Create your own enchanting advent calendar with eco-friendly materials
In the spirit of the festive season, we present a creative DIY project: a floral Advent calendar. This unique calendar combines the art of flower pressing with the traditional Advent countdown, offering a natural and beautiful way to celebrate the holidays.
To begin, collect various flowers and press them flat using a flower press or heavy books for about a week until they are dried and flat. You can find perfect specimens of winter's signature plants, such as holly, ivy, rose hips, seedheads, and berries, ideal for your Advent calendar.
Next, choose a sturdy backing like cardboard, wood, or thick craft paper and divide it into 24 or 25 sections, depending on the number of Advent days. Arrange and glue the pressed flowers decoratively in each section, sealing them with clear craft glue or mod podge to protect and preserve them.
Label each section or pocket with numbers 1 to 24 or 25 for the Advent countdown. If you want to make it interactive, attach small envelopes or pockets onto each section to hold tiny notes, messages, or treats that complement the floral theme.
This basic method can be further enhanced by adapting popular DIY Advent calendar instructions, such as pocket-style calendars and homemade calendars, found online. For more specific crafting techniques, there are numerous free patterns and tutorials available, including pocket-style calendars and fabric options, which you could adapt to integrate your pressed flowers as decoration or gifts inside pockets.
The Advent calendar is not only a charming addition to your holiday decor but also a perfect introduction to the art of flower pressing. It's a project that encourages creativity and personalization, making each day of Advent a special occasion.
In case you're wondering, the best time to pick plants or flowers for the Advent calendar is when they have dried, mid-afternoon on a sunny winter's day. Cut chosen specimens for the Advent calendar to lengths of around 8cm, and dry them on a drying sheet or piece of white blotting paper.
For those interested in exploring more, Sonya Patel Ellis, the founder of The Herbarium Project, has developed an easy-to-make Christmas herbarium project. The Advent calendar gradually reveals a seasonal message, making it a thoughtful and engaging activity for all ages.
So, gather your flowers, materials, and creativity, and embark on this delightful DIY project. Happy crafting, and have a wonderful Advent season!
- The floral Advent calendar can be enhanced by using various plants, such as holly, ivy, rose hips, seedheads, and berries, for a more natural and beautiful look.
- Incorporating pressed flowers into your Advent calendar can also be a great introduction to the art of flower pressing for those who are interested in exploring more.
- You can find high-quality DIY Advent calendar instructions online, which can help you create pocket-style calendars, homemade calendars, or even use fabric options to improve your floral Advent calendar.
- For those wanting to make it interactive, attach small envelopes or pockets onto each section of the Advent calendar to hold tiny notes, messages, or treats that complement the floral theme.
- In the world of fashion-and-beauty and home-and-garden, a floral Advent calendar not only serves as a charming addition to your holiday decor but also reflects a lifestyle that values creativity, personalization, and nature.
