Memory Glass Advent Christmas Tree Calendar

Today's project is one I wanted to share so that if you were interested you had time to gather supplies and make it before the count down starts!

Memory Glass & Frame

Advent Christmas Tree Calendar

The base for this Advent Calendar is a recycled Candy Cane tree that I bought on clearance last year from Target. Now you don't have to use a tree form, it could be a wood frame strung with wire and hangers, a wood board in a frame with pegs to hold the individual days, etc. Whatever you have on hand will work great.

Supplies:

Memory Glass in 4 sizes (1x3, 2x2, 1 1/2x 1 1/2, and 1x1)

Memory Frames (in corresponding sizes)

Christmas Pattern Paper

Christmas Collage Images

Number Stickers or Pen (to write the days)

Alcohol Inks

Wire (16-18guage) (for hooks)

Needle Nose Jewelry Pliers

Wire Cutters

Faux Pine Bough Vines

Base (tree or other holder for the memory glass ornaments)

Die-Cut Star

Thick Tacky Glue

Glass Glitter

Instructions:

1. Cut 25 Christmas Collage Images to fit each of the 25 Memory Glass pieces. Cut 25 pieces of pattern paper.

2. Number each piece of pattern paper from 1-25. This can be done with stickers, rubber stamps, die-cuts or hand written. Whatever works for you!

3. Color each of the 25 Memory Frames with Alcohol Inks. I used Cranberry, Denim, Pesto, and Butterscotch.

4. If your base is made of metal as my candy cane tree was, color it with Alcohol Inks as well.

5. Sandwich one collage image back to back with one of the numbered pieces of pattern paper between two pieces of Memory Glass. Slide this glass sandwich into the Memory Frame and close.

6. Snip 25 - 1 1/2" pieces of wire. These will be come the hangers. Use the Needle Nose Pliers to curl the wire into an "S" shape to form a hanger...repeat 24 more times.

7. (optional) Wrap the faux pine bough around the tree or on your alternate base. This isn't necessary but it adds a nice Christmas-y feel :)

8. Attach the wire hangers on your base as desired...I ended up with 11 on the bottom, 8 in the center and 6 on the top. You can of course adjust this to fit your particular base.

9. Die-Cut or hand cut 2 stars.

10. Cover these stars with thick tacky glue and sprinkle glass glitter over both stars. Let Dry.

11. Once both stars have dried, glue them back to back leaving the bottom open. This is where you will attach the star to the tree.

12. Hang the 25 Memory Glass pieces ~ making sure the dates are towards the outside.

13. Place the Star on the top of the tree (or add it to your base).

Start your Countdown to Christmas!!!!

Now it's time to create your own!

Be sure to stop in tomorrow and check out the new card sketch ~ till then, have a great day!