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Well I really need to kick start my Christmas mojo in to gear as I am so disorganised with only being back from my hols less than two weeks!!
I thought I would share this cute idea for an alternative advent calendar which could be decorated to suit all ages.
I have made mine in to a vintage shabby chic style and plan on filling it with little chocolate treats, candy canes and promise tickets - eg. make mince pies, watch a Christmas movie etc...
I used a
papier mache chest and covered it with two sheets of
Pink Paislee Santas list 12x12 paper.
I started by painting all the edges inside and out with green acrylic paint so that any expose areas wouldn't be left brown.
When dry I painted the edge that is trimmed with red acrylic paint and left to dry again.
I cut the papers roughly to size and then used my nail to give score the paper in to the edges of the box to give me a cutting guide. The boxes aren't exact measurement wise, so make sure your paper is cut to fit the widest points so that you can cut them back to size.
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I distressed my edges with an emery board and then inked with
Broken China distress ink pad then glued them in to place with
Glossy Accents - I like to swirl it on then spread it out with my finger so that it reaches all the edges. I like GA for sticking paper on to objects as it grabs and dries quickly.
On the inside of the lid I added a distressed hole in the paper before adhering to the box and stuck a small piece of contrasting patterned paper on to the back to add to the shabby look.
I covered it inside and out and when finished strengthened the hinged section with tissue tape which I also inked with the broken china.
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I glued on a piece of vintage lace using
Claudine's matte medium - now I have a little tip when using this - make sure you clean the edge of the jar before you put the lid back on. If you don't (like I hadn't) and then don't use it for a while you will have BIG problems getting the lid off!
I also used the medium to stick the
charms and
prima flower on, as already mentioned its a really good strong glue LOL :D
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHqYcpJxip0_DadRLgoi2dc7W3U5-Z0zkeUDTDHKBTFglDtJJu7gtIs-rSzMP-outtFeA4ZHEJSuGxIcQLWGsRviUbfc5HYmNSoTZVeMeE8gnZdl_h7A45z59k5IDHY2b9VT2T8gh1Nc/s320/Santas+Christmas+treat+chest+5+by+Julie+Dandy.JPG)
I embossed some of the pieces with TH alterations embossing folders which I distressed and inked.
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My splash of colour on the project is my lovely
broken china distress stickles and the
distress stain I used on the
Adage ticket. I used some letter stickers I have had for ages on the front of the box and gave them a little bit of dimension with the
Glossy Accents. ![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9CzohCAHELmfdcpT0Qqh9o8Ma0MAVjc9Kt6cQZ133TpWX4syResN-wq3NypBccYrh78AT7cuuftafjxBho0QulL2LzxHzek0gG13nAnirhg0Jp5W2g74g0hRZz6G4CupOpwERBcce5s/s320/Santas+Christmas+treat+chest+1+by+Julie+Dandy.JPG)
The promise tickets would be a great idea to keep the kids occupied over the Christmas period with ideas like make paper chains, make gingerbread, write a letter to Santa etc...
If you were making it for a crafter you could make little parcels or envelopes and fill them with little embellies -
ideaology trinkets would be fabby for anybody taking part in T!ms 12 tags of Christmas. Moira sells fabby taster packs of these too so it needn't cost a fortune.
Or how about filling it with chocolate coins?
If you get cracking you will just have time to make it before the 1st of December :D
Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx