the hybrid chick

‘Tis (almost) the season!  Time to get ready for the countdown…. I knew I wanted to do an Advent Calendar for the Hybrid Chick, but wasn’t sure of the format until I saw some ideas shared by others on The Digichick Forums.

Products Used:

Matchbox Template Set by Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs (I used template 2, the smaller version)

Holly Jolly November Grab Bag by Danielle Engebretson Designs

Premium Presentation Matte Paper

Strong double sided tape, good cutting scissors (I find one with short blades is easiest to work with for detailed cutting), paper cutter, bone folder & pop up adhesive

Choose the papers you would like to use for your project,  combine these with the matchbox template, then print out.  I used the doodle ornaments and alphabet from the Holly Jolly November Grab Bag to create the numbered calendar component.  I managed to get all the ornaments onto one 8.5″ x 11″ sheet.  I printed the base of the matchboxes 2 per 8.5″ x 11″ sheet, and the wrap portion of the matchboxes 4 to a 12″ x 12″ sheet.

Cut out & assemble your matchboxes.  For the tree, I used the cream coloured paper design for the trunk (4 matchboxes) and a three different green paper designs for the boughs (20 matchboxes).  Since I only used one kit for this project, I knew the papers would coordinate.  (I don’t like to have to think TOO hard when crafting!).

Once your matchboxes are assembled, it’s time to create the tree.  I applied double sided adhesive to the sides of the matchboxes I was attaching together in a row.  For the tree trunk, I used 2 rows of 2 cream coloured matchboxes.  For the boughs, starting at the BOTTOM of the tree, I used a row of 5, a row of 3, a row of 4, a row of 2, a row of 3, a row of 2 and a row of 1.

I tried to mix & match my designs for the green portions.  I have to admit that I messed up my intended pattern for one of the rows, but rather than try to pull apart the row (a surefire recipe for disaster), I decided to live with it.  In the end, it’s not that big a deal, I know, and I”m sure my son will not notice at all.  (In the meantime, I know that you’re all scrolling back up to the project picture to figure out where my “mistake” is.  STOP IT! LOL)

To assemble the tree, I simply stacked up my preformed rows and adhered them together.  I was able to reinforce the rows by applying a longer tape strip across a few boxes.  This just added a bit more stability to the form.

Once I had the tree shape, I added the various ornaments using pop up adhesive to the front of each of the matchboxes.  I used numbered ornaments for the “bough” boxes and numbered holly leaves on the “trunk” boxes.  If you were SUPER organized, you could use your photo editing software to actually print numbers and or ornaments on the box flaps ahead of time….but that required a bit too much brain work for me.  Cutting & pasting is more my speed!!

All that is left is to fill each matchbox with a special something, whether it be a sweet treat, a photo, a message or a project for the day.  Check out this thread at The Digichick Forum to see some other great Advent Calendar ideas & projects!!

Other Articles by Linda (yamstamps):

• Votive Covers - July 5th, 2010
• Personalized Travel Mug - June 14th, 2010
• Travel Challenge - with a Give Away! - May 23rd, 2010
• Quick Hybrid Album - May 10th, 2010
• Quick and Easy Pinwheel! - April 12th, 2010