Friday, November 16, 2012

Hints for a making a Christmas Advent

"Tis the Season for Christ"
A second option, "Tis the Season for Family"


Okay so this was a little while ago, like a couple of years. And I didn’t end up with one in the end. However I was in on the planning and what not and this is what I remember about the project. I hope it helps to answer some of the questions.
1. The back board was covered with 6 sheets of 12x12 papers.  The board was about 24 inches wide by about 36 inches long. We put the paper on with modge podge, distressed and then put the layer of modge podge .
2. The little squares (there are 25 of them) are 3 inches on each side. The pictures are attached on one side and paper and vinyl on the other. Remember to put the vinyl on the paper before you modge podge or it won’t stay on very well.
Each of the little squares is made of a really thin wood. They each have a little hole drilled through them. The large board has 25 little nails tapped into it. So basically the little square hangs on the board from a little nail.
A couple of tips...
Don’t try putting the squares onto the board until it is fully dry, (the large board and the little squares). It is super tempting to see what it is going to look like but it can take over a day sometimes for the stuff to full dry. I have found that modge podge never fully dries and will often stick to itself for even years later. For that reason I prefer weldbond. However, it dries quickly and takes practice to use. You really only get one chance with it.
If you have any other questions please feel free to ask and I will do my best to answer them for you.

19 comments:

  1. This is so lovely! I can't wait to make one for sister's family for Christmas! Do you remember what pictures you used, what size they were, and scripture references you used? (I live in Utah, so it won't be a big deal for me to find them, if you don't remember off the top of your head. Just wondering.)

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  2. We just used the 2 boxes of the little pictures you can buy at the book store. They were slightly bigger than 3x3, we had to cut them down. Just make sure you choose ones that had no borders. Also we had no scripture references on the board. But a list with the stories or scriptures for each day is a great idea.

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  3. Can you please tell me what material the main board is made of and where you purchased the small squares?

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  4. The main board is made of MDF,the small squares were a larger sheet of a thin board (about 1/2 inch) cut down.

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  5. Where did you buy the wood from? Did you have to have someone cut the small squares for you or could you buy them small? Is it at deseret book where you got the pictures or the lds catalog? Thanks!

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  6. The wood that used for the small squares was about the thickness of cardboard and was purchased at home depot. We did have someone that was able to cut it for us. And then drill small holes in the top. The drilling was done after we had already attached the paper and pictures. We got the pictures at a local church book store, something similar to deseret book. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

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  7. Is there any way that I may get a copy of the templet or insturctions? My email is chayleemiller@aol.com Thanks!!

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  8. Can you use Weldbond the same as Modge podge? Just brush it on and let it dry? I've never used weldbond before but reading reviews it seems to be a great project. Thank you for all your help, this is a beautiful project!

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    Replies
    1. Yes, it is very similar to modge podge. With a few exceptions: it dries really quickly and completely. I wouldn't recommend using it the first time on something that is super important. Try it on something you don't care about. And on small areas at a time. It dries completely, unlike modge podge projects I have done which are still tacky 6 years later, (and we live in a dry climate) weld bond dries completely. Overall a super fantastic cheap option (buy it at home depot, WAY cheaper than a craft store.)Good luck!

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  9. You can usually buy wood plaques at craft stores. They may not be the exact size, but you could work with it. Also, you could make the small squares from chipboard.

    I'm thinking it'd be great to print a scripture reference at the bottom of each picture, then you could read it together each day.

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  10. So the number is on one side of the little squares and the picture is on the other?

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    1. Yes there is a picture on one side and on the other we put scrapbook paper and then a vinyl number.

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  11. Did you have specific scriptures you used for each day or just the picture of Christ? Also, the family board, was there activities that went with each day or just a month of remembering family?

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  12. Where did you order your vinyl from? Do you know what fonts they used?

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  13. I just made my own advent calendar based on this idea and thought others might want to see another interpretation of it. I wrote about it here: http://sunlitpages.blogspot.com/2012/12/christ-savior-is-born-advent-calendar.html

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    1. I checked it out and it is very cool. I love your variation to what the RS group did. I liked your friend's calendar, as well. I am going to make one for next year. Thanks for sharing, all of you!

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  14. What is the size of the panel that says "Family" or "Christ"? Where did you find it? Thank you!

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  15. Can you tell me what you charged the sisters to make this project? Thanks so much, i was just trying to get a rough estimate.

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  16. Hello, so I wanted to make this this week and I can't find those pictures on the lds store. Can you direct me to the right website please?

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