Dare to Make It: Holiday

How to Make a Button Advent Calendar

Diane Gilleland, contributor

34 users recommend

Here's how the advent calendar looks on December 25th—fully decorated!

Diane Gilleland

Here's how it looks before December 1st.

Diane Gilleland

Starting on December 1st, add a new button to the tree each day.

Diane Gilleland

Here's how the advent calendar looks on December 25th—fully decorated!

Photo: Diane Gilleland

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Keep two sheets of corrugated cardboard or a styrofoam block handy while you glue. Stick each completed button tack into it, and use that surface to gauge whether your buttons are tipping over. (Be careful, though-if you use too much E-6000, you can end up gluing your buttons right to your drying surface!)

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If the buttons begin to tip over while drying, gently straighten them.

E-6000 needs at least 10 minutes to cure, so check the buttons frequently during that time-they may tip over a little, and you'll need to gently readjust them so they're flat. They'll stay that way once the glue cures.

Allow the E-6000 to dry for 24 hours before you handle the buttons.

Cover the Tree
I'm using embossed felt here, but you could also use wool felt in any color, glitter felt, or patterned felt.

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If you're using embossed, glittered, or patterned felt, place it face down.

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Button Advent...
katytron

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Comments (9)

Nodan writes: I like jewelry or crafts made of buttons, I think it is interesting and simple.
Posted: 4:27 am on February 5th

rachel_lotsofbuttons writes: What a unique idea! lotsofbuttons.com has some awesome Christmas buttons that would be great to use for an advent tree~
Love this creativity~
Posted: 11:23 am on December 7th

Criativa writes: hoooau.
Este projeto é mesmo giro. So cute. Muito obrigada pela ideia.:)
Posted: 9:43 am on December 1st

Artisan1 writes: Such a fun idea for the little ones. I have so many buttons that I sell at the markets, and am going to share this idea with my customers. Grouping the materials together for a take-home project is going to be a featured item in my shop for the holidays. Thank you so much!!!
Posted: 9:22 am on December 1st

EyePopArt writes: Awesome!
Posted: 12:58 pm on November 17th

susanstars writes: oh, Diane, I love it!!
Posted: 2:14 pm on November 16th

katytron writes: I am soooo doing this!
Posted: 10:14 pm on November 14th

digibudi writes: Like I said on your blog, it's the coolest and weirdest advent calendar I've ever seen! Imagine years from now, people will look at those pictures and say: "Look, this is a genuine 2008 styled Christmas decoration, when Arts&Crafts were at it's peak, even better than those early trials of the 1960's.." How did you get that light so vintage-ish on those photographs? Do you use a oldschool camera? Or a special filter in photoshop to get that particular style, like it's really a picture from the sixties? xoxoxo
Posted: 3:26 pm on November 14th

Average_Jane_Crafter writes: Oooooh lady! This is genius! You are queen of what-to-do-with-buttons. I am in love. :)
Posted: 12:28 pm on November 14th

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