Purchased advent calendars contain cheap chocolate and only one per day, which makes them impractical for larger families. By making a homemade version, parents can control the quality and number of the treats or opt for non-edible surprises, while making memories in the process!
Treasure Hunt Advent Calendar
Make an activity out of the advent calendar by planning ahead. Each evening give the child or children a clue to find their Advent treat. If you can, make the clues Christmas-related – for example, “If you don't find this treat Santa will!” may lead the children to a treat hidden in the fireplace. Along with the treat hide a card with the date; the children can then display the cards one by ne on the wall or mantelpiece as a visual cue to how many days have passed.
Make a Hanging Baggie Advent Calendar
Sewing simple baggies is an easy project for children. Make 24 tiny drawstring baggies with a simple casing; if these are too tricky, leave off the casing and simply tie a ribbon bow on the bag to close, stitching the centre of the ribbon to the back of the bag to hold it in place. Use Christmas fabrics or plain cream, gold and green fabrics, and add the numbers by embroidery or attaching tags. String the baggies on a ribbon across the mantelpiece, wall or bookshelf and fill each baggie with a treat.
Make a Spice Chest Advent Calendar
This option is somewhat more expensive, but will provide you with a beautiful heirloom Christmas decoration. Spice chests are like miniature chests of drawers, used in colonial times for holding herbs and spices. Find a chest with at least 24 drawers – Ebay often sells antique spice chests, or you could commission one from a toymaker or carpenter. A cheaper alternative is to buy a plastic storage container with plenty of drawers, designed for holding garage odds and ends (screws, fishing tackle etc) and decoupage it to hide the plastic. Decorate the spice chest as desired, add the numbers – labels or gold stick-on numbers work well – and fill each drawer with goodies.
Make a Christmas Decoration Advent Calendar
This common type of Advent calendar is easy to sew. Applique fabric or glue felt to a large piece of backing cotton to form your background image. A Christmas tree is traditional, but you could ring in the changes with a Nativity stable, Santa's sleigh or a gingerbread house. Sew 24 small “hook” patches of velcro to the image in various places, and sew the “eye” patches to felt ornaments. For the Christmas tree, make candy canes, angels and stars; for the Nativity display, make wise men and their gifts, angels, sheep and so on. The patches can be as simple or as intricate as you like – use fabric markers, sequins and glitter-glue to embellish them.
Every day, the children can stick one decoration on the background image. Some parents like to save the star at the top of the tree or the baby Jesus decoration for last, on Christmas Eve.
Make a Jesse Tree
The Jesse Tree is a recent Christian tradition which covers the Gospel story from Creation to the birth of Christ and beyond. A bare branch is usually used for the tree; each ornament is accompanied by a daily devotion.
Make a Hanging Pocket Advent Calendar
Another easy-to-sew option, this kind of Advent calendar is made with backing fabric to which 24 pockets have been sewn. The pockets can be attached individually or sewn as a single long rectangular pocket divided into sections (somewhat like a shoe divider).
Ideas for Filling Advent Calendars
Hershey's kisses, Roses chocolates and other individually-wrapped lollies make good treats. You can also include strips of paper with Nativity Bible verses, Christmas jokes or carols written on them.
Another option is to put tiny envelopes in each baggie or pocket. Open the envelope at the start of each day and read what Christmas-related activity you will be doing that day. The activities could include going carolling, choosing the Christmas tree, making cookies for teachers and wrapping presents.
Christmas ornaments can also be placed in the Advent calendars. Not only is adding one ornament a day to the tree a pleasant ritual for the child, it eliminates the big task of decorating the tree all at once.
 |
