Ideas for home made advent calendar

[AllisonR]

Any ideas for items to put in a home made advent calendar?

I have dyed, decorated, trimmed and colored DS and DDs old baby socks. I am going to hang them on a little tree, with decorated bibs on the bottom instead of a blanket, and a teddy bear or rabbit on the top instead of angel or star. I want to fill a sock for each day of December. I don't mind some chocolate and junk toys, but I would prefer some more family oriented ideas to put in the calendar. The only ideas I have so far are "making popcorn and stringing it" and "taking a train ride" (my DS loves trains).... any ideas?

[Chiroalltheway]

I'm doing the same thing!! okay, well, a LOT less fancy...we're using envelopes (1 for each day.) in mine, i have things like make a gingerbread house; drive/walk around and look at Christmas lights; watch a Christmas movie and drink Hot chocolate; make Christmas cookies; make an ornament; make some kind of treat for neighbors and deliver; etc. i'm still looking for a lot of ideas, so i'll be keeping an eye on this thread! i'm planning on writing out the ideas for the envelopes, but i'll also be adding other things so DS1 can visualize the plans for that day (since he can't read yet)

[ecoteat]

Thanks for the reminder! I had planned on doing something like this, and December is a few short weeks away! I've been tossing this post and its comments around in my head for a long time.

[lactivist]

moved to Arts and Crafts

[AllisonR]

Originally Posted by ecoteat

Thanks for the reminder! I had planned on doing something like this, and December is a few short weeks away! I've been tossing this post and its comments around in my head for a long time.

Thank you so much for the link. I read and got plenty of ideas!

[delly]

Originally Posted by AllisonR

Any ideas for items to put in a home made advent calendar?

I have dyed, decorated, trimmed and colored DS and DDs old baby socks. I am going to hang them on a little tree, with decorated bibs on the bottom instead of a blanket, and a teddy bear or rabbit on the top instead of angel or star. I want to fill a sock for each day of December. I don't mind some chocolate and junk toys, but I would prefer some more family oriented ideas to put in the calendar. The only ideas I have so far are "making popcorn and stringing it" and "taking a train ride" (my DS loves trains).... any ideas?

OMG what a great idea for old baby socks!!!!! I might just have to do this! I wasn't gonna make an advent calendar for lack of time, but this could be very doable!

Would taking a drive to look at the Christmas lights be a fun thing for you? Our town actually publishes a list of good displays most years!

My kids love baking/decorating cookies, although that's a big on the sugary side... a cookie cutter wouldn't fit in a baby sock, would it?

I'm going to stick a pair of Lightning McQueen socks in for at least one day if I do this ($1 at Target!) since my son is Cars-crazy.

Oh, it would be kind of cool to have notes from grandparents or something some days maybe? Maybe tied with a ribbon to make it more "special" to open?

Stickers - or does that fall under junk toys? Hours of fun here though! Bubbles, too.

eta - ok, obviously i read the first post and replied before i read the rest of the thread.

[Masel]

What a cool idea. I loved the Advent calendar my parents had when I was a kid. They had one with little doors that originally had chocolate coins inside. The next year they attached ribbon to little wrapped presents.

I was thinking my DD would love her own little package of Post-it notes. (At least they can go in the recycling bin when she's finished.)

I'm loving the non-candy ideas here. DD has so many allergies we can't do many sweets.

[limette]

I'm working on an advent calendar this month. I'm making envelopes out of felt. I cut strips of felt, cutting one end (flap end) with a curve. Just fold them over in three and hand stitch together (so the stitching is visible/decorative). I'm sewing buttons on them to keep the flap closed.

When they are all done I'm going to use mini clothespins to pin them to a ribbon and hang it (like a garland) on the wall (a mantle would work).

To fill them I'm printing out little notes with a picture and instructions for various holiday activities. The first activity will be to decorate the tree (Dec 1st).