Ok, so this post might not be named correctly if you're hyper-analytical like I am. It's not technically a countdown because I arranged these cute little cards in numerical order from least to greatest. I thought it would be easier to just check the day's date and read that card for a fun activity with my kids.
So in that regard it's much more like an Advent Calendar. But it's just for an activity, no scriptures or candies or gifts like so many Advent Calendars include.
Call it what you want to, I had way too much fun making this! It reminded me why I used to scrapbook and made me long for the day when I have a little more free time to spend doing just that.
I knew I wanted to make something like this, but part of the time factor when I actually sat down to put it together on Saturday night was spent figuring out how I wanted it to work and where I would hang it! I love the Advent Calendars that use paper lunch bags, so I found some tags and made some more out of my scrapbooking supplies.
I squirreled away cute ornaments, little craft ideas, glitter glue, gum, playdoh with cookie cutters, etc, planning on putting a clue for the day's activity in the paper bag which we'd take down and open each day.
But then I decided it was just too cute and I couldn't pull it down and rip up more of it each day, even in the name of something fun to do with the boys!
And the question of where to hang it kept coming up... And my crib spring display thingy-ma-bob was looking a little forlorn, even with the burlap banner and snowflakes added to the wreath.
Then
So my 2-3 hour project turned into 5 hours one night, three hours the next day, another hour or two hanging them...
Sadly, that's all too typical around here. Just ask my husband. No, don't, please!
Did you notice just how cute it all is?! Totally worth the time and effort!
You know that when Christmas is over I'll be storing these together in a box. Cute cards, clothespins, tags, ornaments, embellishments and all. It's actually quite flexible, in that next year I can hang them with the lunch bags if I want, or on a string on the wall, or wherever!
(The two little bunches in the top middle are place holders because my crib springs needed something there.)
The boys are totally thrilled with the little daily activities. These are things I included--on a sticky note so I can mix and match next time, or toss the ideas and do new stuff if I want to and not have to mess up my cute note cards!
- Make coffee filter snowflakes
- Sing carols by the Christmas tree
- Make cinnamon ornaments
- Make cookies and give them to a neighbor
- Enjoy hot chocolate with candy canes
- Decorate paper ornaments with glitter
- Go to a Christmas concert
- Make an ornament wreath
- Play hide-and-seek with jingle bell ornaments
- Use cookie cutters with play doh
So there you have it, our Christmas Countdown, or Advent Calendar, or Activity Planner, or Really Cute Christmas Display that took way more time than I planned but I still love it!
How are you looking forward to Christmas every day?
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