Actually, about a week or so, but only because I was having tree, lighting and ornament issues (don't even get me started). I made the Making Memories advent calendar 2 years ago and it's one of my sons favorite Christmas decorations. We fill it with Dove chocolate and each have a bit of Dove Love every night!
So, I thought I'd make another one, doing the "add an ornament a day" to the little fake tree in the center. Note to anyone making this calendar, do not think it's a nifty idea to add a lit tree to the mix! What a PITA!! Especially since I had already covered the entire inside compartment with crushed glass, and than realized that I forgot the HOLE to put the wiring through........ 
. So, dh (with goggles on) did the dirty work for me. Crushed glass FLYs when drilled into, just sayin'.... Anyway, here's my handy dandy advent calendar.. (lots of pics in gallery)
not lit (thank you Capt'n Obvious) 
lit (thanks again Capt'n) 
Close up of the PITA tree and ornaments. (wound up having to put velcro pieces on the back of the ornaments (the hook side) and hooking those things onto the tree). I hate those loooooooooong gold cords they always insist on putting on mini ornaments, so *clip clip* off they went, hence a full day of figuring out what else to do to get them on there! Thanks for looking! Also, more pics in the gallery if you are interested.
Laurie, aka 
