Christmas Craft #2- Christmas Countdown Calendar

This year I decided that I wanted to incorporate more family tradition into the holiday. I looked online and found sooo many great ideas to put some tradition in place. I found this thing called and Advent Calendar. I'd never heard of this before. I did remember having something like this that counted down Christmas when I was a little girl in school.

I decided that I would love to create something like this with my kids. Not having any money to spend on a ton of new Christmas decorations or art supplies, my mind went to running. I went through my Christmas bins to see what I could find. And like pieces to a puzzle it all began to come together.

So here's what Little Miss calls our Christmas Countdown Calendar:

These were the items I found in my home. A bag of bows, a gold ribbon, and my clothes pins.

We glue sticked the clothespins to our bows.

Here they all are.

Then I found these gift tags. Perfect for our numbers! I used a silver, blue, red, and green Sharpie to add the numbers.

I tied the ribbon into a nice bow and thumb tacked it to the wall.

Little Miss was in charge of handing the bows.

Papa Son had a little lesson in number identification mixed in as well.

He found it!

Our calendar in progress...

The finished product!

Silliness...

Goofs!

We started our countdown a little late. It began on the 8th of December. I used mini Post-It notes to add our tasks. Here are the tasks that we included.

25 (18) Days to Christmas Countdown:

8. Story Nite
9. Christmas Cards Part 1- Hand prints on post cards
10. Christmas Cards Part 2- Jewels and feathers
11. Christmas Movie, Ice Cream & Hot Chocolate- The Polar Express
12. Papa Son's Christmas Program
13. Family Game Nite
14. Christmas Candy From Mommy
15. Story Nite
16. Little Miss's Christmas Program
17. Make a Donation- 15 Items
18. Story Nite
19. What God Wants for Christmas- #1
20. What God Wants for Christmas- #2
21. What God Wants for Christmas- #3
22. What God Wants for Christmas- #4
23. What God Wants for Christmas- #5 & Christmas Lights and Hot Chocolate
24. What God Wants for Christmas- #6 & Family Dessert & Game Nite
25. What God Wants for Christmas- #7

What does your family do to countdown Christmas? What are your family traditions?

***Was going thru my blogroll and realized today is Thrifty Thursday. So I figured, yes it's*** mid-July (the 19th), but I really loved this craft and thought it was worth sharing.  


I've linked this post to

There are really great money saving ideas!!! Go check 'em out!

Miracles & Blessings,

Christmas Craft #1- Table Decoration

This is my very first Christmas craft ever! I would love to say that it was all planned out and was my intentions all along to get crafty, but I would be lying. It was desperation that drove me to this place.

I must give a quick shout out to my Mommy for handing down her craftiness to me. If it weren't for her I don't know what my house would look like this holiday season. Thanks Mom!

So here it is, my very first Chirstmas craft. Let me know what you think. I really love it.

It all started with this glitter pail that I'd purchased from the 99 Cent Store. I had no clue what I was going to do with it at the time. I just thought it was cute.

I used a Target shopping bag to fill the bottom of the pail.

Originally, I'd stuffed a sales mailer into the pail to give lift. But I could see the paper. Then, EUREEKA! I thought, if I'm gonna see what's inside it could at least blend in. So I ran into the kitchen and grabbed some aluminum foil to wrap the mailer.

Here's the beginning of something... I can see it already. Looks like a festive Jiffy Pop. LOL!

Pulled out my handy dandy glue gun and let the games begin! The Christmas balls are also from the 99. I love that place.

Here's a side shot.

And now it's really coming together. Love it already.

Here it is! My creation! You can see the foil through the balls. That could've been *gasp* paper! o_O

Tah Dah!!! Here's my very 1st Christmas Craft. My very own table decoration. Now, I just need a table. LOL!

 ******************************************************
Was going thru my blogroll and realized today is Thrifty Thursday. So I figured, yes it's mid-July (the 19th), but I really loved this craft and thought it was worth sharing.


I've linked this post to

There are really great money saving ideas!!! Go check 'em out!

Miracles & Blessings,