My family had so much fun with this project last year, I can’t wait to pull it out and use it again!
Here is how I made mine:
1. Gather your materials: A mini muffin tin ($4.50 @ Wal-Mart), scrapbook paper, cardstock, embellishments (stickers, numbers, distressing ink etc.) magnets, glue gun, scissors
2. Cut your squares. I have 24 solid red cardstock squares and 6 different prints (4 of each) in Christmas-y scrapbook squares. My red cardstock is 2 1/4 inches squared and my scrapbook papers are 2 inches squared. I used my corner rounder for all the edges too.
3. Glue your scrapbook papers to your cardstock and embellish the heck out of them! I started by distressing them with some distressing ink. Then I put some cute Christmas tree stickers and buttons. Then I cut out some vinyl numbers and stuck those on them too. (If you don’t have vinyl, use a sharpie!)
4. Add a magnet. I used these tough little babies and just hot glued them on.
5. Fill it up! What would an advent calendar be without a surprise lurking behind the hidden doors? The problem with this is I have 3 kids and those little muffin tins are too teeny to fit a whole lot of anything in them, unless I wanted to fill them with 3 Tic-Tacs! As much as my kids would love to get a piece of candy each night, I cut strips of paper and wrote a certain fun Christmas-related activity for each of us to do together every night as we countdown til Christmas! My oldest even helped me think of some ideas and he got all excited to start this 24-day activity!
Click on the images below to print them for your own calendar!
So that’s it! It is so perfect!!! We are ready for the Christmas countdown!
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About Steph from Somewhat Simple
What a fun and creative project! Thanks for sharing your activity tips!
Very cute! I love your ideas for the activites inside! Thanks for sharing!
How cute! Thanks for sharing… love your blog!
How cute! Thanks for sharing… love your blog!
Ha, I have one up on my blog as well. Very cute, love the paper choice too.
Fun times Steph! You should have made a paper strip that said: Send Aunt Becca a treat!
I just love that. I have an advent calendar but I don't like it much. this might be the year to make one!
Very cute and I loved your list of ideas to do.
I have been looking for a great way to count down the days until Christmas and this may just be the winner! Thanks for the great ideas!
So many cute advent ideas this year…mine is similar to yours but I used a cookie sheet and match boxes to hold activities and family traditions. Fun stuff!
Right up my alley! Simple, cute, and effective. I've posted a link on childmade.com. I'll be watching for more fun stuff!
I made one of these today for my family! Note: It is much less cute and much more simpler decor because I didn't have a lot of scrapbooking stuff on hand so I just made do with what I had. But my kids are super excited to unveil a square a night & find out what we will be doing. I will try to post pictures on my blog of it this weekend. Thanks for a GREAT & easy idea!
I just discovered your blog last week and even the flu couldn't keep me from checking here everyday!!! LOVE the advent idea…I've been searching for a cool advent idea and I think this is peeerfecto.
Awesome idea….I like that better than sugared-up kiddos any day!
Very cute – I love that you used a muffin tin. So cute!
XOOX
Jen
Wow…this is so cute! And you did such a nice job! I have seen something like this but it didn't seem re-usable….I like how you used magnets instead of sticky labels. Thanks for showing us how you did yours!
Very cute. Thanks for sharing.
So fun & creative. Love it!
This is a great frugal alternative to the expensive advent calendars I've seen. Great job!
I absolutely LOVE this! Thanks for sharing!
How adorable, I'm going to feature this on my blog if thats ok. Im doing a post with my clipboard advent calendar as well as some other crafty ways to count down til Christmas.
http://www.craftychicmommy.blogspot.com/
such a great idea! Love it!
This is adorable. I love the idea to have a different activity every night. What a wonderful memory-maker.
Thanks for joining the blog party. I hope you can meet a few new bloggers in the process, =)
I really love all the activities you put it in! This is darling.
Love the idea of a Christmas activity list! Such a cute idea!
Really fabulous idea!
What a fun project – your calendar turned out wonderful!
i've been looking for an easy, practical advent for a while! and now i've found one!!! thanks!
I loved your idea so I gave it a try
You can check it out at:
http://www.pennypinchingdesign.com/2010/11/my-own-advent-calander.html
Thanks again!
Julie Brazelton
http://www.pennypinchingdesign.com
I'm in the process of making one of these. I love that I can just use the mini muffin tin I already have and that when I pack everything up in january, all I have to store w/ the christmas stuff is the #'s.
Thanks for the tutorial