This Denim Pocket Advent Calendar is the first (and probably only) craft that ever began with me telling my husband, “Honey, take off your pants.”
Okay, so I really didn’t have to do that. But this was a great excuse to get rid of those jeans he was just hanging onto that were a little more stylish in, say, 1999. If you want to pair a good closet-cleaning with a craft, this project is for you!
What you need:
-25 denim pockets
-twine (ribbon would also be pretty!)
-1 pack of clothespins
-1 set of stencils
-craft paint
-paint brush
-tape for attaching
Simple Advent Calendar
1. I collected about half the pockets from our closets and the rest came from Rob’s mom. If you can’t collect them from family member’s, hit up garage sales or thrift store for old jeans. These pockets are fairly large, but so are my stencils.
2. Lay the pockets out. Make sure you check to see if there will be enough room for the double digits and save the larger pockets for the end. I actually ran out of room and so used an upside-down 7 for a 2 in the twenties. I doubt anyone will notice.
3. Stencil!
4. After they are done and dry, figure out the best place to hang your calendar. My original plan was under the mantel, since we have a 3-foot gap between the mantel and the fireplace, but I decided instead to use this very boring closet door in the middle of our TV room.
It took some working to get each row lined up correctly, and I would suggest start with a row under the doorknob and the one above it. That will help you avoid a weird spacing issue. Also watch and plan for hinges!
I had room for four pockets in each row, with one row of five. I used almost a whole pack of 36 clothespins, using one pin for two pockets where they overlap. Make sure you catch the twine or ribbon in the clothespin or the pockets will start to hang strangely. This takes up a pretty large space, but I love how it looks! If you want something smaller, look for children’s jeans with small pockets. I like that it’s so versatile. I can hang it somewhere different next year or use ribbon or paint the clothespins for more color. So many options!
Now that I’ve got this calendar done, I need to figure out what to put inside. Some people use candy and we’ve done Bible verses in the past. Do you have any advent calendar traditions with your family?
Wonderful way of using up old denim. My mother-in-law is making my daughter’s this year, after my husband sending a not-so-subtle text message, otherwise I might have tried it. I love reusable advent calendars instead of the store-bought chocolate ones.
Super cute!!! What a great idea – thanks for sharing.
I love this idea! Hoping to get a chance to make it this season. Pinned!
Thanks Marye – I think it turned out SO cute. I’m definitely going to start saving to make this for my kids. They will love it.
A truly brilliant and refereshing idea! Well done!