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.  




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why I Don't Keep a Journal...

Image
I've never been one to keep a journal or diary (as we called it back in the 70's).  I had a diary in grade school but wrote in it only sporadically.  It was one of those cute little ones with a lock and key that were so popular back in the day. I had some riveting entries like this one: Today I went to school.  I came home from school and Debbie came over after school.  I watched the Brady Bunch and  The Partridge Family at night. And this one: Today I went to school.  Dianna was sick today and didn't come to school.   Riveting.  Am I right?  Good thing my diary wasn't put in a time capsule lest future generations think kids in the 70's were super boring.   Since that first little diary I've tried to journal (the new millennium terminology) every now and then with similar luck.  Even I get bored with what I've written.  Over the years I've tried to figure out why I didn't enjoy this process.  In fact, I pretty much loath th
Read more

Easter Deals, Ideas & Fun Stuff - 4/11/17

Image
~I just finished reading 'The One & Only' by Emily Giffin .  I've read all her books except her newest one ('First Comes Love') and I think 'The One & Only' is my favorite so far. I highly recommend it. I am excited to dig into 'First Comes Love' soon. ~Easter is Sunday and I know most of us are knee deep in preparation. *One of our family traditions is making these sticky buns for Easter morning.  I usually only make them on Christmas and Easter as they are pretty rich and I want them to be a treat.  Kind of how my Grandma made ebelskiver's for us when we were little - we wanted them everyday but she made them on rare occasion and everyone of her grandchildren remembers how special they were. If she had made them every time we asked (i e. every morning) they wouldn't have been special and we'd likely not remember them as fondly as we do. *I am forever looking for wreaths for our front door.  We have double doors  s
Read more

25 Candy-Free Easter Basket Filler Ideas

Image
Every year I write about candy-free Easter basket filler ideas. We are bombarded right after Valentine's Day with Peeps, chocolate bunnies and Cadbury Creme Eggs every time we enter a store..  There has to be more to an Easter basket than sugar, right?  No matter the size of the basket, non-sugar goodies are a must for Easter.  While I don't want Easter to turn into another Christmas-like gift giving holiday, I am always searching for gift ideas to pass on to the Easter Bunny.  Here are 25 non-candy Easter basket ideas (some new ideas, some are old stand-by's) for kids of all ages: For Little Kids (0-8 years or so) Coloring Books and Crayons - there are awesome Easter Bunny & Religious coloring books out there this time of year - a great place to check is your local dollar store.  Legos - I love the   'Friends'   line that is out for girls now.  The usual cars and trucks and airplanes are still out there for the boys. Small Play Characters - like   Litt
Read more