Fun with Advent Calendars...



There are so many cute advent calendars out there this year and if you're not careful you could end up spending a small fortune on one of them.  Before you do that, consider a fun DIY advent calendar.  There are many ideas and tutorials out there that are budget friendly and really fun to put together.  In no particular order here are 12 of my favorites - I'd  have them all in my home if I could!

 The Envelope Advent Calendar - I just love the idea of this because it's super easy and pretty inexpensive.  Most of us have envelopes on hand to make this happen.  This is the perfect type of calendar for 'experience' treats as opposed to toys or candy.  Things like: watch 'Elf' tonight, go sledding or make cookies with mom can be printed out on the computer on paper and tucked in the envelope for a fun activity.  This one from A Few Things From My Life is one of my favorites.

A Few Things From My Life



Muffin Tin Advent Calendar - These are all over the place and they are one of the neatest ways to count down to Christmas I have seen.  You can make your muffin tin as elaborate or as simple as you want to.  And I think you can get muffin tins at the dollar store!  I love this one from The Happy Scraps. 

The Happy Scraps

Note Card Advent Calendar - I love this calendar for its cuteness and frugalness.  And it is a simple undertaking.  

Love of Family and Home


Coke Crate Advent Calendar - Life as a Thrifter's coca-cola crate advent calendar is so fun.  Vintage meets glitz. 

Life as a Thrifter
Baby Sock Advent Calendar - This one had me wishing I had kept all those cute baby socks.  

Martha Stewart
Tag Advent Calendar -  Honey We're Home created a darling tag advent calendar - another great one for activity based treats. 

Honey We're Home
Pottery Barn Inspired Advent Calendar -  The Feminist Housewife really saved some money creating her own advent calendar using inspiration from Pottery Barn.  

The Feminist Housewife
Painted Sleigh Advent Calendar - I bought a wooden sleigh with drawers a few years ago at Michael's and painted it for our advent calendar.  I love the way it turned out and we are still using it.   Look for these types of advent calendars in the shapes of trees as well.  There are so many options to make them your own.
September Acres
Luminary Advent Calendar - Design Dining and Diapers made a lovely luminary advent calendar using baby food jars (I wish I had kept those along with the baby socks). 

Design Dining and Diapers
Matchbox Advent Calendar - Chris at Just a Girl created a really neat advent calendar using matchboxes (the kind you buy at the grocery store).  

Just a Girl
A Book a Day Advent Calendar - I loved this countdown when LM was younger.  Before the month begins wrap 24 Christmas/Holiday/Winter books and each day have your kids unwrap one book to be read that day.  If you don't have enough books, check out thrift shops or hit the library (keep track of due dates though).  

Blue Cricket Design
Paper Chain Advent Calendar - An oldie but a goody, the paper chain is especially fun the the little ones.  Cut 24 strips of construction paper and link them together like a chain.  Each day your child can take off one link.  This is a fun learning tool when working on colors and numbers.  Add a bible verse or Christmas-y saying to each link for a little something extra.

Less Ordinary Designs
The Christmas countdown is coming soon but it's not too late create your own advent calendar.  




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