Every year, we do an advent calendar as a family, to mark the count down to Christmas Day. I guess it’s one of our family traditions. For the last couple of years, I created my own. Last year we did a Gift Box Christmas Tree Advent Calendar, the year before it was cute envelopes hung across a door. It’s all really simple stuff: easy, cheap and fun for the kids.
This year, I decided on a Gift Bag Twig Christmas Tree Advent Calendar and below is how I put it together.
Materials
Twigs/tree branch
Heavy vase (you can use stones in the bottom of the vase to give it more weight)
25 Small organza gift bags — 10cm x 7.5 cm (you can buy packs for a few dollars at discount stores)
Shipping tags labeled 1 to 25 with a permanent marker (you can purchase shipping tags from stationery stores or newsagents or simply use paper with a hole punched in the top)
Favour (optional) — like chocolate, clips, matchbox cars, tree decorations, mini balls or other small toys
Christmas Story in 25 Parts (optional)
1. Collect Twigs/Branch
My husband cut a few leafless branches from a Banksia tree in the back yard for me. A short walk in the park will usually result in decorative branches too. Place the branches in a vase and break off a few twigs here and there until you have the shape you want.
2. Fill bags
Fill organza bags with the chocolate, favour, tree decorations, joke, Christmas story for each day (you can find the template here) or anything you like. Some of our bags have cute Disney Christmas decorations I found at Coles (like this Buzz).
3. Number
Feed both sides of the string on the bag through the hole in the numbered label (so it sits flat in front of the bag) and hang.
4. Hang the bags on the tree
My daughter did this part outside in the cool of the afternoon. We started to hang the bags without filling them, but then realised it would be easier to fill them first, and then hang.
5. Done!
Oh, I love it! I love it. It looks so rustic and festive, and the kids can’t wait for December 1 to come.
12 Comments
Sam Stone
November 26, 2012 at 7:08 amThat is such a great idea!
Jacqui (CRAP Mamma)
November 26, 2012 at 1:23 pmOooh you are such a clever chicky!! I love this and if I can get myself organised enough I’m going to do us one too xxx
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
November 26, 2012 at 1:41 pmIt’s so easy Jac. And you can do it in bits. Twigs one day. Next time you shop get the bags etc…and then put it together. Do it!
Lyndall
November 26, 2012 at 2:40 pmLovely idea!
Kirsty VI
November 26, 2012 at 7:29 pmThis is simple but so beautiful. Will definitely give it a go with mr 2 this year….do you think he’ll be able to keep his hands off??
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
November 26, 2012 at 7:58 pmHaha…yeah, good luck with that 😉
But the good thing is you can put it up high if you want to. 🙂
Chris
November 28, 2012 at 1:45 amHi, this is a fun idea. I have an Advent Calendar made by my mother and it’s time to go out and buy some chocolates to fill it up. I like your idea tho – would be a fun thing to do with the kids.
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julie
December 6, 2012 at 10:48 amThanks so much for this idea, i made one with my little girl on the weekend, she’s six, with a beautiful red flowering gum, a nice piece of Aussie Christmas on our coffee table, with red and silver organza bags.
We have had such a fun week, she bounces out of bed to find the number and jumps in bed with me and we read the bible verse & question.
I’d been looking for something other than the commercial tacky advent calendars, with the true meaning of christmas. Thanks for helping me, without breaking the budget.
(had a little special moment when i was printing the readings off your website, my daughter read the title and said “Be a fun mum, that’s you mummy, you’re such a fun mum” . love those precious moments that make your heart fuzzy!)
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
December 6, 2012 at 5:36 pmBeauty!! Thanks for this lovely comment xx
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