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How to Make a Sustainable Advent Calendar

Level
Beginner
Time
1 hour
Budget
<10

Gather scraps of fabric, offcuts of paper and old cardboard to create this sustainable advent calendar. Fill with chocolate coins or thoughtful gifts to celebrate the season.

Get all the excitement of counting down to Christmas while also doing something good for the environment. These small pockets and parcels are perfect for little notes, small gifts or even treasure hunt clues (for gifts that won't fit in the calendar).

Project and instructions by Becki Clark

Discover more Christmas papercraft ideas here >

 

You will need

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You will also need:

*A glue stick

*Scrap fabric, paper and card

Step 1
Using pinking shears, cut scrap paper into different shaped rectangles.
sustainable-advent-calendar-step1.jpg?sw=680&q=85
Step 2

Fold in half and then glue along opposite edges leaving the ‘top’ of the pouch unglued.

 

Fold and press down the glued sides to create your paper pouch.

Step 3

Leave to dry and add your number. This can be done by writing directly onto the pouch with a Posca pen or by adding a smaller rectangle of patterned paper onto the pouch then writing onto that.

Step 4

Add painterly patterns to old cardboard using white acrylic paint. Paint on simple designs such as polka dots, gingham and stripes.

 

Try paint flicking onto card or cardboard for an abstract effect.

Step 5
Use the same technique as the paper to make small pouches, you could also fold over at the top and use a mini peg to secure the pouch in place.
sustainable-advent-calendar-step5.jpg?sw=680&q=85
Step 6

Whatever you are including in your advent you will need to have ready to wrap in scraps of fabric.

 

Place the item in the middle and then tie a long length of twine to secure the fabric around it.

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Step 7

Add your advent number by taking some scrap paper, folding and glueing around the twine.

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Step 8
Add your number using the Posca pen.
sustainable-advent-calendar-step8.jpg?sw=680&q=85
Step 9

Attach your pockets onto lengths of twine using mini pegs and then tie onto your wooden dowel. I used varying lengths of twine so that the pouches sit at different heights.

 

Once you are happy with the placement add foliage to the top of the dowel for a natural touch.

Step 10
Your advent calendar is now complete and ready to be displayed!
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