One of the best things about being a kid during the Christmas season were the advent calendars. There were a few years when I was a kid where we were even lucky enough to get one of those absolutely delicious waxy chocolate filled ones you can get at the grocery store. It was even better when you forgot to open up one of those tiny little doors for a few days and then got to eat a weeks worth at once. But there's so much more to the advent calendar then just the treats. It's all about the joy of anticipation having a fun way to look forward to something so magical.
There are so many different types of advent calendars these days from the waxy chocolate ones I mentioned above to the store bought to the home made. They don't have to be pricey, sugar laden, or expensive. I remember waking up excited every day because it was time to rip another "link" of my red and green contruction paper advent chain. These days you have the choice to do candy and sweets, tiny trinkets, a fun family activity a day, or just a simple calendar to count down the days. No matter how you choose to advent it's for sure going to be a family hit. So for this post I've scoured the internet and decided to post just a few of my favourites.
The first one is a fun craft that can be whipped up while watching TV. Included is an excellent tutorial for folding tiny "origami" boxes!
Check out the details at Craftynest.com
Head to your local craft store for this one! These gorgeous paper cones are easy enough for even a novice crafter but pretty enough to still look pro! Use small picture hanging hooks to attach a branch or two to your wall, hang them from your Christmas tree, or even make a ribbon garland!
(be sure to check out some of their other great Advent Ideas too!)
Martha Stewart always has some great ideas! Here she uses some boxes of various sizes to hide some great advent trinkets! While you most likely don't have a stash of miniature boxes just laying around, they aren't too hard to find! Check places like Michaels or Joanns for tiny gift or wedding favour boxes, or even just reuse some old cracker boxes. Just cut up the boxes and tape together the cardboard pieces to form boxes. Add a little paint or decorative paper and you're good to go!
You can find the tutorial here.
Another Martha Stewart idea that us moms will definitely get a kick out of! This one uses those tiny baby socks I'm sure we all have kicking around! Don't have Christmas looking socks? Love the idea but don't have any extra's floating around? Head to a nearby gently used kids clothing store or grab a pack next time you're out shopping for groceries! Some pretty Christmas ribbon attached with glue or quickly stitched on will make look just as adorable! Find the instructions here!
This last Martha Stewart idea is great if you love the idea of an advent calendar but aren't keen on the treats! Create this one out of some poster board and some old/left over greeting cards! Don't have any cards? Get the kids to draw or colour in some holiday pictures! They'll get a kick out of seeing a new piece of their art every day! Find their tutorial here!
And for my final favourite, this one is a bit different. This tea tree advent is a great and relaxing way to count down the days! What a wonderful way to remind yourself to just sit, relax, and enjoy a warm cup of tea! Don't like tea? Pick up some flavoured coffee and try a new blend every day! (Even better if it leads up to a Keurig or Tassimo right?) You can get the details for this advent here!
I'd love to hear what your advent traditions are! Please feel free to comment below and share your ideal advent! Do you do the activity a day? What are some of your favourites??
-Charissa
This is our first time using an advent calendar. We got the cheapo waxy chocolate ones. :) Liam loved it, to be able to see something new and hear about what it was and then getting to open a little door and find a piece of chocolate inside. He was ecstatic, Marshy on the other hard snuck off and ripped his to a bunch of piece and ate about 6 pieces of the chocolate. :P That sneak. I like the little origami boxes tree you posted and ma make that too and put some X-mas stickers or something in it.
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