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DIY - House Advent Calendar

White and red house advent calendar

white and red Christmas House advent calendar #thdprospective

Once again I'm joining forces with my building friends for another edition of the DIY Challenge! 

Building or creating a handmade gift that anyone would love to receive was the challenge for this month.
And well, with the holidays quickly approaching, I decided to build a House Advent Calendar, which I think is a win-win situation... A gift that's going to hold lots of gifts in it! ;)

At the end of this post, you can find the links to visit all the wonderful gift ideas my friends have created. 

Hint, hint ... Easy projects to start crossing off that list.

For now, let me tell you everything about my House Advent Calendar. I'm so happy about how it turned out! I felt like a little girl playing house while decorating it. The thing is, this house can perfectly double as a playhouse.

This is not a small house, it goes a bit above 40" at its highest point and each one of its 24 compartments can nicely fit a good array of decorative figures/gifts.

I chose half-inch poplar 3-1/2" x 4ft. as the main material for this project, which brought the basic cost of this build to around $60. You can also use plywood which would bring that number way down. But, I really didn't want to rip plywood, since I don't have a good table saw set up just yet.

The hardest part of this project, at least for me, was coming up with a design for all the little compartments. I created five designs on paper and in the end, the one with the most random compartments was the one I liked the most.

Here, I'm sharing with you the complete details about this House Advent Calendar, in case you want to create your very own or want to gift it to someone:

*This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
House advent calendar free plans

The materials you'll need:
8  -  S4S Poplar board 1/2 in. x 4 in. x 4 ft.
1  -  Plywood 1/4" in. x 25" x 43"
Wood glue
1-1/4" brad nails - 18 gauge
1/2" Staples
Get the plans right HERE.
Get the Free Number Printables right HERE

The Tools you'll need:
Tape Measure - Miter sawBrad Nailer - Circular Saw or Jig Saw - Stapler - Clamps - Nail set -HammerFraming Square - Painting and/or finishing materials

Directions:

1. ASSEMBLE THE OUTER FRAME

Follow the dimensions on the plan to cut and assemble the outer frame. Use wood glue and three brad nails on all joints.
Ryobi Cordless Brad Nailer |

2. ASSEMBLE THE INNER COMPARTMENTS

In order to better visualize how to put together all the compartments I placed the frame on the floor and using chalk drew a not too perfect replica of the design.
Set the frame aside and start assembling the inner pieces, starting right at the center. 
The reasoning for starting at the center is because the nail gun can't fit in small areas, so you need an open end to have a better angle while driving those nails.
Use a framing square to draw a line for those connecting pieces. It will help you keep those lines straight and it's also a good guide while driving the nails.
Use clamps to keep those boards in place while you secure them together. 
Bring the frame in to continue assembling the entire house. The first part I attached to the frame was the big lower-right hand side compartment. - Make sure everything is square.
Continue assembling all parts. You can also assemble small sections before bringing them inside the big frame.
Even though, you start assembling from the center all the way out, you're going to find many spots that are too small to drive the nails comfortably.  Drive them on a slanted way, they're going to pop-up a bit, but that's something you can fix with a nail set and a hammer.
Nail set | Hammer |
3. ASSEMBLE AND INSTALL THE ROOF

Connect two 20" long boards at a 90-degree angle to form the roof. With the body of the house on the floor, place the roof centered on top of both upper corners of the house.
How to make a house advent calendar - installing the roof
Ryobi Miter Saw | Clamps | Framing Square |
Place a scrap piece of wood underneath the top of the roof to support it while you use a pencil to mark the cutting line.
Use a miter saw to make those 45-degree angle cuts. Then, secure the roof to the house with wood glue and 1-1/2" brad nails.

4. FILL HOLES AND GAPS & PAINT OR STAIN

Apply spackle to all the nail holes and gaps. remove excess with a putty knife. Let it dry, then sand everything smooth before painting it.
I used two coats of Rustoleum white spray paint, sanding again in between coats.

5. INSTALL BACKER

Place the 1/4" plywood backer on the floor (I used beadboard), bring the house on top of it and trace it all around.
Use a jig saw or circular saw to cut all along those lines.
how to install the backer
Dewalt Cordless Circular Saw | DIABLO Finish/Plywood blade |
The final step is to use a stapler to install the backer in place.
Ryobi stapler for installing backer onto shelf house
Ryobi Cordless Stapler |
Well guys, you know I love decor... I had a really good time decorating this house. I love it! So much so, that now I just keep on walking through the living room just to look at it. :D

Remember I covered some books with birch bark? You can check that project right HERE.
I used some remnants of the birch bark on some of these little compartments.
how to build a white and red Christmas House advent calendar

I have to give a big shout out to Kasia for these beautiful and Free Number Printables, they really brought this project up to the next level.
White and red house advent calendar

I had to go to the basement to find the big box with Christmas ornaments to make it pretty.
Christmas decor - House advent calendar

Marshmallow snow man inside little red wagon

Decorating this cute house has got me all excited about Christmas!
Gifts on advent calendar
I can't wait to start with my own house Christmas decor.
Oh wait, I need to fill those empty spots.
White and red decorative gifts and decor on advent calendar
But hey, right now it's the time to get inspired with the wonderful gift ideas my friends have created:




*This post contains affiliate links.






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10 comments :

  1. This is awesome! The beadboard backer and birch texture bring it to a whole new level of amazing! :)

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    1. Aww It's so good to hear that! I'm glad I kept those little pieces of bark. Thanks Angie!

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  2. How cute! I love it and the way you styled it too.

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  3. Cristina you have my heart with this cuteness! I love all the little nooks and your chalkboard sketch on the floor is perfection ;).

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    1. Hehe somehow those wiggly-line designs make lots of sense to me! :D

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  4. Wow! This project is so amazing! I love everything about your house advent calendar Cristina! The red and white make this so stunning.
    pinning!
    gail

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    1. That's my favorite color combo for Christmas, so striking! Thanks so much Gail!

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  5. This is ADORABLE!! Cristina, it puts me in the Christmas spirit and gets me all excited for the holidays... I love the house, and your styling is on point! Love everything about this!

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    Replies
    1. Right? I had to unpack some of the Christmas boxes I had in the basement, but now I want to continue unpacking them! :) ❤️

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