When our boys were too small to understand what an advent calendar was I still wanted a way for them to be able to count the days until Christmas.
While we were decorating our tree, the boys had chosen to put candy canes on it. Then it came to me, why not put one on it for each of our two sons for each day until Christmas? When the last candy cane was left they knew the next day was Christmas. It didn't matter when we put up our tree we just counted the number of days left and adjusted.
Of course those first years, the bottom of the tree was a little heavy with the candy canes compared to the top where they couldn't reach, but what did it matter? It worked great and we started a new tradition at our house.
One year after they were gone from home, I had decided not to put to candy canes on the "fancy" tree. One of the boys stopped by, he told me point blank something was missing. Even with lace and bows, the candy canes were required decorations at our house, and I am so glad they remembered.
Source: My sons and I, 30 years ago.
By Ann Winberg from Loup City, NE
Start an easy Advent calendar or winter countdown! Cut out two large white construction paper circles. Have child draw a snowman face on one...
Any ideas on how to make a homemade advent calender? I want to make one my daughter can keep for a couple of years. I am open to it being made out of about anything cloth, wood, etc.
If you are up for an advent calender that doesn't hang on the wall, try this: Get 24 large matchboxes(the kind that have part that slides out of a sleeve) Cover each sleeve piece on three sides with felt, fabric or paper. You can even line the inside of each too. Glue a small bead to one short side of the slide out part and number from one to 24 beside the knob.
I made these for my kids when they were little, they used them for many years.
I bought a piece of quilted Christmas material, sewed red ribbon on the sides and bottom to give a finished edge
Buy some small toys, candy, or even poems rolled up and tie one to each ribbon.
Here is the poem to attach to the bottom. I used fabric paint, but you can cross stitch or anything you want
December 1st until Christmas
Is the longest time of the year.
How many days until Christmas?
It's mighty hard to count.
So these shiny ribbons
Will tell you the exact amount.
Untie a ribbon every night
When the sandman casts his spell
And Christmas Eve will be here,
By the time you reach the bell!
The kids still have them tucked away in their keepsake boxes
I decided this year to make (or buy) small boxes to wrap & put #'s on. Inside each box will be something to do as a family (watch the Christmas Story, bake cookies, drink hot chocolate, listen to christmas music, string popcorn and hang outside for the birds, read Isaiah 9:1-6, play scrabble, watch frosty the snowman, etc). I will either put the wrapped numbered boxes in a basket, or on a small tree, or decorate a wreath.
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I bought a nail holder at the local store in the hardward section. The larger one has exactly 24 drawers that you can pull out and they're larger than the standard wood calendar drawers. I put slips of paper that are similar to previous ideas shared, e.g., wear red today, light the advent candle on Sunday, etc. Hope this helps and Merry Christmas
I just thought of a fun and easy way to make an advent calendar. Go to a thrift store or dollar store and buy 13 pairs of children/baby mittens. Using clothesline pins clip one glove on a pin then pin to a ribbon or decorative cord. You can use fabric paint or perm. markers to number the gloves then hang from your banister or around a doorway, or even the mantel or garland for your tree.
This advent calendar was made by stretching and stapling a spare piece of fabric over an old paint canvas. The pouches were made from felt using a simple whip stitch and secured to the canvas with hot glue. The numbered dates were stitched.
A craft the kids can make and enjoy every day until Christmas. A tradition in the making.
Have your kids pick out 24 of their favorite candies from trick-or-treating. Make a Christmas countdown calendar (very simply made with a piece of cardboard, decorated with rubber stamps, scraps of wrapping paper, or giftwrap paper; tape each candy or treat on it).
Make your own custom Advent calendar for your Christmas countdown. Using homemade burlap bags, fill the daily bags with candy or a special message.
This advent is simple to throw together using Ikea's wall tree, and cardstock. Our family likes to do activity-based advents like this one and when I saw IKEA was selling this decoration, I knew I had to make it into an advent calendar.
