25 Ideas for Advent Calendars (&Crafts)

Today there are many advent calendars that can be bought, ranging from simple chocolates to complex lego advent calendars.  There are wine, book, superhero, and just about anything advent calendars that can be bought for a price.   I remember having certain Christmas traditions in my home as a child and want my children to experience similar fond memories when they are older. So I purchased a German Christmas pyramid second hand (as they can be very expensive and knowing children, it most likely will break).

I also decided to buy an advent calendar for my children.  I decided one sturdy wooden advent calendar would do the trick!  I saw many beautiful lit ones for higher prices; however, I felt they could easily be broken.  I finally decided on one I purchased at Lowes.

Now, the big question is, what should I fill each day with? So many options, but such a SMALL space. So, only very small items fit, such as two Hershey kisses or two small mini candy bars and the door wont completely shut. I didn’t want to start off with something too grand in the first door. My kids were excited about chocolate, so that’s what I did, two very small pieces of chocolate.

For the other doors, I will have some small chocolates in a couple, but I have many other cute and fun items for the kiddos. I’ll leave a very small piece of paper in the day that will have a clue to where their item is located. I was going to go into scavenger hunts, but lets be real, I would rather relax for a couple minutes after bed (or do this post), instead of trying to come up with an elaborate hunt they will be done with in 5 mins!  Since my children can’t completely read yet, I decided using pictures might be best.  So in day 2 I will put a picture of a christmas tree. They will run to the tree and see a pack of fruit flavored candy canes under the tree to hang up on the tree.

Here are some other ideas of items you can leave notes for:

  1. Candy
  2. Christmas books
  3. Plato
  4. wooden /ceramic projects
  5. Felt snowman fun
  6. any kind of christmas project including photo ornaments, easy glitter ornaments, and many other ones on this website
  7. ornaments for the tree
  8. Christmas clothing
  9. Christmas lights
  10. coloring books
  11. Christmas cookies
  12. Baking recipe to make cookies
  13. Sprinkles for cookies
  14. Hot cocoa packet/marshmallows..or homemade hot cocoa
  15. Christmas movie
  16. Christmas mask (2020)
  17. Christmas headband, clips, socks
  18. Small stuffed Christmas santa, elf etc.
  19. Sock Snowman (either made or have supplies to make)
  20. Felt Christmas tree (can make one, or if child is old enough they can make it!) or just an ornament to add to their current felt C
  21. Christmas tree!
  22. Tree Prints!
  23. Salt dough wreath, ornament, or garland!
  24. +Pomander Ball supplies
  25. Felt Snowman Fun!
  26. Singing holiday card/toy/Christmas solar bobble head

ENJOY AND HAVE FUN!!

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Going GAGA for Googly Eyes!

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Have paper plates? Googly eyes? Some paint and paper? Your kids will LOVE making these dinosaur plate crafts!

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Simply cut paper plates in half for the dinosaur/monster/turtle whatever you want to make bodies. For the next step you can use paint, stickers, or gems!

I cut out sponge shapes to dip in the paint, but my daughter enjoyed using the sides to paint with them more!

Have your child decorate the body of the animal you are creating, then let it dry!

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Your child will LOVE doing these. Next time I’m going to have my daughter use a brush. Another time I will try stickers, gems, and construction paper shapes!

After the plates dry, cut out the head/feet/tails you would like from construction paper or card stock to glue onto your painted plate bodies.

Your child can glue them on and decide how many of each item they would like!

Their favorite part is yet to come…googly eyes!!!

You can NEVER have enough.

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She had SO much fun she wanted to keep doing googly eyes. I drew whatever animal she wanted and she added the googly eyes!!

WARNING: Your child will LOVE using ALL of the googly eyes!!

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10 DIY Baby Costumes under 10 dollars! 

Since you generally don’t take a baby trick or treating, you don’t want an expensive costume. You also want a costume they won’t immediately pull off or scream because it’s uncomfortable. 

So here are 10 costumes you can make for under 10 dollars! 

1. For your newborn! Prisoner. Make yourself with a sharpie or sticker. Use a black hat. 


You can also use a striped outfit if you have it and a black hat.

2. Biker baby! 


3. Harry Potter!! 

Picture from tumblr 

Just use felt and draw ears on! 

4.Popcorn baby holder- how cute! Just buy some felt and glue or sew it together! 

Photo is from this placeisnowahome 
5. Here’s and idea- Charlie Brown!!! Although I don’t think I’d draw on my baby’s head, still a cute idea. You can use a hat to draw on

Picture from the meta picture

6. I had to include this one since I love Dwightschrute from the office 

 Picture from meta picture 

7. Animals! Animals! Animals! 

You only need a white onesie, some disposable nipples and felt! Moooo! 

From really awesome costumes. Again, you need felt and some glue or sewing 

You can also take advantage of any winter animal outfit you were given! Such as the bear….

Again, green outfit and some felt. You need a green hat and either fake eyes or make your own! 

8. Garden nome

Costume-works

9. Farmer! Overalls and a straw hat! I had a toy hat I used! 


10. Gum ball machine! All you need is a hat and glue or hot glue on colored cotton balls! You need the red shirt and black pants. 

This one is cute too so I put it in…ghost! You need a white nightgown and felt 

Whats you little one going to be?

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