Last year I made a full felt advent calendar. This year I am going greenish with recycled boxes and paper. The plan is to make 24 cardbox houses and to decorate them in various pastel colours, some with print patterns (newspaper, handwriting, music, etc.). A number will be stuck on each house. When opening the little door, the kids will find a treat. As they will have plenty of opportunities for sugar overload, this year we go sugar free. The treats will be in the form of a special experience: stay up later, watch a DVD in mum and dad’s bed, picnic in a tent in the sitting room, and so on.
This is still work in progress. So far I have only 6 houses done, thanks to Bella Dia tutorial. I am still finalising the print decoration as I would like to top it with a translucent pastel layer. I can tell you I am making an awful lot of trials while diner is cooking itslef (ahem) and that my working tops are full of Modpodge stains. Not to underestimate the task of finalising the list of treats. I have not even started on this one. Sigh.
Anyway, I have found a lot of nice tutorials and inspiring pages and I thought I would share some of my favourite here.
Paper Christmas trees by Pink Suede Shoe
Knitted stockings by The Making Spot
Christmas bucket by Workmanfamily
Toilet paper rolls by Oh Write
For more Advent Calendar goodness, you can check out and even follow my Advent calendar Pinterest board.
Oh and I thought you were going to share your list of treats with us!!! It is a good idea to go sugar free but much, much harder!
You were so right! I gave up the sugar free option and went for one treat a day. Also gave up using the houses for the calendar, though they will still be part of my mantel decoration.
Oh I was hoping to get ideas from you. 😉 I did really like the idea – maybe I will do one a week – at the weekends or something.
I know, but I couldn’t find enough ideas and it all starts tomorrow. But I keep the idea for next year 🙂