Mom's Birthday Present

I get my love of making things in part from my mom who did a variety of handcrafts when I was growing up. I enjoy making things for her because I know she always treasures anything handmade.

Sometime last fall I saw an Advent calendar made from a 24-section muffin tin. Small magnetized cardboard squares covered each opening with a small surprise in each section.  My Mom's birthday is November 25, so I decided a "Christmas Memories" Advent calendar would be her gift for this year.  

When I decided to make one for my mother, I used the basic principle from the one I saw, but I decided I would make small booklets to cover the openings.  In each booklet, I recorded one memory from childhood years to present. 

I decided to spray paint the muffin tin a bright Christmas red. I used old Christmas cards and tags to make the covers for each tiny booklet and attached those to chipboard squares which I had painted and then added decorative Christmas paper. 

I added a circle with each day's number to the front of each little booklet. For each daily surprise, I bought miniature Christmas ornaments and added a small Christmas tree to her birthday package. 

I wanted to add a larger booklet for Christmas Day. The tiny gift for December 25 was a miniature manger scene.

 

Since I only had 24 sections in the muffin tin, I got brave enough to get out my Dremel for the very first time to  drill a hole on the bottom right to attach the booklet for the December 25.  I also drilled a hole in the top for the gift tag and ribbon which made it possible to hang the "calendar" on the wall.  

When I started this project, I had no clue how many hours it was going to take me. I had a lot of fun making it and used more glitter than I have since I was a child.  It was all worth it when my Mom told me she was staying up past midnight each night  so she could open the next day's booklet.  I think it was the memories shared that meant the most, both to her and to me.