Easy Activity Advent Calendar

**********UPDATE!**********

Check out photos below for our in-progress calendar. After we started doing our activities, we happened to buy a new printer, so I got the idea to replace each card with a photo of what we did that day. Now we don't have blank spaces on the "tree," we can keep our cute decoration up all season, and we have our memories of this Christmas already saved and printed up.

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I know it's not quite Thanksgiving yet, but with two little kids who are already STOKED about Santa's impending visit I wanted to get a jump on things this year... for once!  And what better way to do that (and to keep the excitement fresh for weeks) than to make an advent calendar?  Sure I could buy an advent calendar, but since we just finished the last of the Halloween candy I was loathe to bring more sweets into the house, and there's no way I was going to get one full of little tchotchkes that will end up all over the floor.  Instead, I opted for an activity-based calendar, full of brilliant Christmassy fun.

I have a history of getting in over my head when DIY inspiration strikes, but these days life is too busy for any intense, time-consuming projects.  So this time I vowed to keep it simple.  Even so, this project took some time to plan and execute, so I'm thrilled I didn't end up having to make envelopes out of scrapbook paper like I thought I was going to.  Bonus!  This is a great project for kids to help with, which saves times and ensures the envelopes don't end up too matchy-matchy.

THE SUPPLIES

(Not shown - Optional 5 year old washi-tape-applicator.)

Set of 25 red 3.75x5" blank note cards with envelopes: $5 at Michael's

Variety of holiday washi tape: 6 for $2 at Michael's

Metallic gold Sharpie paint pen that I've had forever (probably available at Michael's)

(You'll also want something to write with for inside the cards.) (Might I suggest shopping at Michael's?)

Okay I think you get the basic idea.  Write the activity in the card (I also illustrated (poorly) each one so my non-reading kids could see what they were about).  Put it in the envelope.  Number and decorate. Hang, admire, and open.

I haven't put mine up yet, but am planning to either tape the cards directly to the wall or hang them from twine (yes I got it at Michael's, gosh!) on November 30th.  We will open #25 first (25 days until Christmas) and end on #1 on Christmas Eve.  Hence, start date is 11/30, not 12/1.

THE LOGISTICS

While this advent calendar is indeed a very simple concept, there is a good amount of logistical planning that goes into it.  

Important: Plan your activities in advance.  Keep a calendar that contains each activity and its date for reference so you know what's coming up.  (Pro tip: I wrote my advent countdown numbers on the calendar too because I'm easily confused and needed an idiot-proof way to match the dates to the envelopes as I was assembling.)

First write the date-specific stuff on the calendar that you're already thinking about doing.  For example, we're going to a tree-lighting ceremony one day and a light parade on another.  I made each of these an advent activity and made sure to put them in the envelope that corresponded to the day they take place.

Next, think of 20-something more fun and interesting things that are Christmas/winter-themed that you know your kids and spouse will enjoy.  JOKES!  Get on Pinterest and look at a few lists of such things that other people have already thought of and take what you like until you have 25 things to do.  Mine is below to get you started.

Go to a tree lighting ceremony

Buy and decorate a Christmas tree

Make ornaments

Make hot cocoa

Make gingerbread houses ($10 at Michael's!)

Have a Christmas music dance party

Paint Christmas art

Go Christmas shopping together (kids can buy gifts for each other/parents/whomever)

Do a candy cane hunt

Make paper snowflakes

Make Christmas slime

Paint pottery

Make reindeer food

Read Christmas books

See a light parade

Make Christmas cards

Have family game night

Write letters to Santa

Visit Santa

Watch the Polar Express

Make fake snow

Bake Christmas cookies

Go on a Christmas light scavenger hunt

Make snowman pancakes for dinner

Open 1 present (on Christmas Eve)

I went through my list and added each item to the paper calendar first so that I could see how each week would look with our regular schedules, with a combination of big and small activities, and with a nice variety of activities mixed in.

Once your cards are filled out and envelopes are numbered DO NOT seal the envelopes!!  These are what we call "best laid plans."  Do not tempt fate.  Be flexible and leave those envelopes openable in case you need to switch some activities around or cancel something.

And that's it.  Hang the cards as you see fit, and have a fun advent!

Here's our in-progress advent calendar:

I just tied some Christmas twine to command hooks stuck on the door and taped the cards (and photos) right onto the twine.  Max decorated a star in preschool so I added it to the top.  It has held up well and looks super cute!