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

Add Comment
Print

Glue the felt to the cone with craft glue, trimming the felt as needed for a snug fit. Allow to dry. Add some rickrack (or any other embellishment you like).

Make the Topper
Your two largest buttons will serve as a tree-topper. Begin by adding the stitching detail we covered earlier.

Â

Glue the two largest buttons together with a needle sandwiched between.

Then, use E-6000 to glue the buttons together back-to-back. Sandwich the eye of a long sewing needle between the buttons, making sure the eye is lying flat against the button surface.

Â

A ring of pipecleaner between the buttons helps fill gaps.

If your buttons are not flat on the back, then add a little ring of pipecleaner between them as shown. This will fill in the gaps and make your topper sturdier. (If your buttons are flat-backed, and fit together with no gaps, you can skip the pipecleaner.)

Place the topper on a flat surface and watch it for about 10 minutes to make sure the buttons don't slide while the glue is curing.

Allow the assembled topper to dry for 24 hours before handling.

Â

Anchor the cone to a saucer with Velcro dots.

Anchor the Tree
Your Advent calendar will rest on a thrift-store saucer, which keeps all the button-ornaments in one place. However, since styrofoam is so lightweight, let's add a little detail to keep your tree from tipping over. Place three or four Velcro dots on the bottom of the tree, as shown. Then, stick the other side of the Velcro dots to the saucer. Now your tree is anchored in place but can still be removed from the saucer for easier packing later.

Â

Stick the topper into the cone, and scatter the button tacks around the saucer.

Assemble the Advent!
With the tree anchored to the saucer, place the button ornaments in the saucer around the base. Stick the topper into the tip of the tree. Now you're ready to use it!

View 1 member project gallery

Button Advent...
katytron

Add Comment Print

 

Back to List

How to Make Holly Holiday Cards

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

You must be logged in to post comments. Log in.