DIY advent calendars can serve as gift, toy and décor for all ages
BY ALDONA BIRD
Newsroom@DominionPost.com
It might still be a tad early for Christmas decorations and carols, but it is never too early to start Christmas crafting. If you don’t celebrate Christmas, this is still a great time to get started on DIY gifts for other holidays.
If you do celebrate Christmas, you may want to get started on your DIY advent calendar as soon as possible. Starting early gives yourself time to collect materials to upcycle and enjoy the creative process.
There are loads of ways to make your own advent calendar and you can customize this project for kids of any age (from one to ninety two in the lyrics of Nat King Cole). Advents start on Dec. 1 and continue through until Christmas Eve.
An advent calendar should consist of something to open each of these 24 days. Theme your items or do a mix of types of gifts.
There are two ways to go about making an advent calendar: The first is to choose what you are putting in it, and then finding your delivery method (what types of boxes or bags you’ll put the gifts in, and how you’ll display them), or you can choose how you want to make the calendar itself, and then find gifts to fit.
For recipients of any age, chocolates and candies make great fillers, as do books or magazines and Christmas ornaments to be hung around the house to extend the fun of decorating.
Adults might enjoy edible calendar treats — pick shelf stable items such as nuts, hot cocoa mix, teas, jars of olives and crackers.
Children may enjoy art supplies, winter accessories like hats and mittens, paper dolls or other toys — homemade toys make your calendar even more special.
A Nutcracker-themed version, as shown in these photos, can be a fun-to-make-and-play set. DIY gifts in this theme can include these character toys made as dolls or from Popsicle sticks and corks, the ballet movie, snowflakes to decorate with, a flower headband, and other items associated with the classic story.
For other theme inspiration pick a story or a book to bring to life for the kiddo in your life.
The first day, gift the inspirational book, and read it together to kick off the fun. Or if you don’t want to add clutter to your home or that of the person you are making the calendar for, consider putting in instructions for an activity each day, such as making paper snowflakes, writing to Santa, have a Christmas music dance party, bake cookies, etc.
Whether you pick your items first or not you will need to make the calendar itself.
Use materials found around your house — toilet paper rolls arranged on end into the shape of a tree, with paper along the front and back and wrapped around the edge looks festive for small items. Or small advent calendar gifts can be hung wrapped or in small bags from a wreath you made last week.
String packages along a garland, put them in a paper cone made to look like a mini tree, or tuck them into a holiday decorated door organizer.
Whatever calendar type you choose, numbering each item can help keep track of which to open on which day.
If putting together 24 items or activities for advent doesn’t speak to you, use a slow release gift idea for the 12 days of Christmas (starting on Christmas day going through to the Epiphany on Jan. 6). Or create a calendar leading up to any holiday you celebrate filled with gifts, photos, books or family activities to brighten this holiday season.
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