Color-blocked Advent Tree

• Command™ Small Picture Hanging Strips
• Command™ Clear Small Wire Hooks
• Command™ Quartz Spring Clip, Small
• ScotchBlue™ Painter's Tape Original Multi-Use 2090
• Scotch® Quick Drying Tacky Glue
• Post-it® Super Sticky Full Adhesive Notes
• Various sizes of kraft boxes with removable lids
• Small kraft bags
• Small foam brushes
• White paint
• Neon paint
• Small wooden craft numbers [make sure you have the right amount of numbers to     count from 1 to 25]
• OPTIONAL: large envelopes [make sure your bags and boxes add up to 25]

NOTE: Follow all Command™ Brand package instructions for proper surface cleaning and prep, adhesive strip placement and recommended weight claims.

To Prep:

To create the advent calendar, we FIRST laid the bags and boxes out on the floor in a tree (triangle) shape. It might take some moving around to get it just how you like it. Once we landed on a layout that would work nicely, we used Post-it® Super Sticky Full Adhesive Notes on the back to number the boxes and mark which colors we wanted to paint. Then, once the arrangement is dismantled for painting and applying numbers, you won’t lose track of what goes where. We even took a picture of it to refer to.

Instructions:

1. Take the ScotchBlue™ Painter's Tape Original Multi-Use 2090 and tape off various angles on your bags and boxes, including some straight lines, and these will form your color blocking. Make sure to wrap the tape around the top edges of the boxes, as well. Press the tape down to make sure it has adhered.

2. With a foam brush, begin painting in the area you have left clear. Be sure to paint the edges of the box lid, as well. Depending on the paint, two coats might be necessary.

EXPERT TIP: If you are doing all 25 bags and boxes for the advent calendar, be sure to divide up the colors. We did about a third of the bags and boxes in each of our three neon colors.

3. While the paint on the boxes and bags dries, use this time to paint the wooden numbers. With another foam brush, paint a light coat of white paint evenly across the face of the numbers. Let them dry.

4. Remove ScotchBlue™ Painter's Tape Original Multi-Use 2090 from the bags and boxes.

5. After they have dried, use the Scotch® Quick Drying Tacky Glue to stick the wooden numbers on the boxes in consecutive order. 1 through 25 on each box.

6. Now it’s time to hang the advent calendar on the wall! Arrange all of the pieces on the floor first. After accounting for the height of the gifts on Christmas Day, which will act as your tree trunk, start in the bottom center and build your pieces outward and upward. For the boxes, use Command™ Small Picture Hanging Strips.

For the bags, use Command™ Clear Small Wire Hooks. If you have chosen to add any additional formats such as large envelopes to the mix, use Command™ Quartz Spring Clip, Small for those.

If you don’t get it right the first time, don’t worry, all of the Command products can be easily removed and repositioned without damaging your walls!

Room accessories, garlands, tiny toys, and ornaments were supplied by The Land of Nod.