Do you get a little nervous about spending money during the holidays? I sure do. I want to have fun decorating, at the same time need to use what I have on hand to stay within a budget. My DIY chalkboard advent calendar of activities is a good example of turning something old into something new by using a little bit of imagination.
Today I joining four friends for a Handmade Christmas Decor Blog Hop hosted by Rita from Harbour Breeze Home. Be sure to visit the other ladies to see their clever ideas.
Michelle from Thistle Key Lane
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This is an easy project to make for your family or get the kids involved. I bet they would be a great help giving you ideas of what kind of activities they would like to see on the list.
Supplies
- Paper for numbers
- Chalkboard marker
- Washi Tape
- Pencil
- Chalkboard
First step was cleaning the chalkboard. Then I made five rows of simple Christmas and wintry images with a chalkboard marker. Regular chalk will work too.
I though it would be fun having something behind each day so the chalkboard wouldn’t be blank as the count down starts.
Next I printed a page of numbers 1 through 25 and cut them out making each row slightly larger going down the page. If you don’t have a printer write them out by hand, or better yet have the kids write the numbers with crayons or markers.
On the back of each one, I wrote the activity for the day in pencil, that way it wouldn’t show through the paper.
The last step was taping the days in place with washi tape in a random order.
This is my idea of a perfectly imperfect handmade Christmas decor project.
Helpful hint: Remove the clear tape from a tape dispenser and insert the washi tape. When finished, switch it back.
For a festive touch, I added cedar clippings, along with jingle bell garlands, one made with red and white string and the other on a red plaid ribbon.
At first, I was afraid that coming up with 25 activities would be difficult, but once I got started it was hard to stop.
Advent Calendar Activities
- Make hot cocoa from scratch
- Go shopping and people watch
- Make Christmas bandana for Sandy (our dog)
- Watch a classic Christmas movie
- Tacky Christmas sweater day
- Drink eggnog
- Take a long walk in the park
- Make Christmas Cookies
- Pizza night
- Drive around looking at Christmas lights
- Read ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas
- Watch How The Grinch Stole Christmas
- Shop for stocking stuffers
- Make Chex mix
- Read A Christmas Carol
- Make a popcorn garland
- Roast marshmallows
- Ride the Polar Express
- Make a charitable donation
- Dinner out
- Hang Christmas Stockings
- Nutcracker Ballet
- Open one gift early
- Make handmade Christmas ornaments
- Ride in a horse-drawn carriage
Haha not surprising how many of my activities involve food, but you get the idea.
No one knows your family as well as you, so fill your calendar with the things they love. Don’t forget to add local parades, schools plays or other activities you don’t want to miss.
Be sure to follow Thistle Key Lane on Pinterest. The boards are updated daily with seasonal inspiration just for you.
Big kids just like little kids love the anticipation of Christmas. Make it even more fun this year with an advent calendar of activities.
Be sure to stop by to see Lauren at Mom Home Guide who is next on the Handmade Christmas Decor blog hop.
Cheers!
©2018 DIY Chalkboard Advent Calendar With Activities first appeared on Thistle Key Lane™