiday poem
"A
Visit From St. Nicholas" and read it together with your
family!
More
Christmas decorations »
| Prep Time: Afternoon or Evening | |
| What you need: | |
|
For the Backdrop
1 yard of felt, cut to 25 by 28 inches Scissors Ruler 2 feet of cording 2 (3/8-inch-diameter) dowels, each cut to 27 inches Fabric glue For the Add-ons 1/4 yard of felt for the house, cut to 9 by 22 inches 1/4 yard of felt for the roof 1/8 yard of white felt for the snow 10 to 12 (about 9- by 12-inch) felt sheets in a variety of colors Templates for the add-ons Fine-tipped permanent marker Small pom-poms for the Christmas tree 16 tiny bells for the reindeer Repositionable glue such as nontoxic Aleene's Spritz-On Reposition-It Tacky Glue | |
| Seasons: Christmas, Winter | |
| Materials: felt, scissors | |
| Instructions: | |
| 1. | 
Print
out the calendar for the month of December.
Backdrop Set the felt right-side down on a flat surface. Using scissors, make 2 small holes along the top edge, as shown, 1 inch down from the top and 10 inches in from each side. Thread the ends of the cording through the holes. |
| 2. | Lay one of the dowels lengthwise across the felt and tie each end of the cording around it in a tight double knot. Pull the cording taut. |
| 3. |  Spread a thin, even line of fabric glue across the top edge
of the felt. Tightly fold the felt over the dowel and press it in
place. Repeat the gluing process with the second dowel (but no
cording) along the bottom edge of the felt. Allow the glue to dry
thoroughly (about 45 minutes). |
| 4. | 
Add-on Pieces
Download and print templates for the add-on pieces and roof and snow templates. Trace and cut out each. Following the directions on the templates, glue together the layered elements, such as Santa. Add details such as eyes, chocolate chips, and the word "toys" on the bag with a permanent marker. |
| 5. |  Set the pieces facedown on a clean trash bag. Following the
directions on the label, spray with repositionable glue. Store
the pieces in a plastic bag, preferably with the sticky sides
facing away from one another, until you're ready to place them on
the collage. (If a piece isn't sticking properly, apply more glue
and allow it to dry thoroughly.) Next year, simply spritz on
another layer of repositionable glue before starting your
collage. |
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