Nativity Advent Printer Tray Display

Hello everyone!  This is Maureen - I hope you are having a great start to the holiday season!  In our house, we celebrate Christmas as the time of Jesus' birth.  We typically do a traditional Advent calendar, with candles and a wreath.  Since the first of December is upon us, I wanted to do something that would be on display in my house too, so I came up with an Advent calendar made with the Clear Scraps Small Rectangles Printer Tray and the Mini House Shaker.

I'm starting by base coating the top layer of the tray in white.  While this dries, I've chosen a light blue Christmas background paper and glued it to the back of the tray base.  

Next, I'm layering the pieces of the tray on top and gluing down the edges.  Here is where I had some fun choosing some spots for my Nativity vinyl pieces to put down.  Knowing where you want these to go first was like having a map of my art, ha ha!

Once I decided where the vinyl should go, I added some white plastic snow and mixed in some other blue and white confetti pieces in there.  I wanted the backdrop to sparkle like the images.  Then, I did the same with the mini shaker, and adhered the clear acrylic on top of both pieces.

Now, I cut my pictures using images from the Cricut design library.  If you prefer a different electronic machine or even die cuts, this would work as well.  I've also written the words we celebrate each week out and cut those from my machine too, in a black sparkly vinyl. Each week is represented with the words Hope, Joy, Peace and Love.

Attach the vinyl to the top acrylic piece before you lay down the final white border.  All these are glued on with clear tacky glue.  I've also glued the mini house shaker to the top left edge of the printer tray, and added my Mary, Joseph and Jesus here.  What a perfect option for a stable!

Now, I needed some windows for my Advent calendar.  I'm using squares I cut from a scrapbook pad.  On the backs of these squares, I'm going to put messages like Bible verses or prayers to reflect for a few moments each week when I remove them. These are clipped to the tray and removed each week.

The next step is to hot glue some binder clips to the edges of the white border.  Make sure these are secure before you put the squares of your paper pad on.  It may require a second coat.

Your Advent calendar is ready to be put on display!  This printer tray was perfect!  The vinyl applies so very easy and looks really special.  I intend to remove a square each week as we reflect on the joy of Christ's birth.  What will you make this year to celebrate your special holidays?

Thanks for visiting!  Check out the Clear Scraps site for all the cool printer tray styles...perhaps you can make a calendar too!

Maureen

Additional supplies:  Christmas scrapbook pad (Martha Stewart), hot glue, binder clips, black vinyl and an electronic machine (Cricut), assorted stamps