Penelope's Portfolio: How to Create A Life-Size Advent Calendar!

The holidays are approaching, and if you are anything like me, you love this time of the year! Attending holiday events, shopping for gifts, preparing holiday meals, decorating the house, and spending time with family, are just some of the reasons the holidays are precious to me.

This year, while I was getting my holiday mojo on, I was inspired to make my kids an advent calendar. Hmmm. I didn't know how I was going to make it, but I knew it was going to involve getting rid of an old tv box that had been taking up too much space in my garage for way too long! So my desire to purge a little, mixed with my holiday mood, resulted in an epic life-sized advent calendar!

Want to make one? If so, save yourself some money by hitting the dollar store, (at least that's what I did), and pick up these items.

Here's what you need...

large TV box (I used a 50")
a variety of containers (I used plastic containers and gift boxes)
holiday cards and holiday gift bags
decorative items (ribbon, stickers, holiday signs, decorative tape, etc.)
number stickers
contact paper
tape
glue gun and glue sticks
pencil
permanent marker
X-acto knife or other cutting tool

Step 1: Prepare TV box, (or other large cardboard box), by wiping any dust and debris away, and taping sides shut. Cover in contact paper.

A large cardboard TV box covered in contact paper

Step 2: Prepare plastic containers by covering lids with greeting cards, cut or folded gift bags. Glue cards or bags to the lids using a hot glue gun. This will create a festive look. Decorated gift boxes may be used as is.

A holiday greeting card, an empty plastic container, a glue gun, and scissors

Step 3: Once you are satisfied with the look of the containers, determine placement of containers by making sure every container fits on top of the box. It may be helpful to take a picture at this point, so you remember where they go.

Holiday greeting cards, gift bags, and gift boxes are used to create this life-size advent calendar

Step 4: Using a pencil, trace the shape of the bottom of each container onto the covered box.

creating a dIY advent calendar by tracing shapes

Step 5: Cut each shape out using a sharp cutting tool. Some plastic container shapes may need to be cut larger than traced, if the container's size is larger near it's lid.

creating a DIY advent calendar by cutting out shapes

Step 6: Hot glue containers into their predetermined locations. You may choose to glue containers so they appear flush to box, or have them pop out. I used different depths to create visual interest. Use decorative tape on certain containers to hide flaws or glue, add extra support, or provide a unique look.

creating a DIY advent calendar by adding decorative ribbon

Step 7: Decorate box by adding ribbon, stickers and signs to front, top, and sides of box. I hot glued a sign and a Christmas countdown tracker to the top of my box, ribbon and signs to the sides, and ivy stickers to the top, and around mailbox shaped gift boxes.

creating a DIY advent calendar by adding holiday ribbon and decorations

Step 8: Attach number stickers to each container. I hot glued these for added security.

creating a DIY advent calendar by adding sticker numbers

Step 9: Using a permanent marker, write numbers of corresponding lids to each container. This will be helpful should you misplace lids and need to know where they belong.