Handmade Advent Calendars
Pockets, parcels, and pretty little boxes for your young ones to count down to the Christmas magic.
December: CALENDARS
Hello makers,
I was going to pretend that advent calendars didn’t exist this month. Party because every year I tell myself I’m going to make my kids a reusable one. And then every year, December seems to jump up and slap me in the face and it’s all too late.
So maybe, just maybe, I’ll use this post to inspire me to start making one in January with the hope that I’ll have finished it by December next year :)
If you don’t have kids or don’t use Advent calendars, don’t worry. Some of these ideas can just be cool little organisers!
Let’s have a look at some advent calendar ideas:
I love this simple and minimalist, but highly customizable, canvas advent calendar. More so, because it’s something you could use all year round as a little organiser (us makers love little storage pockets).
Another one for those nifty with a sewing machine, and so festive! A cute little felt stocking advent calendar:
One year I tried to replicate this sort of thing:
I had little paper bags and inside each one was either a small sweet treat or a little crafty Christmas activity. Some days we were making paper chain decorations, and other days we were making gingerbread people or salt dough decorations. But, putting it together took so much longer than I ever imagined it would! Luckily the kids loved it.
This next one by Rachel Castle is humongous but so cool, and a great way to use up funky fabric scraps. And is that pompom on one of the pockets?!? Love it!
I don’t think this one is an advent calendar but what a cute idea, each little envelope could have a sweet little message:
I love these cute little decorated matchboxes. Again, I don’t think they are intended as advent calendars, but it looks like each one has a tiny message and a special bead. I can very much imagine my daughter, and my son when he was younger, would love to add a little bead to a bracelet so that in 24 days, they would have a super special Christmas bracelet to treasure.
If you have a good printer, or access to one, you could print out your own little Christmas Village. If you could keep these intact, they would be so fun to bring out every year and arrange on a shelf. You could even pretend each house is one of your family or friends house.
Well, that’s all for today because now I’m feeling extra guilty that I just got the kids a cheap little paper advent calendar from the grocery store this year. That is why making a reusable one is such a good idea - all you need to do is fill it with something a little bit special and you are done!
Have you made an advent calendar before? Or do you have a beautiful heirloom one that has been passed down the family tree? I would love to hear all about it :)
Happy making,
Esta
Seek to Make is an exploration of creativity and making. Each month, I share a monthly theme around making, showcase inspiring makers, share tips, tools and encouragement. Together let's get curious and immerse ourselves in the art of making!