Advent Calendar

If you're anything like me, the anticipation leading up to Christmas is just as much fun as the actual day, but those 99 cent supermarket Advent Calendars simply don't excite me enough. I'm looking for something a little more creative, and a little more inspired. If you have children, the Advent Calendar is a great tradition to start, and can become a treasure memory. The pockets can be filled with chocolate (of course) but also little notes or small trinkets. It's a great way to reinforce the non-commercial meaning of Christmas for the little ones. Here I've collected some of the prettiest examples I could find on the web. Many are made with recycled items, and most can (and should) be used year after year.

Recycle Bin Advent Calendar from Craftastica

This first example is comprised entirely of things you'll find in your recycling bin (as the name suggests)

Easy Envelope Advent Calendar from Quietfish

The bonus here is that she has posted the fun family activity she put in each adorable, tiny envelope!

Matchbook Advent Calendar from Martha

Ok, so you may not have 24 matchboxes lying around, but maybe in 25 years...

Magnetic Cookie Sheet Advent Calendar from Craftbits

This one would look fabulous if you used an antique cookie sheet, n'est pas?

Embroidered Felt Advent Calendar from Purlbee

This sturdy variety offers a chance to brush up on your embroidery skills, and provides another fantastic use for wool felt! What could be better?

Paper Cone Advent Calendar from The Red Thread

Use your leftover scrapbooking materials for this project.

Printable Advent Calendar from Mibo

This is the easiest of all the advent calendars to create, and it literally takes 10 minutes...you could also reuse it, if you're so inclined.
Since today is December first, I recognize it's a bit late to be posting this, but maybe of you work really fast you could get at least one of these beauties done by the weekend. Your kids won't mind opening five mini gifts at once, I'm sure...neither will you, if that's your situation!

24 Days to go!