Another Version of The Easiest Advent Calendar... Ever!

I don't know if you remember, but last year I posted an idea for "The Easiest Advent Calendar...Ever!". It was a simple project of stamping the numbers 1-25 on wooden clothes pins.  

Last year, I attached magnets to the backs and stuck them to the refrigerator with fun activities or ideas for each day until Christmas.

This year, I did something a bit easier and lazier!  I pinned a piece of twine to the wall and clipped on cups (recycled from when my girls had their lemonade stand this past summer) and filled the cups with sweet treats for each day.  I think it would have looked even cuter with paper bags, but I didn't have any.

Anyway, I'm sure I'll do something different with the numbered pins next year too.  Hmmm....

How do you count down the days to Christmas?  I can't believe we have only about a week left!

Easiest Advent Calendar...EVER!

I have been wanting to make the kids an advent calendar to help them count down the days until Christmas. I don't know about you, but I am asked every day how many days there are until Christmas...sometimes a few times a day;) I wanted to make one with activity ideas for each day, instead of presents. So, I went into the garage to look at all of my art and craft supplies, and days like today make me glad that I'm an art and craft supply hoarder! Sometimes I think, "I should get rid of some of this stuff", but it's really difficult because I know I will be able to use it all somehow! It's really the only thing I collect. I'm not really too attached to anything else. Anyway...I found some wooden clothes pins and magnetic strips...I knew they would be PERFECT! And...Voila! I made the easiest Advent Calendar EVER:)

Really, all you have to do is write, paint, or stamp numbers on the clothes pins and stick or glue the magnets to the back. You could even pin them on a ribbon or twine if you don't have magnets:

I had to cut my magnet strips in half:

Stick them on:

Ta-Da!

I used rubber number stamps to stamp on the numbers:

For the messages, I folded a piece of paper to get the right sized strips and cut on the lines:

Write messages or activities-

fold and pin:

Here is the finished set on my refrigerator, ready to count down to Christmas with some holiday fun!:

Here are some activity ideas for your advent calendar:

Make hot chocolate

Drive around to look at Christmas lights

Go ice skating

Make Christmas cookies

Read a Christmas story

Watch a Christmas movie

Eat a candy cake

Go see Santa

Listen to Christmas music

Make an ornament

Pick out Christmas PJs

etc...etc...etc...

Do you use an Advent Calendar to count down to Christmas?