DIY Wooden Advent Calendar

Advent calendars are a huge talking point at this time of year. Do you go for the latest beauty one, the lego one or the chocolate one? I never particular like what’s inside these calendars so I was delighted this year when Action storage who sell lockers for school sent me a Wooden one from Hobbycraft to decorate.

I had seen some gorgeous version online and I particularly wanted to make one up for my friend’s teenage daughter. She loves sparkly and bling things without being particularly girly so my colour scheme of white and gold would just not work for her. I headed down to my local Hobbycraft and took their words of advice….

Only to regret this about three days later when the third layer of white paint they had recommended I used soaked in unevenly on the calendar. Hmmm started to get the idea that perhaps the person I spoke to actually had had no idea and I was flounder on my own with this! The modge podge needless to say didn’t work as described either…

The things we do for love though! Queue a visit to a local craft shop and a day spent ultra-layering up the decoupage paper and finally it started to take shape. The doors were all left to dry and looked fabulous. I went to open a door the following day and…it stuck! Seriously I pulled so hard the door knob came off. I think about this time I might have been in tears if it wasn’t for my husband who calmly (he’s one to never panic) got out his standing knife and ran it round the edges! The next layers were much more carefully glued with little matchsticks holding the doors open.

Since the white paint was still horribly patchy – it appears the trick is to use acrylic paint not the standard one as recommended in store – something was needed to smarten the calendar up. I have a love of washi tape and trimming and decided since the daughter adores bling to use glitter tape to help decorate! About 3 rolls of tape later and I really started to enjoy myself and like the calendar.

How amazing does it look now? I added on some cricut vinyl numbers and some foam accessories and built up the goodies inside. I loved that I could change each day and pop a little something different. From hair ties, to socks, to chocolates to an extra special treat on Christmas day a lot of love has gone into this in and out and thank goodness she loves it! It’s been scooped up and carried off to be placed in pride of place! So thank you Action Storage! Not only do you make superb lockers for schools but it seems you hand out superb mini lockers for Christmas