Upcycling: a colourful Advent calendar made from jars

You need: pencil, pocket rule, piece of string/cord, nail, 2x MDF 6 mm wooden boards, 300 x 300 mm, Squared timber

Now, on to the bottom panel. For a real Christmas-like atmosphere, you can also make these into star shapes: Mark the middle of the bottom panel (Figure 1). Draw two different sized large circles. If you do not have a compass at hand, you can simply make a compass using a nail, a piece of string and a pencil (Figure 2–4).

Drawing out and connecting the rest of the lines will create a star shape (Figure 5&6).

Repeat these steps so that you end up with two stars.

You need: NanoBlade saw, Easy Cut 50, g-clamps, Panel with drawing from step 1

Securely clamp the panels and cut out the star shapes.

You need: NanoBlade saw, Advanced Cut 18, Multi-sander, grit sandpaper for the multi-sander, pencil, pocket rule, protractor, g-clamps, Squared timber (45x45 mm)

For the next step, you should swap out your saw’s jigsaw blade. This will make it easier to saw the squared timber in the next step.

Measure out 700 mm (Figure 1) and saw off the corresponding piece (Figure 2). Make sure to securely clamp the squared timber.

Then, sand down the cut edges (Figure 3).

You need: EasyDrill 12-2 cordless drill, 5 piece-wooddrill-bit-set, Countersink cutter, g-clamps, Scrap wood board, Stars from step 2

Once again, take the two star shapes from step 2. Now, drill a hole exactly in the middle of the stars one after the other (Figure 1). We recommend you place a piece of scrap wood underneath, so that you don’t drill into the work surface.

For the star that will eventually rest on the bottom, you have to drill another hole from underneath (Figure 2).

You need: paint roller, White paint, Stars from step 2, Wooden beams from step 4

Now, coat both star shapes and the sawn wooden beams in your favourite colour. We’ve gone for a plain white colour.

You need: Mason jars, Colourful acrylic paint

Now, coat all jars that you would like to use for your Advent calendar.

Simply fill the mason jars with some acrylic paint, close the lid and move the paint around inside until you can no longer see inside the jar.

Repeat this for all 24 jars. If you like, you can use different colours.

Finally, let the paint fully dry.

You need: Cordless drill/driver, suitable bit set, g-clamps, Paint-coated stars and wooden slat from step 5, 4x screws (50 mm)

Screw the offset stars onto the bottom of the wooden beam. Use a screw and don’t forget to securely clamp the beam. Make sure that the screw head disappears into the countersunk hole.

You need: Cordless drill/driver, suitable bit set, The mason jar lids, 4x screws (50 mm)

Have all the jars dried? If so, take all the lids off and screw them to the wooden beams from all sides. If you have different sized lids, make a general outline of where you want the different jars to go. That way you can make sure that all 24 jars will fit.

Always use two screws to fix the lids in place so that they cannot turn when the jars are screwed on.

You need: Stickers for 24 doors

Now you can screw the jars onto the mounted lids.

Of course, your Advent calendar’s 24 small numbers still need to be glued to the bottom of the jars.

Don’t forget to fill the jars with little surprises before 1 December.