We had an empty egg carton laying around, and when I opened it, I realized this one had 24 little compartments. Hmm… 24? Are you thinking what I’m thinking??
Hello, Advent Calendar!!
Instead of gifts or candy, I thought it would be more fun (and meaningful) to fill each compartment with its own little holiday activity. I just love celebrating the little things in life, don’t you?? In between each compartment, I used small rolls of tape to attach a sheet of paper with corresponding numbers (& pre-cut slits) to the front. A very quick and simple project!
Once we start counting down the days until Christmas, we’ll get to poke through a number and do that day’s holiday activity. Hopefully, we’ll make some fun family memories along the way!
Wanna know what’s inside? Ok, I’ll share our list with you! (I’ve linked to those activities I’ve blogged about previously, and most are free or very low-cost.)
2. Hot chocolate w/ marshmallows
9. Chocolate-dipped candy canes
10. Family Holiday Movie Night
11. Build a snowman
12. Unwrap a new book
13. Ice suncatchers
14. Leave a holiday treat for the letter carrier
15. Drive to see holiday lights
16. Gingerbread houses
17. Do a random act of holiday kindness
18. Visit w/ Santa
19. Go sledding
20. Unwrap new pajamas
21. String a popcorn garland
22. Sing Christmas carols
24. Decorate tree
And since you’re so kind, I’ve made a printable list to share with you too!
Here’s to a fun, simple, and meaningful holiday season!
November 28th, 2011 on 8:08 pm
Dear Valerie,
Now you just need to find some sort of package with 8 compartments for our Jewish friends.
Love,
Mark
November 28th, 2011 on 11:31 pm
LOL — Yes!! There MUST be something in our invention kit…..
November 28th, 2011 on 8:32 pm
What a super cute and fun activity! I love the idea of putting fun activities in each spot instead of just candy!
November 28th, 2011 on 11:32 pm
Thanks! I’m looking forward to all these little ways to celebrate the season!!
November 28th, 2011 on 9:55 pm
Great idea!
November 28th, 2011 on 11:32 pm
Thanks, Anya!
November 28th, 2011 on 10:39 pm
Thanks for sharing your list. Sometimes I get so busy I don’t have time to think up my own fun stuff (or at least not 24 days’ worth)
November 28th, 2011 on 11:33 pm
You’re welcome, Tera! Have fun!!!
November 28th, 2011 on 10:57 pm
That is so cute! When do you open it up? Morning? Evening? This is our first year doing an advent calendar with our kids. Vicky from Mess For Less
November 28th, 2011 on 11:30 pm
Hi Vicky! Definitely in the morning, so we’ll have something fun (and festive!) to do for that day. Advent calendars are so much fun!! Enjoy! xoxo
November 28th, 2011 on 11:16 pm
Eggcellent idea! Thanks to Pinterest, I’m set for Advent, having already wrapped up 24 Christmas/Snow themed books for the kids to open. Your idea is a sure go for next year!!!
November 28th, 2011 on 11:30 pm
Yay for Pinterest!! I’ve just started an “advent” board there too — such great ideas!
November 28th, 2011 on 11:53 pm
You are crazy creative!!! I love it!
November 29th, 2011 on 4:58 am
Thats a lovely idea! simple yet effective! I love how your mind works x
November 29th, 2011 on 9:19 am
I saw a really cool idea on another site using egg cartons also for smashing them! This would be less destructive, but still fun……
November 29th, 2011 on 11:15 am
What a nice idea! We have a wooden advent calendar (but I have seen so many great homemade advent calendars online that I love!) and we are going to put activities in it this year, too. Last year we did beads in some, but we don’t really need anymore beads. Plus, it feels unnecessary to give more gifts for the advent because there will be plenty on Christmas morning.
We are going to do some riddles too, to make our daughter think a bit and figure out what the activity for the day is! We are looking forward to it. Thank you for your suggestions!!
November 29th, 2011 on 12:13 pm
Very cute! Great activity list, too!
November 29th, 2011 on 3:39 pm
LOVE THIS!!!!!! I have so many fun things that I want to do for December, I never thought of doing an advent calendar to do them! AWESOME!
November 29th, 2011 on 10:17 pm
I’ve always thought it would be fun to try to do a fun activity each day for advent, and I love your idea for using the egg carton. What do you do if the activity doesn’t work for the day you had planned it? For instance… no snow on the “build a snowman” day? That might just be my luck!
November 29th, 2011 on 11:20 pm
I was wondering if anyone would ask that! lol We still build snowmen, just don’t use snow… play dough works well. For sledding, we sometimes do that in our living room ((but I don’t think we’re very normal!))
We do a LOT of pretend play around here!
November 30th, 2011 on 4:09 pm
I need to learn to think like you! You are so creative!
November 30th, 2011 on 8:30 am
This is such a great way to recycle!
November 30th, 2011 on 9:04 pm
I decided we were going to do something similar this year. We already have a Nativity advent calendar with pockets so I wrote out 24 fun family activities on strips of leftover scrapbooking paper and curled one in each pocket with the felt Nativity character. Each day when the kids pull out the character, they will also pull out and announce the day’s activity. Then we will make a loop with the first strip and continue to loop the following strips through the previous one as they come. By Christmas, not only will we have a month full of meaningful family memories, we will also have a long chain to hang as a decoration!
December 4th, 2011 on 10:46 pm
Next year I will definitely do an activity Advent. We are kind of checking out the one online at http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/advent_calendar_2011.htm, but there was nothing so far that Anna wanted to do. Your list sounds great!
December 7th, 2011 on 8:48 am
Ah! This is brilliant Valerie. We need a little balance in our house regarding advent. Both girls have adorable fabric advent calendars they received from their Nanna which is for mini chocolates only (and only for after school!). Every now and then there is a hair clip or nice pencil in there but mostly yummy chocolate. How special it would be to have a surprise activity to ‘open’ as well?! Next year!!