Mousetrap Advent Calendar or Christmas Card Display
Remember those ‘choose your own adventure’ books from when you were a kid? They were my favourite! Well, today’s project is a bit like that. I started out making an advent calendar, and by the time I was done I had came up with a completely different idea and I couldn’t choose which I liked best!
Check out this advent calendar turned Christmas card holder…
This idea started when I found these fabulous festive labels from Tiny Prints. They are 100% personalized, so I decided to just get ‘December’ printed on them. Using numeral stamps I gave each one a day of the month.
I then slapped on my thinking cap to figure a way to display them.
I thought about clothespins or binder clips, but when I was cleaning up from a Halloween project I realized mousetraps are just like mini clipboards, and they would work perfect!
Remove a bit of the mousetrap hardware, and give the traps a coat of paint. I added a few strips of double sided mounting tape to give the date labels a firm hold.
The frame is made with 1″trim boards, you’ll need 2 x 8′ lengths (it will cost around $12). Use the measurements below to create your own stand. Then attach each mouse trap with a dab of wood glue and small finishing nails.
I gave my stand a coat of walnut stain, but I’ll leave that decision up to you!
After I got that all done and tediously sewed two sets of bags (because I couldn’t decide which colour scheme I liked best), I thought it looked perfect.
But then… I got to thinking I never have a good way to display my Christmas cards, and one thing led to another, and…
I chose a new adventure!
I simply removed the labels and added a bright red May Arts ribbon bow to the top.
What a simple resolution to the ‘how store all these cards?’ holiday crisis!
Doesn’t it look festive with all the beautiful Christmas cards? How would you use it, as an advent calendar or Christmas card display?
You might also like these other DIY Christmas ideas-
I love it Virginia! I think I like it as the Christmas card holder the best. Super cute!
Definitely as a card holder 🙂
Hmmm, as a card holder – thanks!!
Super cute!!! I like the cardholder one, but the advent is adorable too!
I do love the advent calendar, but the card holder solves a Christmas ‘problem’ of how to beautifully display your Christmas cards.
I love the advent calendar,super cute idea!
I really really love your advent calendar for sure and I would have picked that one but then I realized every year am looking for away to show my Christmas cards off, I love getting them very much and they are so beautiful then when I saw it as a card holder I would def pick that one for that reason. Virginia I always knew how talented you were remember all the art stuff we did here like the coloring, crafts and , we always made cards for the family and all that stuff. You were just a little girl then, an extremely talented little girl now you are an extremely talented big girl
Thanks Toni! I always loved playdoh and paper chains at your house, very fond memories… I think you found my crafty bone!
As a card holder, for sure!
The mousetrap advent calendar is such a great idea…I love it, Virginia!
Definitely card holder
Mousetrap…. what a great idea! Love both!
Super cute idea! All the possibles to fill them up;)!
In LOVE with this advent! I’ve been searching for a person size creation to play a bigger roll as a decoration in our home! And I think I found it!!!
I’d use it for a card holder we already have an advent calendar and I’m always looking for creative ways to display our Christmas cards
demureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com
Great card holder!
Oh my gosh Virginia, you are SO talented and creative! This project is amazing!! Love love it as both an advent calendar and a card holder!
Thanks Jo-Anna, right back at ya, your photography blows me away!
I’d probably use it as both- once a day was done you could take the number down and start putting cards up.
That is a genius idea, LOVE it!
You’ve blown my mind with this idea! Mousetraps! Love it!
Seriously? Mousetraps? SERIOUSLY????!? This is the most innovative repurpose I have seen in a LONG time. I think you win the blog award today 🙂 That advent calendar is my fav, although they both totally rock.
I am in LOVE with idea of it being a card holder! SO AWESOME. I might have to make one! *Book marking now 🙂
Love the card holder idea!
I would use it as a holiday card holder! I love that it is made of mouse traps – genius!
Well now! How did you know I’m working on making advent calendars today? Even one for the hubby! I’m thinking one of my apple pickin’ ladders would work too? How do you find the time??
This is an AWESOME idea, Virginia! I would use this as a Christmas card holder – what a great idea, lady!
What a neat way to make something without spending a lot of money 🙂 love it!
I love this as a card holder! It’s such a cute way to display the cards! Also, I’m doing a advent calendar round up this week. Would you mind if I included yours? Thanks for the giveaway!
For Sure Alexis, Thanks for asking! Happy Holidays!
Ummm…LOVE LOVE LOVE these!!! As a card holder for SURE!!! Wonderful job girl!!
A card holder thanks 🙂
That is so cute!!! I have been looking for a way to display my Christmas cards. Might just have to do this! Very creative!!!
Ingenious! Never would of thought to use mousetraps in any project other than for catching mice! Love it!
a card holder is probably what I would use it for
This is amazing! I don’t know which one to choose – super creative!
acartwrightmorell at gmail dot com
I would use it as a card holder! It’s soooo pretty Virginia!!
Love the advent! So would my munchkins!
Love it!
Love the use of the mouse traps, very neat ideas!
Great idea for a card holder. I am always looking for a nice way to organize mine and now I’ve got it.
I think I’d use it as an advent calendar. It’s a really cute craft
This is such a creative piece with the mouse traps, impressive! I to am always searching for creative ways to display cards; however, it may serve as dual function in our home. Thanks for this, V!
They are both super cute but I like the card holder best. Nice work as always!
I would use this as an advent calendar! 🙂
What a great project! I love them both.
I can’t believe you turned something as ordinary and ugly as a mousetrap into a wonderfully creative way to display cards or use as an advent calendar, I love the advent calendars and with a teenage step daughter I’d love to do that for her, but I’m also partial to the card display….maybe I could. Figure out how to do both. Lol. I think it would be an amazing way to display other cards, particularily birthday cards as well. I need to get my cards made, I have the photos picked out, so would love to win a GC to make my cards look extraordinary this year. I’m loving the clear cards. Oh…..that might be another fun thing to do with this display, photos…… I’m definitely having my hubby build this for me…..thank you! And thanks for the chance to win!
card holder debbie jackson http://pinterest.com/jacksondeb/
So damn cute!!! and I never would have thought to use those.
I would use this as a card holder
thanks
Love this as a card holder!
Love both Ideas!!! I have a brass circle with round clips I found several years ago which is great for the smaller cards! I usually put the bigger cards around my opened walk through in my house in Memphis but I’m back “home” in Georgia and have an open living room & kitchen with the built in bar with sink and dishwasher separating the area. I was thinking about taping them around the edges of the bar this year. I would rather have “something” like this for them. I love the “clips” for your Advent Calendar!!
Thanks Angela! Your ideas sound wonderful. I love that this holder can stand on the floor or be hung on the wall!