#diy advent

[kittenboom]

WIP

making my own pokemon tcg xmas advent this year because:

1) I am working through most of Xmas & new year this year so I decided advents were the way to add a little bit of joy into my December. 🎄

2) I subsequently looked at a wide range of advents but only picked a few - a cheap choc monthly calender (aka my regular advent experience) BUT I also splashed out on a 12 day fossil advent. 🐚🪨 I also bought my partner a beer advent for his Xmas present this year (also working through most of Xmas).

3) I looked at the available Pokemon advents and they all SUCKED. They were $60+ for what ended up being a couple of booster packs & stickers/filler crap. So I did the only logical thing thing & spent $200 on booster packs 🫠 lol

For real though, I bought envelopes and numbered them last night, now I just have to put the boosters on & seal them up by Saturday bedtime.

4) the honest & realest reason...

2024 was fucking ROUGH!

In May, my mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer & my entire world shifted into juggling work, taking her to every appointment.

In Sep, she was admitted into hospital & diagnosed with pneumonia, although they never could quite narrow it down. From a likely comorbid situ, she has been on oxygen support (when active) ever since.

I had a shiny beacon that has stopped 2024 from being the worst year ever by default, because we got engaged this year.

The rest of the year, a long & exhausting series of hospital appointments & spreadsheets. I love my job but being constantly in "catch up mode" is stressful when our work calender does NOT stop.

I have to actively work to stop feeling guilty about going into survival mode and essentially staying at home or doing stuff for my mum. (I work from home full time & the grace / flexibility I have meant I got to be at my every chemo session, every scan, everything - but I also had to juggle my workload) & The MENTAL LOAD.

I won't go into details of the rest but it involves dealing with the stress of my sister/BiL having a marriage infidelity mess before a massive international month long trip abroad & having my first ever car accident this month (Nov).

So yeah, all the money I saved not having a life this year - some of it went to making this custom DIY/ expensive as fuck Pokemon tcg advent calendar.

Some of the days will have double boosters so my partner can join in on opening a pack (I am the collector so I get to keep them all, win win lol).

If you made it this far, I am impressed because I have been here for over a decade and still feel like I am shouting into the abyss, but truly.

FUCK CANCER

If you are reading this, I hope you have unexpectedly have the most pleasantly meaningful holiday season.

Hold the people you love close, while you can. 💖

[beanshape]

DIY Advent 2024 Postmortem

I’ve wanted to create this wonderful advent calendar since 2015. This is the third year I’ve actually made some advent calendars.

This is the first year it looks somewhat like how I originally envisioned it.

I started working on it in July, but I was sick for most of August, September, October, and the beginning of November. As a result, I completed most of the work in November.

The best part is that I mostly stuck to my no-spend artist challenge! I used up a few spools of baker’s twine, a roll of tape, and got to play with all the beautiful materials that I already had on hand.

(Confession: I did buy the felt numbers and tissue paper to finish the hats—smh.)

More details to come, I think... I hope. Right now, I’m trapped in a toddler typhoon, but my new years resolution is to post on Fridays!

[nachttraum]

Bringing back the tiny snow man in the tiny snow globe that I made last year to bless your timeline! ❄️⛄️✨

Go forth and shine some joy onto this world!

[azalea-art]

✨Tinsel’s Spooky Advent Calendar✨ day 3- lots of tiny scary movies for him to watch!

A close up of the dvds, I did all ones my mom likes

[fastwiemagie]

Little (or not so little) advent calendar presents I've got

!!!!!

Seasonal depression is still a bitch but look at all the beautiful and thoughtful presents I've received!! Yay!

[katiecraftsstuff]

Christmas Crafts!!!

These are some of the advent calendars I've made. The puzzle box had different fidgets and puzzles in the squares.

The book case one had different types of tea in each book.

The plant one had different types of seeds in each pot.

I wanted calendars that were tailor made for people and it was really hard to find any that were out of my budget so I ended up making them from bits of cardboard I had in the house. It one of the things I love about being a general crafter there is always random stuff laying around that can be repurposed.

[rh-leon]

i love them all of them deserve the best

what do you mean the Horrors happened. no they didn't. be quiet.

[confessionsofarefashionista]

🎄 Create a Stunning DIY Advent Calendar on a Budget! 🎁 In this festive tutorial, I'll show you how to craft a unique advent calendar using upcycled materials like a cereal box and toilet rolls, plus thrifted holiday treasures!

[bellybursterhungrythirster]

[audaciousevolution]

Countdown to Christmas with DIY Advent Calendars!

Get creative this holiday season with fun, meaningful, and budget-friendly DIY Advent Calendars for all ages! From local flair like pepper lights and Caribbean-inspired treats to classic Christmas crafts, make the countdown magical for everyone in your family.

💡 Ideas Include:

🎁 Small gifts wrapped in vibrant paper

🍬 Local sweets like tamarind balls and coconut drops

🎨 Hand-painted ornaments

🎄 Notes with acts of kindness

Unwrap the joy of creativity and culture as you count down to the big day!

Tap into the spirit of Christmas the Caribbean way!

[craftyladybug]

Scrunchie advent calendar 🎄📦 Available at our Etsy store

[i-will-cry-you-a-river]

I thought I wouldn't manage to do it on time, but I finally have my advent calendar yay! 🥳

[apssara]

🍄🦌🐑🐿️🐇🌿

[ashotasfireandasdeepastheocean1]

...soon, wreaths, all kinds of 💕🎄

.

[azalea-art]

✨Tinsel’s Spooky Advent Calendar✨ day 9- a nice candy corn rug today :)

[fastwiemagie]

Time for pride

Seasonal depression is hitting me super hard this year. I feel like there is nothing to hope for...

I unpacked these beautifully crafted pride armbands from day 4 of the advent calendar swap. At the same day the Vienna pride parade was announced for June 14th next year. I'm excited for it and hope I'll feel better way before that!