A Steno Pad for My Thoughts
Blah, Blah, Blah. Connect the dots. This blog is now an archive only. No new entries will be posted, please visit our new blog here.The Blank Advent Calendar
Here’s to more handmade with a blank advent calendar that can be personalized in so many ways by all you lovely supportive peeps.

Download and print out the Blank Advent Calendar Adobe pdf file which includes the front and back. I printed mine out on cardstock so it’s be a bit beefy. The first page is the calendar front. You will cut off the top portion at the indicated line and then, using an x-acto blade, cut out the three sides to each square which will be the flaps you lift up on each day.

Use a straight edge to make a crease at the top of each flap so when excited or smaller hands go to flip up a page they don’t rip your cardstock.

For the backside, you fold over at the indicated line and, using a hole punch, punch out a hole so your calendar can hang. At this point it will be easier to put in the stuff that will be hidden behind the flaps. Consider stamps (The Small Object stamps will all fit perfectly behind the flaps!), fabric squares, drawings from your favorite small folks, magazine cut-outs or photos of your family or whatever else you can think of that will be fabulous.

After the backside is all looking great, you need to add the numbers to the front flap. You can hand drawn them on or use stamps or paper cut outs, whatever you like. Start with number 1 and go through 25.
Finally, you can attached the front piece. You can either just staple it across the top, sew a straight stitch across the top or glue down the entire front being careful to leave the flaps you just cut free and not glued. And if you want to get really crazy, use a piece of felt or interfaced fabric for the top piece and use the paper printout as a template for where to cut out the flaps. Awesome.
1f1dEntry Filed under: step-by-step, holiday

17 Comments Add your own
1. Evon Lim | November 29th, 2007 at 8:41 am
Thank you for sharing :) it is very simplified and looks good! I might print it and try it out :D
2. ljc | November 29th, 2007 at 8:49 am
Or if you don’t want a blank one…
http://www.ljcfyi.com/2007/11/i-dont-want-to-push-christmas-before.html
3. Lauren | November 29th, 2007 at 9:42 am
wow! I wish I had kids to play this with!
4. S | November 29th, 2007 at 10:19 am
It’s too late for this year, but nice to know that next year I won’t need a storebought one.
5. dawbis | November 29th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
this makes me very happy! thank you for sharing it!
6. laurie | November 29th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
oh! thank you. i wanted to make some type of advent calendar this year and time is running out — yours my be just the thing i need. xo
7. Julie Ann | November 30th, 2007 at 5:43 am
Thanks for the template!
8. Joanna | November 30th, 2007 at 7:01 am
wow. so wonderful. thank you. what did you use for your numbers, i love them. do you sell them as a stamp set ?
9. Cara | December 1st, 2007 at 7:13 am
Thank you so much for sharing your template. I had a go and made one up (excellent procrastination for the home-office worker!). There are pictures here: http://lechatlunatique.blogspot.com/2007/12/pinch-punch-only-24-days-to-christmas.html
10. suzy | December 1st, 2007 at 2:13 pm
I love your blog and your creativity! Is the 4 x 4 bookshelf that the advent calendar is hanging on from IKEA? If so, where did you get those baskets?
11. Marieke | December 3rd, 2007 at 2:41 am
It’s so pretty! Thanks for all the wonderful tips!
12. kirsten | December 6th, 2007 at 12:50 am
gorgeous advent calender! might have to get myself better organised for next year…
13. Nancy Ward | September 1st, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Hi!
Today I posted an entry on my blog with a link to this tutorial.
Would you let me know if that’s OK?
Thanks,
Nancy Ward
http://paperfriendly.blogspot.com
14. Simone | November 6th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Hi Sarah, I linked to your advent calendar picture and tutorial. Hope you don’t mind.
15. Kate G. | May 24th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
I’m late to the party, but thank you for a sweet (and useful) download. Best wishes for a successful Renegade Fair. The neighbor’s poster slays me.
16. Debby C. | December 1st, 2010 at 2:01 pm
Thank you April. My grandkids will love this. I will recruit Jim to help me since he loves anything that requires a straight edge! It is the engineer in him. Thank you for thinking of me.
17. John Smith | March 1st, 2011 at 3:06 pm
Hello Thank u for a very fresh idea. I am wondering why i have never though of this as well. I will definately try to use your blog for getting some more fresh info!
Thanks!
Willy Blemberg
check my site
I'm curious about your two cents. You smart cookie!
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