Advent Calendar Ideas — Budget Wise Home
December 12, 2011

My Advent Calendar

I hope you all had a great weekend!  As promised, I’m back to show you my advent calendar tree.  This was totally FREE to make and I LOVE how it turned out.

 

I took a drive on a few back roads and gathered a bunch of sticks.  I stuck them in this white vase that I already had.  It was perfect!  Then I printed out the cards and numbers from this printable advent calendar, punched a hole in each corner, and attached some ornament hooks.  The boys had fun helping me hang them randomly on the branches.  I customized each card with an activity for each day till Christmas.

 

 

 

Here is a list of the activities printed on each one:

  • Drink hot chocolate.
  • Write a letter to Santa.
  • Go on a drive to see the Christmas lights.
  • Make a gingerbread train.
  • Read your favorite Christmas story before bed.
  • Stay up an extra 10 minutes tonight.
  • Make Christmas cookies.
  • Make your teacher a gift.
  • Make a Christmas craft.
  • Go see the Christmas train at Daddy’s work.
  • Go see the lights at Temple Square.
  • Play your favorite board game.
  • Go out for a treat.
  • You choose what’s for dinner tonight.
  • Sing Christmas songs around the piano.
  • Read the story of Jesus’ birth.

 

I repeated a few of those to fill in the rest of the days I needed.  It has been so much fun so far and my boys love it!  My oldest can now read, so it’s extra fun for him to discover the new activity each day.

Here’s one more look at our tree.

 

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December 2, 2011

Advent Calendar Ideas

Budget Tip of the Day: Paper Chain

I was hoping to show you what I’ve been working on for my advent calendar today, but my printer broke!  Don’t printers always seem to stop working right when you really need to print something?!  So I’m off to find a new printer this weekend, so I can finish this project.  I will for sure post some pics next week.  But in the mean time, I still have another advent calendar idea for you.  This is pretty simple, but it reminds my of my childhood.  Did any of you grow up making paper chains every year like me?  We LOVED making chains out of construction paper and tearing one off each day.  This one here is a little more fancy.  You can dress it up with fabric, felt, or cute paper, and glue an activity or scripture to the inside to make each day something special.

 

I hope you’ve enjoyed the ideas this week.  It’s still not too late to make one.  Have a wonderful weekend, enjoy the season, and I’ll see you back here on Monday!

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December 1, 2011

Advent Calendar Ideas

Budget Tip of the Day: Advent Jars

Here is an advent calendar idea that you can put together using any jars or bottles you have on hand.  Think mason jars, baby food jars, old bottles, etc.  Use old fabric scraps or paper to decorate each one.  Add some numbers, fill them up, and you’re good to go.  Need some ideas for what to fill them with?  Try small treats or ornaments, or write a Christmas activity or scripture on a piece of paper for each day.  You don’t need to spend any money to make the countdown to Christmas lots of fun!

 

 

 

 

 

Come back tomorrow for more advent calendar ideas.

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November 30, 2011

Advent Calendar Ideas

Budget Tip of the Day: Shoe Organizer Advent

This shoe organizer advent is simply genius!  I was so excited when I came across it and just had to share in this week’s round up.

Head over to Eighteen 25 for the full instructions and the free printable numbers.  Basically, you print out the numbers from the templates they give you, cut them out, and secure to each pocket with a clothespin.  Then fill the pockets with your goodies.  It’s so cute, simple, and easy!

 

Come back tomorrow for more advent calendar ideas.

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November 29, 2011

Advent Calendar Ideas

Budget Tip of the Day: Free Printable Advent Calendar

You are going to LOVE this advent calendar!  Not only is it SO dang cute, but you can literally put this together in minutes because most of the work is done for you.

 

 

Head over to Living Locurto to download the FREE printable.  You can even customize all the cute “treats” inside and change them up if you like.  Print everything on Christmas scrapbook paper to make it extra festive.  All you really need to do is cut everything out and put it together.  So easy and budget friendly!  I love all the great things you can do without spending a penny!

 

 

Come back tomorrow for more advent calendar ideas.

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November 28, 2011

This Week: Advent Calendar Ideas

Welcome back friends!  I hope you all had a fabulous holiday weekend.  Mine was wonderful, but it went by way too fast.  I truly have so much to be thankful for this season and it was nice to have some down time to spend with my family and reflect on all the blessings we have.

Now that we are back home it’s time to gear up for Christmas.  One of my favorite parts of Christmas is the countdown, and that means an advent calendar is a must.  My mom is from Germany, where the advent was originated, so it was always something special to her.  I can still remember pulling out our own advent calendars every year as a kid and being so excited to open a door every day and see the picture inside.  We reused the same ones year after year, but we always loved it.   It’s a little piece of my mom’s heritage that I want to pass on to my kids.

Last year we did a Christmas book advent that my kids loved.  This year, I’m planning something different and I can’t wait to show you.  I just need a couple days to get it all ready.  This week is sure to give you some inspiration for your own advent calendar.

 

Budget Tip of the Day:  Paper Cones

If you’ve got some decorative paper lying around, you don’t need to spend any money on this advent calendar idea.  If not, head to your local craft store and pick up a few pieces of Christmas scrapbook paper.

 

via Tuesday To-Do

 

Cut your paper, roll into cones, embellish with anything you have on hand, and fill with small treats, toys, or ornaments.  You can find the cone template and full instructions at Tuesday To-Do.

 

Come back tomorrow for more advent calendar ideas.

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December 3, 2010

Advent Calendar Ideas

Image via Country Living

Budget Tip of the Day: Ornament Advent

You can decorate your tree each day leading up to Christmas with this cute advent calendar.  Just punch a hole near the bottom of a flash or index card and hook one ornament into each hole.  Decorate the cards and attach to a ribbon using clothespins.  String the ribbon across a sunny window and enjoy hanging a new ornament every day.  So fun and easy to make!

What are you doing for an advent calendar this year?  What are your fun ideas?

Have a great weekend and I’ll see you back here on Monday for some more Christmas decorating fun!

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December 2, 2010

Advent Calendar Ideas

Image via BHG

Budget Tip of the Day: Ribbon Scrolls

This advent calendar idea is practically free.  All you need is some ribbon and paper.  Print out 24 scriptures on your paper and cut into 4 inch strips.  Roll up each strip and tie together with ribbon.  Attach all the scrolls to a larger strip of ribbon using safety pins and hang the entire thing on your wall.  That’s it!  I love finding ways to incorporate the spiritual side of the holiday since that’s what it’s really all about.  This is a simple and easy way to do that.

Come back tomorrow for one more advent calendar idea.

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December 1, 2010

Advent Calendar Ideas

Budget Tip of the Day: Wrapped Childrens Books

I found this creative advent calendar over at Sarah Jane Studios and just had to include it in the tips this week.  There are 24 books all wrapped up and marked with a number for each day.  Each night the kids unwrap a book and read the Christmas story inside.  Isn’t that so much fun?

Image via Sarah Jane Studios

You might be wondering how you are going to get 24 Christmas books without spending a fortune.  Don’t worry.  It’s not as hard as it seems.  Start by looking through the books you already own.  You probably have a bunch of Christmas or even just winter themed books in your collection.  You can also check out books from the library for a few weeks, so that makes it easy.  Or you could borrow some from family or friends.  Wouldn’t it be fun to start a tradition and buy one new Christmas book each year to add to your collection.  Sarah Jane used the Bible for book #24–genius!  This is the advent calendar I’m going to do this year.  I was surprised at how many Christmas/winter books I already had.  I’m going to put all the wrapped books under the tree and let my boys search for each one before bed.  They absolutely LOVE books, so this will be perfect.  I can’t wait!

(Tomorrow’s agenda: wrapping lots of books.)

Come back tomorrow for a new advent calendar idea.  Even though December has begun, it’s not too late to make an advent calendar.  It’s ok to play catch up for a few days if you’re running behind schedule.

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November 29, 2010

This Week: Advent Calendar Ideas

With December just around the corner, this week is the perfect time to make an advent calendar so you and your family can count down to Christmas in style.  These simple and fun ideas are sure to get you in the Christmas spirit.

Budget Tip of the Day: Colorful Socks

Create the look of little stockings by using colorful socks in a variety of sizes.  You can use socks you already have and buy a few more pairs to coordinate colors and patterns.  Use number stickers to decorate each sock.  If the socks have a busy pattern, place the number sticker on top of a solid round sticker so it’s easier to read.  Attach the socks to a string of ribbon or twine using clothespins and drape across a mantle, railing, or wall.  Don’t forget to fill each sock with a treat or small toy for the kids to enjoy.  These little stockings are  sure to add a festive and whimsical touch to your decor.

I hope you all had a very happy Thanksgiving!

Come back tomorrow for another advent calendar idea.

Thanks to my fabulous sponsors: Sweet Nature Designs & Elephannie.  Be sure to check out their cute shops.

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