As I said before, we are getting close to our special time of the year... Usually around now I remember many wonderful traditions from my good ole' home - Germany. Especially the ones that exited me the most when I was a little kid - the ones that still put a smile on my face to this day... one of them was the
"Advents Kalender" (Advent calendar)
Every little one ... and big one too - just loves those special calendars.
Some were store bought ... but then there were the ones where some Mommy's took time and handcrafted their own special Advents calendar.
Those were the best - 24 little surprises ... the first surprise you get to open on the first day of December ... and every morning for the next 24 days you get a new little surprise.
Well and once you open that last one you knew -
finally ... finally it was time for Santa Claus to visit.....
(btw. in Germany Santa Claus visit's on Christmas eve)
So here are a few really cool ideas to make your own "Advents calender"
** Angel wings **
For this one you will need:
24 little gift's (Dollar store, Candy etc)
Pink or Lavender tissue paper
Transparent gift wrap
Silver gift ribbon
One golden permanent marker
Transparent threat (sewing supply)
Tape
Scissors
Needle
How to make it:
1. Wrap all gifts in the pink/lavender tissue paper. With your permanent marker write #1 through #24 on each gift
2. Wrap those in transparent gift wrap take the silver ribbon and tie small bows on each end
3. Take your transparent threat and attach the gifts to the Angel wings
** 24 little Booties **
For this one you will need:
24 Gifts
Burlap or Craft felt fabric
Fabric marker
Small satin ribbon
Fabric clue or sewing threat
Cork pin board
How to make it:
1. Take your fabric and cut out 48 little booties. Either sew or clue two together to make one little booties each
2. Take your fabric marker and decorate each one with trees, stars, hearts and the numbers (#1 - #24)
3. Take your satin ribbon and tie small little bows around the top.
4. Also with the ribbon attach small loops so you can pin them to your cork board
5. If you prefer to hide the cork board just take some Christmas wrapping paper and wrap it up ...
** Tannenbaum - Advents Calendar **
For this one you will need:
24 little Gifts
Green Poster board
Red & White Poster board
Various Christmas gift wrap paper
Various satin gift ribbons
Double sided tape
Golden permanent marker
Scissors
How to make it:
1. Take your green Poster board and cut out a big Christmas tree
2. Wrap the gifts with the various gift wrap and decorate them with the satin gift ribbon
3. Take your double sided tape and place the Christmas tree on the wall
4. Again using your double sided tape place the gifts onto the Christmas tree
5. Take your red and white poster board and cut out small Christmas trees.
With your Golden permanent marker write the numbers on the small trees and place them on the gifts.
* Coolest ever - lights up *
*Cartoon Character / Winnie the Pooh - Advents Calendar *
For this one you will need:
24 Gifts
Small Canvas frame (12 x 12)
One Cartoon Character or Winnie the Pooh picture
Small set of Christmas lights (smallest)
Fake snow in a can
Christmas wrapping paper
Satin gift ribbon
14 small screw hooks
Christmas wrapping paper
Satin gift ribbon
14 small screw hooks
Clue
Glitter
Scissor
Hot glue gun
Two small wood pieces
How to make it:
1. Take your "Cartoon Character / Winnie the Pooh" picture and glue in onto your canvas frame
2. Take an awl or another pointy tool and from the back gently press through the canvas making holes slightly smaller then the light bulbs.
3. Press one bulb into each hole and secure each one with your craft clue
4. Take your "snow in a can" and spray it around the edges, if you like you can take your glitter sprinkle it on top of the still wet "fake snow"
Let it dry real well
5. Take the extra wood pieces and mount them on the back of the canvas frame. This will keep the Christmas lights in place as well as keeping the picture ventilated since the little lights do warm up some
6. Take the 12 hooks and screw them into the bottom of the canvas frame this is where you will hang your little gifts from. Also take two more hooks and screw them into the top corners of the canvas frame
7. To hang this cool Advents calendar take some of the gift ribbon string it through the top hooks of the canvas frame and tie it together
8. Take the gift paper and wrap your 24 little surprises and with the satin ribbon tie a bow around each gift
6. Take the 12 hooks and screw them into the bottom of the canvas frame this is where you will hang your little gifts from. Also take two more hooks and screw them into the top corners of the canvas frame
7. To hang this cool Advents calendar take some of the gift ribbon string it through the top hooks of the canvas frame and tie it together
8. Take the gift paper and wrap your 24 little surprises and with the satin ribbon tie a bow around each gift
9. Use the additional satin ribbon (24 pieces various lengths) string it through each hook that you screwed into the bottom of the frame and attach your gifts
Believe me the little ones will love you to pieces with these cool
** Advent calendars **
