Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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How To Make An Advent Calendar

We’re still working away on the kitchen, so we’ll have update post #561 for you soon (kidding, it’s probably more like #19 or something – but still). This week we’re hoping to share lots of major progress (new counters and a working sink again – finally!). In the meantime, it’s about time we got into the holiday spirit. There’s just something special about spending our first real Christmas in our new house that makes us want to go all out. We moved on the 13th of December last year, so we were technically here for last year’s holiday season, but we were living out of boxes and Clara was too young to really get excited about all of the magic that makes the season so special. But this year it’s on! So I kicked things off by making a little advent calendar to enjoy with Clara:

DIY Advent Calendar 1

DIy Advent Calendar22

Oh but here’s how it looks from her point of view (gotta soak up the days that she’s shorter than me, because I’m sure they’re numbered):

Advent Cal Claras View

This little holiday project was only $7.99 because I used things that we already had and only purchased one thing: this scarf hanger from Ikea:

Ikea Hack Advent Calendar

Allow me to paint you a picture of me at Ikea when the idea slowly hit:

  • I walked by said scarf hanger.
  • I thought to myself “self, there has got to be some other fun use for that.”
  • I stood there with my mouth half open staring at it for a good three minutes.
  • Then realized that it had 28 openings, which is pretty close to 25…
  • … which brought me to the idea of an advent calendar, which I had been meaning to make for the bean.

I decided the three extra circles could be “free spaces” and the rest of them could sport numbered tags and ornaments. Bam: instant advent calendar. It’ll be a fun daily activity to do with Clara (we’ll hang an ornament a day on the tree together as we work our way through the calendar).

Advent Calendar Detail

I actually whipped it up on December 2nd (procrastinate much?) but alas, we have yet to set up our tree (another sure sign of procrastination). So we’ve been admiring the ornaments as each day ticks by… hoping to get the tree up within the next few days so we can “catch up” and hang five or six ornaments on the tree all at once. Then we can go day by day from then out…

As for how I made it, I just took metal ornament hooks that we already had on hand and stuck various ornaments through them (if they didn’t have hooks already). Then I looped each hook over the circle or bar above each circle (all of them had circles above them except for the top row which had that bar). That way each ornament hung into the circle under that and was sort of framed that way. And of course we worked in some quirky ornaments in honor of our other kiddo (Burger). There’s the hamburger ornament that we found on clearance after Christmas last year at Michael’s for 50 cents:

Advent Hamburger

And the snowflake frame with his cute mug in it from a few years back:

Burger Picture Advent

And of course there’s a disco ball since we love to dance (that one doesn’t have anything to do with Burger, except he might get picked up and swirled around the room in celebration after we hang it).

Disco Ball Advent

As for the tags, I just cut a tag-ish shapes out of cardstock 25 times (using the first one as a guide and cutting around it like a template to make the other 24). Then I used a hole puncher to allow them to slip over the ornament hooks. But before adding one to each ornament’s hook I googled around for a nice font online (and found this one). So I glanced at it while sketching each number onto my cardstock tag with a pencil (it’s nice to have type inspiration nearby when you’re free-handing something – just for reference):

Number Tags 1

Then I just traced over each sketched out number with a pen once I liked the shape.

Number Tags 2

They’re definitely not perfect, but they’re pretty cute:

Advent Calendar Detail

Oh and I hung it with a removable 3M hook thing, so I wouldn’t have to make a nail hole in the front of our coat closet door:

Adventcalendar Hook

So we hope to have a bunch of fun holiday stuff going on for the next few weeks among kitchen updates and other projects. Count on posts about tree decorating (we’re doing a tabletop one and a full sized one) and even some outdoor stuff (we’re bound and determined to hang lights and really get festive). Oh and not to mention that Mrs. Limestone sweetly invited me to partake in her fun little Secret Santa thing with some awesome fellow bloggers…

Secret Santa Graphic

… which means I have to make a few gifty goodies and secretly mail them to someone (can’t tell you who) and see what turns up from another mystery blogger. Here’s everyone that’s in on it:

Should be fun, except that I have total stage fright and can’t think of anything creative to send. Here’s hoping a few days of advent-calendar-ing get my juices flowing. I wonder who has me. Any guesses? We’ll have to try to figure it out together when something shows up!

Oh and speaking of holiday stuff, West Elm asked us to round up a few of our favorite items over on their site (we weren’t paid or perked, it was just for fun). So you can check out our picks here and then click the arrow to scroll through all of our dorky quotes.

West Elm Picks

But enough about us. Have you started decorating for the holidays? Are you totally done already? Are you advent-calendar-ing? Have you ever used something from Ikea in an unusual way? How about Secret Santa experiences? Did you manage to give the perfect thing? I’m just hoping I don’t totally choke.

Update: You can check out all of our favorite holiday decor finds here – many of which are under $15! 

Comments

  2. Kristen says

    As if I need one more reason to love you guys! This post made me laugh and laugh! Sherry, only you would think of using a scarf hanger as the base for an advent calendar! I’m actually using the same scarf hanger for (wait for it)…scarves! :) I LOVE your creativity as always!

    Reply

  6. Amber says

    How are you not totally spazzing out that you are on the WEST ELM site?!?! You just tucked that in there like it’s no biggie…wow that is some serious restraint $herdog!

    Reply

  8. Teresa says

    I seriously just finished a post on our homemade advent calendars this year.

    http://wherelovemeetslife.wordpress.com/2011/12/05/diy-advent-calendar/

    Love your idea! And love that it all has meaning! I am sure Clara is really enjoying it this year since she can actually understand a little about what is gong on. Heck, even if she doesn’t really get it just yet, I bet she just enjoys all the fun stuff going on with the holidays. :)

    I am so excited about the mystery santa thing you are a part of!! I may have to swipe that idea for some family members this year??? That would be so much fun :)

    Reply

  10. Micha says

    What a great idea! It’s almost too pretty to take apart – I think I’d leave it like that for the rest of the season :o)

    We looove the Christmas season and decorate the house a little more each day building up to the grand finale! We usually do two Advent calendars for our Little Man – one is a store-bought one with chocolates and the other one a home-made one with 24 little bags filled with goodies from sweet treats and ornaments to tickets to events.

    Reply

  11. Sarah says

    It’s really nice to see an advent calendar sans chocolate!.. And it’s super cute too (I grew up with those card calendars with little cardboard window flaps as I couldn’t have the chocolate ones due to chocolate allergies – I know… sad times!). Makes me think I should do something nifty with felt and scissors and twigs and.. ooh the ideas!!

    Reply

  13. cd says

    Love it! I have had that same thought walking past that scarf hanger. Combined with “how can I make that myself.”

    But I have to raise one question: 99% of the advent calendar making I’m seeing on blogs and pinterest right now have 25 spots. And you gotta celebrate how you celebrate. But in a super technical sense, advent is 24 days – the last day is Christmas, the day you’ve been counting down to! :)

    Extra days of calendar fun are never a bad thing, though . . . .

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Thanks for the tip CD! We actually heard from someone else who said their advent calendars were always longer than 25 days, so I think it varies depending on how you do it! We just plan to hang the last ornament on Christmas morning- thought that would be a nice way to cap things off.

      xo,
      s

    • Meredith says

      As another commenter said and Sherry referenced, “Advent” is actually a liturgical season and starts 4 Sundays before Christmas. I believe that means November 27 was the first season of Advent this year (not sure as Christmas falls on a Sunday and I haven’t gone to church), so advent calendars are always off.

  15. Amy says

    I have that scarf hanger – what a great idea for an advent calendar!
    As for secret santa – my office did one last year and I bought a cute mug from target and made homemade marshmallows and hot chocolate mix. It was definitely a hit, and while the marshmallows were probably the most labor intensive bit, it was also pretty easy.

    Reply

  16. Kerri says

    So cute! Looking forward to the rest of your decorating tips this season. Mine is a work in progress for sure. Btw your dining room curtain fabric showed up in a $65 pillow on Joss & Main today!

    Reply

  18. Afton says

    Its so funny that yall moved into your new house on Dec. 13th last year, my husband and I are moving into our new house Dec. 13th of this year! I’ve been reading your blog for years and love all the inspiration you give us. And seeing as we are born and raised Richmond-ers now living in Olympia, WA, you guys not only give me endless inspiration but also a taste of home. Thanks!

    Reply

  20. Kristin says

    What a sweet advent calendar!

    In germany our advent calendars only go to 24, because we give presents on the evening of the 24th, usually after dinner. I love hearing christmas traditions from other countries!

    We already bought our christmas tree this year (fake trees are also quite uncommon around here, and we have a real one too), which is quite early for us. Besides the tree, we don’t have much decoration going on, but we don’t miss it this year and are perfectly fine with the tree. I suppose that this will change once we have kids!

    Reply

  22. Erin says

    Unrelated to calendars, but today on Joss and Main one of the sales (Signature By Strouds) has what looks to be the exact same fabric as your dining room curtains! $64 for one square pillow (limited quantity, so I’m told) is still a lot, but it just reinforces what a steal your curtains are.

    Reply

  23. Kim at Yellow Brick Home says

    I read through your “dorky” west elm quotes when I saw you pop up in my email inbox! So fun!

    We just participated in the Chicago Renegade fair this past weekend, so ALL holiday decorating has been put on the back burner while I painted my heart out leading up to the fair. It was super successful and fun, but now it’s finally time to put up our tree!

    Reply

  26. Justine Wicks says

    Love the scarf calendar!! I am super excited to see your kitchen get finished. (i am kinda in love with white kitchens!) We painted our kitchen cabinets white last summer… tons of work but totally worth every minute of it!!! I’ve been reading your blog mon.-fri. for almost two years- you’re my morning paper! lol:) keep it up:)
    justine

    Reply

  28. Jillian@TheHumbleGourmet says

    My mom used to do her own version of an advent calendar every year.
    It started 12 days before Christmas, and each morning my siblings and I would open a window that would have a “secret message” on it (like “On the 4th day of Christmas my true love gave to me 4 dozen sugary treats). We had to guess what the message meant because it was some sort of Christmas-themed event we would do that night (like bake cookies).
    To this day, it was my absolute favorite holiday tradition, and one I will definitely continue with my children.

    Reply

  30. Jennifer B. says

    I was wondering if you had a hamburger ornament already. We received one as a gift last year, but hamburgers aren’t our thing. I would love to send it to someone who would appreciate it’s beauty (it’s really kinda fancy). lol. Would you like another ornament for Burger?
    Jennifer B.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Aw you’re sweet! We have a no swag policy so we can’t take your sweet hamburger ornament – but maybe wrap a present up for someone who likes beefy burgers and use the ornament as a ribbon tie to amp things up?

      xo,
      s

  31. Bboss says

    Very nice idea! It works when children are very young. Once I introduced those chocolate advent calendars, there was no turning back.

    Reply

  34. Bridgit says

    You mentioned doing a tabletop tree–yay! I totally want to do one this year. Know of any places to get one for a good price?

    Reply

  37. Shay says

    WOW. Most things you do I love, a few not so
    much, but this is genius. I’m so impressed;
    one of the cutest and most clever things
    I’ve seen! And I’m so happy for you
    for getting a West Elm spot!

    Reply

  38. alex says

    My boyfriend’s parents have a quilted advent calendar and on one side is a picture of a Christmas living room with cutouts of various objects (presents, cat, christmas tree, Xmas tree star, etc. (wish i had a picture))and on the other side are 25 little numbered pockets, each containing a tiny plush item with Velcro backing that corresponds with a certain cut out on the picture..so everyday you get to stick a piece of the picture together…the star being done on Christmas day. it got to the point where he and his brother would try to be the first one up so they could stick the shape of the day onto the picture…and this has been since they were little and continued into their teens.

    Reply

  39. Rachel says

    I wanted to share an advent idea my mom did that your family might like when Clara is a bit older! One year, she gave us a beautiful blank journal, and then each day leading up to Christmas she printed out a unique quote or sentiment and we glued them inside. Something really nice to look back on!

    Reply

  40. Sarah @ w30 says

    Love the calendar – and love that the scarf hanger can continue being useful after the holidays!

    We had fun decorating our place Saturday night – while watching The Hangover. That could be a Christmas movie, right? No? ;)

    Reply

  42. Claire Jain says

    This is very cute. Also, I was totally spreading the Young House Love love to a friend of mine when we were shopping at West Elm for their Etsy Handmade Workshop event and I saw the speaker pig. She’ll be your newest follower now ;-) Then I got the West Elm email with ya’ll’s smiling faces, and was so happy for you. Congrats on things moving forward with the kitchen. I know you’re both ready to be back up and running :-)

    Reply

  43. heather says

    This is a really cute idea for when we have kids. I love advent calendars, but I’d rather not have the candy ones (just a personal preference). I love the idea of doing ornaments instead.

    Reply

  46. Kate says

    Cute calendar! I made my nephew one with felt mittens, using the template I made from his hand dimensions in 2010 (for his hand-knit mittens, of course!). Each day is embroidered on them and they are hand sewn together to make a pocket and strung together with jingle bells to make a garland. he LOVES it. :) More details on the blog.

    Reply

  47. Melissa says

    I actually spotted that pig speaker from west elm in house beautiful and thought it’d make the perfect gift for the hubs who has a piggy bank obsession.. But then it seemed like as soon as you guys shared it on here it was back ordered until march… I was so bummed ( and secretly blaming you guys for posting it) since its the perfect gift, but good news, your post today made me check to see if it was no longer back ordered. Sure enough it was available( unless I missed the fine print somewhere). Yippee.. So now instead of despising you in secret I am publicly thanking you because mr pig should arrive in time for Christmas!!! You guys rock! Keep up the awesome work! Also if I could get like a days head start from everyone else on your posts that’d be great!

    Reply

  49. jeannette says

    the description of the process by which you look at one thing and imagine another is transformational — not to say inspiring. your fine arts background emerges, and it’s always interesting to read.

    i think you’d like this book by grey gundaker (who i think is at UVA) on african-american yard art, which is the ultimate transformational (and spiritually-based) art strategy.

    thanks and merry christmas.

    http://www.amazon.com/No-Space-Hidden-African-American/dp/1572333561/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1

    Reply

  50. Rad Designing says

    Yea, i got an email a few days ago with your mugs on it and i got all giddy… turned the screen to my husband and go… “Hey! I know them!” “I KNOW them!” (in the same voice as Buddy the Elf)

    Reply

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