Finding the perfect Christmas advent calendar

Christmas is my most favorite time of year. As December starts to get closer I am thinking about what to do for an advent calendar. Last year I made one and it looked great but the pieces kept falling off but I think that was because I use wrapping paper instead of regular paper and the glue just wouldn't hold it. It was similar the the one found here. It was just a total disappointment because I spent so much time on it. So this year I need a new plan.

I think advent calendars can be put into two different categorizes. The first one being something you use just to count down the days. The other is something that you can put treats into for them to get each day.

Over the years we have done both kinds. From the simple paper chain that you tear off a link each day to the elabrate one that I made last year that had a little box to put something in for each day.

As some of you know I have 4 kids and I had to get a little creative last year to come up with little treats that I could fit 4 of in the little boxes. So, as I was thinking about that for this year I had the idea that instead of giving a treat each day, we would do a craft project each day. All I would have to put in the box is a little piece of paper with the name of the project.

Now that I had my idea I needed to find an advent calendar that would not take hours to make and would not fall apart on me. Here is what I found.

I found this at Crafting Happens. Isn't it beautiful. She does a great job telling you how she made it.

I already have the perfect little tree and the lights to go on it. All I need is a tree skirt, star and the little boxes to hang on the tree.

So I took a trip to Michael's to find the little boxes and I realized that they would be to big for my tree. Also to they were $.99 a piece and I would need 24 of them that was more money than I wanted to spend.

So I went walking around and found this

They are little plastic containers with screw on lids and it came with 24 in the box. I got it for $9.99 (later found out that Walmart has the same thing for $6.86)

Here is a better picture for you to see what they look like.

When I got home I took my smallest drill bit and drilled a hole in the side of the container. Using Christmas paper in green and red I cut out circles it fit inside the lid and cut a strip out to wrap around the inside of the bottom part. I alternated the colors. Red in the lid and a green strip in the bottom. Then on the next one green in the lid and red on the bottom.

I used my Cricut to cut out the numbers in a silver paper that I had on hand. You can use stickers or even hand write the numbers in if you need to.

I then glued the number to the colored circles and put them in the lid.

Then I took ornament hooks and threaded beads on it and bent one end so it would fit into the hole that I drilled in the container.

 

 

 

Here is my finished tree. Definitely not as pretty as the one at Crafting Happens but lovely none the less.

Now the next thing I need to do is come up with the craft project ideas. I plan on having everything I need to make all the projects by the first of December.

So the next couple of weeks I will be hunting for ideas to use and as I find them I will post them here. I haven't decided if I will only do Christmas crafts or not. I guess I will decide as I come across them.

Want to make one with me? Share with me your craft ideas for kids and we can make them together.