Advent Calendar

A finished advent calendar.  

I learned a lot making it.  If you have any questions about how I made it let me know. 

Four more ornaments

Making an Advent Calendar

When I was newly married my cousin, Cyndi, made me an advent calendar.  It has been such an important part of our family's Christmas celebrations.  Now that my girls are beginning to establish homes of their own, I need to make advent calendars for them.  I am following the basic idea that Cyndi used but I wanted to update it a little and use some of my own ideas.

four ornaments I have already made

I started by making a list of ornaments.  My list has way more than 24 ideas.  I will probably not use all of them but I also think it is ok to have more than one ornament per pocket, per day.  I may make two ornaments per pocket.  Since there are not 48 ideas, I could make multiple gift ornaments to go under the tree.  Also, I may make multiple "ornament" ornaments and christmas light ornaments.

Here is my list of ideas:

Star (goes in first pocket)

Baby Jesus (goes in 24th pocket)
angel

lamb

camel

donkey

dove

bell 

gingerbread house

gingerbread man

gift

snowman

Santa
Santa hat

mitten

Christmas stocking

candle

candy cane

poinsettia

wreath
holly

snowflake

drum tree ornament

heart

train

ice skate

doll 

tree

penguin

polar bear

reindeer 

starlight mint candy

church

tree light

Santa sleigh

toy soldier or nutcracker
drum
christmas cardinal
trumpet

If you have any more ideas, please let me know.
I will continue to blog about my progress.

Advent Calendar Ideas

As you may have noticed from my pins, I am working on making advent calendars.  I came across an idea that wouldn't pin so I decided to blog about it.
Basically, it is the old idea of making a chain and tearing a link off each day.  It included ideas for things to print on each link.  I loved many of the ideas.  You may want to replace some to fit your own family.
Here they are;

Give someone a hug.

Take a moment to thank God for your Savior.

Thank God for your family.

Play Christmas carols and sing along!

Read Luke 2:1-20.

Put together a Christmas puzzle.

Read another story from the Bible about a different baby.

Thank God for his incredible love!

Recite the Christmas story from memory.   “In those days,…”

Draw a Christmas picture.

Think of someone far away and say a prayer for him/her.

Tell someone special you love him or her.

Be a helper—pick up your books and toys.

Make a Christmas card and mail it to someone who might be lonely at Christmas.

Make a Christmas banner (use big paper), and display it.

Sweep the steps.   Think about your sin being taken away!

Dust the living room; remember that God formed Adam from the earth!

Help bake something delicious for a treat or supper.

Play quietly.   Remember the peace that God sent to us!

Practice your Christmas piano music, think about the angels’ message.

Write a Christmas prayer, say it at supper tonight.

Set the table for supper; consider the miracles when Jesus provided food.

Count the links left in this chain.     Do that many jumping jacks!

Tell someone at home why you appreciate him or her.

Wash the kitchen cabinet doors; think about having your sins washed away