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You step on Matchbox cars, I slip on paper towel rolls.
You have paper plates in your cabinet, I have a stack full of blank Frisbees.
You ground your kids from tv and video games, and last week I threatened to take away his pipe cleaners and glue for the day if he didn’t pick his shoes up.
This is my life. The Mom of a crafter. A boy crafter.
Jack and I recently made an Advent calendar. Since he has been asking me {daily} for the past 2 months when Christmas will be here, the countdown calendar was the perfect craft for us. Here’s how we made our DIY Advent Calendar!
Our DIY Advent Calendar supply list:
Elmer’s Tri-fold display board
Glitter glue
Elmer’s Craft Bond Dual Tip Glue Pen
Tub of gift tags
Cello bags
8 sheets scrapbook paper
Plain white envelopes
Sticker letters and numbers
Bag of holiday candy
First, we gathered our scrapbook paper and cut each piece into 6×6 pieces.
Then, we arranged and glued the pieces on the tri-fold board. They didn’t fit perfectly, so we cut a few pieces into 3×6 squares and filled it all in.
At this point, Jack had found some paper people (not dolls) that I had stuffed away and began making replicas of him and his brother for one of our days :)
I stuck number stickers from 1-25 to each square, making sure that the numbers were spaced apart (make sure 1-9 aren’t all on the right side of the board).
Our stickers didn’t all match, and that was ok. The only thing I was concerned with was that the numbers were always on the top left corner of the square, so it would be easier for him to find them.
After getting all the numbers stuck on, the fun part started. We stuffed cello bags with a few pieces of candy, packets of hot cocoa, or candy canes. I stuffed envelopes with surprises for the boys (papers that said “Special brother movie night – you get the living room tv for the night!” and “Hot Cocoa by the fire pit tonight!”). We wrote ideas on the back of gift tags. We thought long and hard about fun things that we could do each night to countdown.
Here are some of our calendar squares:
And here is our finished product:
The only problem is… he is constantly asking “how many days until I can start my calendar?” I might have to make an advent calendar for the start of the advent calendar!
omg I just love this…I was wondering what new and different to put in ours this year. I think the idea of little note cards with surprises is just perfect! Nice job!
That is so very handsome! (Cute’s for girls!) What a great idea to incorporate something for him to do as well rather than just peel off and see a number. Excellent!
That is a very cool advent calendar that I’d want to start using it as soon as possible too. Good luck – hope you win!
I love it!! I love how proud he is, he did a nice job!!!!
This is a great idea!
Is your hair curly in that last pic? It looks awesome!
We had to ground our eldest from books. “Put down that book and do something.” And when she got older, “if you are grounded when the new Harry Potter….is released, you won’t be first in line.”
ps I feel your pain about the “how many days til” thing. We have one too and then it’s the beginning of our 7 bdays in 5 months and we are always counting down to something. I am looking forward to May 13 already because then no one will be looking forward to anything. :)
Oh that is so cute! I love it! Thanks so much for entering the challenge!:) Heading over to tweet and FB your entry.:)
Okay, first off. The picture of Jack trimming the paper?? That paper is ADORABLE! You must share where you found it. I “need” to add to my collection. (To Husfriend, I “need” it as much as he needs another hole in his head, which is not very much needing to be honest.)
Two. I LOVE this idea! I was thinking of making something fun like this for Nugget to do this year. He’s been obsessed with our postcards for Santa that I have him make whenever he finds something at the store that he wants. so. bad.
I wish I could have been there to do that with you guys! It sure looks like you had a fun time. <3
Great job! Great Grandma Scheriff would have been so proud of him. She loved the Advent calendar and she loves him and you!
Great job! What a creative little guy you have there! Thanks so much for entering :)
Honestly could not do this. This is why #Jack is his own hashtag. Love it!
I love it Becca! I think it’s adorible. And how awesome is it that you have a little helper!?!
WOW that is impressive – My son loves being crafty as well. He keeps every box and bottle that goes in the trash and does something with it… does it make me a bad mom if it sometimes drives me nuts?
i love it! I love that he is so crafty, and that you help him enjoy this! I wish Hunter was crafty…sigh…
Such a great idea to make, we do a ring chain every year, and this year will be making two. That project will take place this weekend I think…I hope!
That is adorable!! I LOVE the picture at the end, with his arm around you….and I can’t believe what a great job he did with the paper dolls of the two of them! Wow!
WOW!!!! That is so cool. He would totally get along with my two. They love to do crafts.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving.
WOW Bec, 17 comments. THAT’S AMAZING. Good for you. I simple adore that Jack loves to craft. I need to work on that with my Jack. I’d like to make one of those too. I turned out super cute. I also agree with Chels, love the hair.
This is a great idea!
What a talented kid! I love what I can see, and he looks so happy with it. YOU both look so happy. Love that last shot.
Happy Thanksgiving, if a bit late. :)