For years, even prior to kids, I've always admired advent calendars and wanted one but one never really grabbed my attention through the years to make me want to buy... or if it did it was the kind that you had to place on a table and we simply did not, and still do not have the room for another decoration on a table.
Then I came up with this idea one fine day...and I got to work!
Happy to dig into my "BABY CLOTHES FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS BIN"
This is by far my favorite project to date. I can't walk past it without stopping and smiling - a family tradition will begin this year for the Clark household on Dean Road.
Introducing the
CLARK'S CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN CALENDAR
THE COUNTER
Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer
&
THE SMALL GIFT SACK
(attached to the Rudolph Counter)
Even the sleeve that Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer stick resides in did not let any fabric go to waste - I used the polka dot ruffle trim from Stella's pink flamingo romper, the ruffle trim that went across her cute little bum.
The little sack that Rudolph has attached to him is simply one of the pj feet from Tucker's foosties! This sack will hold a little something for each of them each day as we move Rudolph into the 25 pockets, making our way closer to pocket 25, Christmas Day!
THE 25 CHRISTMAS POCKETS
A Close Up
All 25 pockets are made using Stella & Tucker's baby clothes, including the ribbon trim you see going across every other pocket and the buttons that have been sewn on every other pocket.
THE OUTFITS
As Once Worn By Ours Truly
Stella & Tuck
AND THE POCKETS MADE FROM THEM
AND THE POCKETS MADE FROM THEM
And here's a look at some of the clothes being worn by our little ones....I used 6 outfits total and mix matched fabrics, trims, etc. to make the pockets. I can showcase 4 of them here.
Although this one is not a "baby" outfit...in the scheme of life it is to me ;)
Stella's "Santa's Little Helper" Christmas PJ's
Stella was 2 1/2 when she wore these
Stella's Christmas PJ's
Pockets: 8, 21, and the trim for 22
The Green Trim with Bow here was the ribbon trim on her neckline of her xmas pj's
Tucker's Alligator Romper
Pockets: 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 20, 18, 24 & 25
I made trim out of this outfit for the following two pockets:
Christmas Day's Pocket
Stella's Pink Flamingo Romper
Pockets: 4, 6, 10, 16, 18, 23 & Rudolph Counter
Tucker's London Taxi/Big Ben Onesie
Pockets: 7 & 16
#16 is another one of my favorites...
because
of the polka dot trim with the baby snaps still on them will always
take me back to a little Stella in Florida & the Big Ben and London
Double Decker Bus you see on this pocket will always take me back to
Tucker as a baby as this one one of my ultimate favorite long sleeve
onesies of his
Tucker's Red Dinosaur PJ's
Pockets: 1, 2, 10, 12 , 15, 19 & 24
• DAY 12 is also my Birthday this month :)
• DAY 19 is also Justin's Birthday this month :)
Used the blue snap as the trim for this pocket
My Birthday!
Justin's Birthday!
Christmas Eve's Pocket
Another one of my favorites because it's simple and so Classic Christmas to me
• DAY 12 is also my Birthday this month :)
• DAY 19 is also Justin's Birthday this month :)
Another one of my favorites because it's simple and so Classic Christmas to me
I only wish I had photos of Tucker and Stella in the other outfits that I used for this calendar:
• White/Gray Striped Firetruck Romper
• Blue & Cream with Red Stitched Doggy Onesie
But 4 out of 6 ain't bad huh ;)
THE EMBELLISHMENTS
I printed the embellishments on canvas
~ The Label ~
The 4 Photos Featured:
• Stella & Tucker's 1st Santa Photo Together (2012)
• Mommy & Stella at Stella's Holiday Christmas Dance Recital Last Year (2012)
• Stella & Tucker's 1st Cutting Down Of Family Christmas Tree Together (2012)
• Daddy & Tucker at home being festive with Tuck in Santa Hat (2012)
~ The Christmas Tree ~
I sketched out the Christmas Tree here and Stella colored it in with crayon
JUSTIN'S CONTRIBUTION:
As the saying goes "Give Credit Where Credit Is Due"
And my husband Justin deserves credit on two very important things here ;)
1. The Rod, cutting it to the perfect size for me ;)
2. The Gift Sack on Rudolph
THIS WAS ALL HIS IDEA...AND I LOVE IT!
THIS PROJECT'S BEHIND THE SCENES
The different layouts & pocket designs before I decided on the final ones
(I could have spent all of November doing this, there were too many fun options!)
AND THE BEST PART
Seeing My Family, The One's Who Were My Inspiration For
Our Christmas Calendar
Getting Ready To Embark On A New Family Tradition!
HERE'S TO DAY 1 of 25!
