I’m Sarah, a Mom and a wife, and in whatever spare time I can find in our busy schedules, you can find me in my craft room creating something from my long “to make” list. Hopefully, I can inspire others to create, as well! My latest craft is a Matchbox Advent Calendar. You could fill this with small candies, or a piece of paper with an activity written on it that the whole family can do (read a Christmas book, drive around to see Christmas lights in the neighborhood, bring a gift to a neighbor, etc…).

Matchbox Advent Calendar

I thought I’d make a homemade advent calendar this year. There are so many great ideas for homemade advent calendars; they are Christmas decorations all on their own, right?

I saw this idea a couple of years ago and it’s been on my list to try since then.

Here is my version of the Matchbox Advent Calendar.

Here are the supplies you need to make a Matchbox Advent Calendar:

24 mini matchboxes
scrapbook paper
glue gun & glue sticks
buttons
small candy to fill the boxes

Cut lengths of scrapbook paper to the width of your matchboxes, not all mini matchboxes are the same size so it’s best to measure first. I cut 12″ lengths and cut a couple of those in half to 6″ to cover the matchboxes glued in 2’s.

So this is how your matchboxes will need to be glued together.

4 – groups of 2

2 – groups of 3

2 – groups of 4

and 2 singles

Glue the paper strips to your matchboxes.

Don’t worry that the paper doesn’t fit all the way around, you won’t see the underside anyways once the tree is put together.

Start gluing the matchboxes into the tree shape for your advent calendar.

Measure the front of your matchboxes, cut tiny paper strips and glue to the boxes.

The picture below shows how I attached the star, the star is just one that I traced and cut from scrapbook paper. I took a strip of paper, folded in half and then folded the ends out. I glued it together to make it more sturdy and then glued the ends to the top of the tree and glued the star to it.

I added buttons for drawer knobs.

I don’t have any numbers on this one yet, but when I put them on I think I have them out of order for fun!

Imagine, Improvise & Invent ~

• Christmas Activity Advent ~ Celebrate All Month Long!
• Nice List Advent Calendar
• Free Christmas Tree Advent Printable

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