advent calendars.

As always, a few new additions to the advent calendar collection this year...

Our Christmas book collection, wrapped and ready to be opened. We've done this for a few years now and the kids love opening a book every day. Also, Ben built these fantastic shelves with some beautiful reclaimed wood we found. Perfect for keeping Christmas decorations out of Simon's reach.

My friend Jessica, knowing my love of advent calendars, sent me a few ideas she found online and I loved this wreath advent. It was easy to make, although time consuming to wrap all those tiny presents (stickers, small stamps, chocolates, erasers, pencils, etc). I used greenery and berries from our yard!

I found this old soda crate at an antique store a few months ago and immediately thought it would be perfect for an advent calendar. I made number tags and hung them from small boxes using washi tape. I attached a vintage Christmas picture on the other side of the box so each day we turn a box around after we remove the contents. Each box contain a puzzle piece for an advent puzzle of a nativity scene, with scriptures on each piece. (An advent within an advent. Yes, I'm crazy.) The puzzle has been the one advent that has really helped Oliver understand how many days are left until Christmas.

 

I got this cute little paper village from Paper Source and it came with a joke to put in each little house.

The kids have loved the Playmobil advent. It's the first one they do in the morning. 

Matchbox Garland Advent

My second advent creation this year was a re-creation of a matchbox advent I saw on Etsy. Instead of covering the matchboxes with scrapbook paper and wrapping paper, I used vintage Christmas images and added numbers in Photoshop. Then I used mod podge to attach them. The front of the matchboxes has the numbers and each day you turn one over and they slowly spell out "Merry Christmas!"

After a trial garland with buttons that turned out to be too small and making one as a gift and one for myself, I ended up sewing 75 buttons. I'm done sewing buttons for a while.










The kids love pulling out candy each day.

Muffin Tin Advent

If you've ever been to my house at Christmas time, you would know that I'm a little obsessed with advent calendars. As a kid, we did a lot of different things to count down the days to Christmas...advent calendar, burned down candles each night, paper chain with daily activities, etc. and I always loved the excitement that built throughout the month. Perhaps that inspired my love of advents.

I have an ever growing list of advent calendars that I have seen on different design blogs that I want to create. In November I made two different advents. Here is my version of the mini muffin tin advent.



I used vintage images and backgrounds to create the round magnets that cover up the holes. I created everything in Photoshop and then printed them on magnet paper.

Hiding inside each hole is a bottle cap magnet with a number:


I always like visual reminders of the countdown so each day you remove a number and place it on the outside:




Then bake some mini muffins!

I made one for each of my siblings. Now I just need to make one for myself...

Matchbox Advent Calendar

I could not stop myself from making this adorable little matchbox advent I saw here. It takes about 30 minutes to make and all you need are matchboxes and some wrapping paper or scrapbook paper. I stamped the numbers with a date stamp (the kind you get at an office supply store). Use a hot glue gun to glue the rows of boxes together, then wrap each row in paper and glue them on top of each other. Add a fun little "tree topper" and hide a surprise in each box.






Andes Mints are the perfect size to hide in each little box.

Christmas Advent Wreath

I LOVE decorating for Christmas and I LOVE advent calendars of any sort.



I saw a smaller version of this wreath (12 days of Christmas) advertised at Michaels...they were doing a free demonstration on how to make it. I saw the picture of their version, which just used scrapbooking paper to cover the wreath and the little tins, and came up with my own version. I really wanted the inside of the tins to be visible so when the candy was eaten, it was more of a visual reminder of the countdown. I was really happy with the results. I was set on having red and white mint M&Ms, but quickly discovered that there are far more red and green than white. I had to buy 7 bags just to get enough white! The tins are stuck on with velcro so you can remove each tin to get the candy out each day. I found some little wreaths that I liked and cut those up and glued them all around. After starting with the basic wreath and tins, you can customize this wreath any way you like. Click here to see the instructions for the Michaels version.



Materials (I found everything at Michaels):

• 18-inch Wood Wreath Ring
• Spray Paint (color of choice...this is for the wood wreath)
• Favor Tins (these are in the wedding section...a pack of 30 is $20...use a coupon)
• Velcro Squares (2 packages)
• Garland of your choice
• Number Stickers of choice (this was the most expensive thing because you will need 3 packages to have enough of the number 1 and 2...scrapbooking supplies are ridiculously expensive!)
• Wire (to hang the wreath)

Tools:

• Wire Cutters
• Glue Gun & Glue Sticks

Instructions:

1. Spray wreath with paint and let dry.
2. Arrange the tins around the wreath and attach with the velcro squares.
3. Cut garland pieces to fit between each tin and glue with hot glue gun. Embellish how you like.
4. String wire through one of the pre-made holes in the wreath. This will be the top.
5. Apply the numbers to the tops of the tins and fill with candy.