Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Make an Easy Christmas Advent Calendar


Hello Beach Dwellers
We are all tickety boo right here on the Beaches of Sydney and beginning to think about Christmas advent calendars to be precise.  It's too early for other Christmas stuff, but I have to be ready to go on December 1 with this baby, so I thought I'd share it early incase you wanted to play along.


I don't know about you, but I am totes over the whole lolly thing. It starts at Halloween and goes right through until New Year and it's just over kill.  Actually come to think of it, my kids seem to be offered lollies every where they go. Get a hair cut, "Have a lolly", go to the butchers "Have a lolly", get immunised "Have a lolly".  Even the doctors are on board and I for one am trying to limit it.  So this year's advent calendar is cutting back on the sugar and up scaling the stationary for next years pencil cases.


There are 2 candy canes present in this advent calendar, just to get the party started, but there after the beach house brats are getting mini high lighters, paper clips, erasers etc.  You can by a tub of this stuff for $5 at Office Works.


Here are the other supplies you will need:
An old frame, the bigger the better. These are available at charity stores
Pretty seasonal pegs ( Bed, Bath and Table)
Christmas Stickers preferably with numbers (Spotlight)
Mini manila envelops (Office Works)
twine
tacks
hammer 
tape measure
pencil


Measure out where your three strings will go across your frame. Mark both sides with a pencil on the back of the frame and hammer tacks in accordingly.  Tie the twine across the back of the frame, ensuring there is sufficient tension on it, so that the full envelops don't cause it to sag.


Line up 8 envelops at a time and arrange your stickers. You could also use stencils or stamps here. I wanted mine to line up neatly once they were on the frame, so taking a bit of time to get it right is worth it here.  Decide on each gift to be inserted into the envelope.  This year we are going boy girl, boy girl on alternate days.


Insert the gifts and peg the envelopes to the string.  I put 8 envelopes on each row.  I haven't included Christmas day, as I am claiming this as a European advent calendar. The big gifts will be under the tree on the 25th.  


Tie a big shiny red bow on your frame and wait for the kids to squeal with excitement, when they see what awaits. This is already up in the living room and when the kids arrived home from school, they did squeal lots. I didn't let on there was anything inside the envelopes.  That's for December 1. I hope they don't catch on until then.


For all my other easy but impressive Christmas crafts and baking inspiration have a look here.


And big congratulations to the winner of the Palm Tree Linen Cushion , Jenny B.   Please get in touch.

Today I am linked up here

51 comments :

  1. This is very cool and looks very easy to make!
    Love the pegs and stickers, will have to look and see what I can come up with here as we don't have those shops close by:(
    I am with you on the lolly front, way too many everywhere you go!

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  2. It looks lovely!I hope you added some chocolate in some of them. AriadnefromGreece!

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  3. a lovely idea! kids have way too much sugar. not good!
    x

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  4. Such a stylish advent calendar Carolyn. The beach brats will love it.

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  5. This looks gorgeous Carolyn. I'm still in two minds about doing one. We're going away for a week like we did last year. I took the silly calendar with me. Not sure I can be bothered this year. You may have given me the inspiration I need. Oh, and I'm not putting gifts in each day like I did last year. I strategically worked out which days we were away and put in gifts like Christmas DVDs and colouring books. That's all too hard. I was just going to put a 20 cent coin in each day for them both. I make myself hard work sometimes. LOL

    Anne xx

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  6. I love this idea Carolyn.
    Very clever......you're so organised as well which is putting me off my game ;O)
    I have to admit I am enjoying the fact that I'm not the only crazy chick who starts Christmas prep this early!!!
    Tania xx

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  7. This is so stinkin cute! I love it!

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  8. Absolutely beautiful Carolyn! I just love everything about it! You did an amazing job! Have a lovely week! Angie xo

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  9. I would be squealing too! This is adorable. I really do want to make an advent calendar this year, Iv made a list of everything I need from your post so fingers crossed I can find it soon and make it. Though I dont think it will be as well presented as yours :) I dont have kids but my boyfriend is a chocolate demon so Im sure Ill be able to find some treats to put in there. Maybe some jewellery mixed in for myself! Thanks for the how to x

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  10. This is soooo cute hun. And I love the idea of not using lollies! Brilliant I say~! :) xx

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  11. how fun! this turned out great. i love that vintage frame. visiting from savvy southern style... so glad i did.

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  12. What a fun idea with the frame, the envelopes and the clothes pins....!
    You are so creative!

    Happy Christmas
    hugs x
    Crystelle

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  13. LOVE this idea. Fantastic. Clever girl. Will share this one.

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  14. So cute! I made one last year with library cards and bible verses - it would also look so good hung up like this with the little clothespins!

    www.1dogwoof.com

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  15. I've been thinking of doing something very similar with festive craft, baking and activity ideas inside each of the envelopes. Your advent calendar is beautiful, I've pinned it so others can be inspired (and am now following you on Pinterest)!

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  16. So cute! What a great way to get the kids involved and excited! Following from the link up.
    Danielle @ www.thesweetpeapod.blogspot.com

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  17. That is soo clever! I love it. Although I would probably put just chocolate in them, hehehe, We all have sweet teeth in my family ;)
    Thanks for sharing
    Your newest follower, found ya via the linkie party :)

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  18. So cute--thanks for getting me excited about starting to decorate for Christmas! If you have time I would love for you to share it at my linky party going on right now @ Primp.

    http://www.primpjunktion.com/2012/11/primp-your-stuff-linky-party-70.html

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  19. Love advent calendars! So great for kids! I'd like to invite you to share it at my party, Twirl & Take a Bow at www.houseontheway.com. I hope you can join in the fun!
    Leslie

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  20. This is the sweetest thing I've seen in a long time.

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  21. This is so sweet! I love it way better than the paper advent calendar I made last year!

    We just got our link party up and running and would love if you came and joined in on the fun. Each week we are giving away free ad space for one week to one random party goer. Our main site gets thousands of hits per day and The Better Half gets thousands per week. Hope to see you there! http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/the-humble-brag-link-party-6/

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  22. Absolutely LOVE this! Thank you so much for sharing it with us at Inspiration Friday this week!
    Vanessa

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  23. Cute as Carolyn! I'm making my own advent calendar too this year and you've just helped me with something I was a bit stuck on, so thanks :)
    Cas x

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  24. Fabulous Carolyn, such a great idea... thanks for sharing! x Tina

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  25. Carolyn, this is beautiful. Thank you for sharing it on our blog at the Wednesday linky party!

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  26. What a great idea, love the little glittery pegs :) Came across your lovely blog via Tania's link party on Scandi Coast Home :)

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  27. Hi I love this.Went out and bought everything to make it but could not find the stickers at 2 spotlight stores.can you remember which one you got them from.I am so dissapointed as I wanted one "the same "love dee x

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    1. HI Dee I got them at Belrose Spotlight, but it was about 6 weeks ago.
      Carolyn

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    2. you are so great for getting back to me.went to another spotlight no luck but then i found it in my local scrap book shop...one very happy old fat hen ...-so going to make it this weekend and put on my blog thank you so muchlove dee

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  28. Totally love it~ sharing at the party tonight~ thanks for linking up at Feathered Nest Friday!

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  29. That looks great, and I love the idea of stationery instead of lollies.

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  30. OMG that is amazing - unfortunately, i've now shown my daughter and she wants me to make her one - hammer, nails, little pegs and stars - wish me luck, i'm a wordsmith but no craftsperson - i may have to start now for next year. Merry darling x

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  31. This is adorable. I am definitely making one, or two, or three! Visiting from French Country Cottage. -K

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  32. That is a very cool idea, looks great! If my Mum made that there is no way I wouldn't know there was something in there, I would have been peeking in those envelopes the first chance I got!

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  33. What a lovely advent calendar! Love all the little clothes pins! Very cute!

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  34. what a great advent calender!!! LOVE it!! Pinned it :)



    #fybf!

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  35. Looks great!

    I'm putting up my advent calendar shortly. But I'm having a mix of activities in mine - eg, December 1st will be a note saying put up the tree, December 2nd a note saying that today we're going to make & send Christmas cards, another day will be a note saying we are going to carols that night, etc etc. And little toys for the days when I couldn't be bothered doing anything...

    xx
    Danya
    (www. danyabanya . com)

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  36. This is so cute! I made one last year but it wasn't nearly as lovely and organised as this one. I've decided to buy one this year...

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  37. Newest GFC and PInterest follower from Shine on Fridays hop. Great idea!

    Erin
    http://homecookedgourmet.blogspot.com/

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  38. Love, love, love this! I have been meaning to make an advent calendar one of these days, but never get around to it. Thanks for the inspiration, I know just the spot where this could go.

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  39. I've made something similar and we're also going for the less lollies and more art/craft idea. Thanks for the Officeworks tip as I haven't filled mine yet.

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  40. Apologising if you get this comment three times! I keep getting at 203 error (?)
    Anyway, love this, think it's awesome.
    Thanks for linking to IBOT, just letting you know our one rule is that you link a new post, written for Tuesday. :)

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  41. What a great idea! It looks fantastic too. Rachel x

    #TeamIBOT x

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