Who doesn’t love a festive countdown to Christmas? When Heather, our talented graphic designer, saw the DIYer Monthly Advent Calendar, she knew two things right away: 1) she had to have it, and 2) it was destined to become a gingerbread house masterpiece. With the help of her friends, family, and even the kids, she created a fun and festive gingerbread house advent calendar. Ready to craft your own holiday magic? Heather shares everything you need to get started below!

Supplies:

• Lit Christmas Village Advent Calendar
• Red Acrylic Paint
• White Acrylic Paint
• Pillow Stuffing or Cotton Balls
• Hot Glue + Glue Sticks
• White Puffy Paint
• White Paint Markers
  
  
  
  
  

Steps:

1. Prepare your workspace. Set up a clean, well-lit area to work. Ensure the surface is hard and flat. Cover your workspace with a drop cloth or newspaper to protect surfaces from paint spills.
2. Create Icicle Drips: Use hot glue to create icicle drips along the outer edges of each advent calendar tier. Don’t worry about glue strings—they can be cleaned up once the glue is dry. Prop each tier up off the table to ensure the icicles dry properly.
   
   
   

1. Paint Houses: While the hot glue dries, paint the houses using acrylic paint in red oxide. For easier handling, leave the houses disassembled during painting.
   
   
   

1. Paint Tiers: Once the hot glue has dried, paint each tier white, covering the icicles to create a frosty ice/snow effect.
2. Add Details and Assemble Houses: Use white paint markers to add details like windows, doors, and rooftops to the houses. Number the hand-drawn doors, then assemble each house as you go.
   
   
   

1. Add Hot Glue and Puffy Paint Icicles to Houses: Apply hot glue icicles to the edges of each house roof. Once dry, enhance them with white puffy paint for a textured, snowy look. If using white hot glue sticks, you can skip the puffy paint step.
2. Add Stuffing to Tiers and Assemble:Place small amounts of stuffing (like from an old pillow) between the trees on each tier. Secure it lightly with hot glue. Glue the houses in place (in the correct order) and feed the lights through the holes in the back of each house. Complete each tier before moving to the next.
   
   
   

Tips and Additional Ideas:

• Attach the trees before painting the tiers to cover their bases in white paint.
• Position the on/off switch of the lights at the back of the advent calendar for easier access.
• Add large glitter pieces for a 3D snow effect.