Christmas is almost here! Kinda. With the way this year is going I am not sure if the next few weeks will feel like an eternity or be like October which went by in the blink of an eye! I mean it went so quick. I am usually a person who waits until after Thanksgiving to do Christmas, but this year we need some more cheer! So I decided to start earlier than usual. No one in the house is complaining! I can tell you that! Millie is already asking about Santa and when he coming and what he is bringing!!

This year since she is old enough to really understand I decided to make an Advent Calendar. I wanted to make it simple but cute. Since there is so much ‘stuff’ given around the holidays I decided to do most of the days an activity not a gift. She is little so I thought that having those experiences would be more fun. I have attached the list of all the 25 days of activities below.

I went to Joanns and found a frame with a board already made. There were cute tags in all different colors- I chose pink, white and red since that will be our main color scheme for Christmas this year. I thought the tags were cute because they are gift tags- perfect for the holidays.

When I got home I had to measure all the spots to do the nails for the tags.  This was a pain.  I am not going to lie, but I do have a laser level which made things way easier for me.  I did 5 rows of 5. After I hammered all the nails in.  This was simple and went quick.  The frame originally had a different rope to hang it, but I didn’t like it and chose a gold zig zag ribbon.  I removed the original rope and used a staple gun to attach the new ribbon.  I wanted to make sure it was sturdy and would stay on.

For the tag I printed out my 25 days of activities and gifts and cut them out. I used a glue stick and only glued the top on the activity in case I want to remove it and do new ones next year. On the front of the tags I chose to write the numbers. I went back and forth with doing printed stickers or even creating with my circuit but I decided against it. I wanted the hand drawn look.

Once I was done I hung the frame up in a spot where the kids can see it and participate in it easily.  I hung each of the tags and then we were set!!  Millie was so excited. She thinks this is the best thing ever.  She cannot wait till we can use it every day!  I told her we get to do different activities and fun things during our Advent Calendar. 

A bunch of my friends made some this year too for their kids!  Make sure to click through and check them out!  They are SO fun and creative too!

Do you do Advent Calendars?  Have you ever made your own?