If you have kids, chances are you haven’t been able to escape opening a Christmas advent calendar or two today! If you’re feeling a little disappointed with the lolly-ladden commercial calendars on the market at this time of the year, here are a few beautiful alternatives you can customise to suit anyone, of any age…
1. Hanging Envelopes
This stylish option can be customised to suit your recipient by simply changing the colour scheme. You could also use plain kraft paper bags for an inexpensive option, and decorate with stickers to introduce colour.
2. Christmas Crackers
Everyone loves pulling a Christmas cracker, especially when they as cute as these ones! Make your own, or take the easy option by purchasing some quality pre-made ones from the shops and add your numbers.
3. Christmas stockings
Who could resist these cute little stockings? If you sew you could make these from cool Christmas fabrics, but the easiest option is making them from felt (stitching or gluing them together) and going to town with the embellishments. The kids would have fun making them too:-)
4. Hanging Pots
As a keen plant enthusiast, this is one of my favourite options – I would fill each pot with a plant! But you can of course fill your pots with anything you like. You can write the numbers on with a white marker, chalk, or use stickers.
5. Little boxes
How cute are these! The graphic black and white patterns are a refreshing, contemporary alternative to the standard Christmas colour palette of red, green, gold and silver.
6. Re-purposed shoe organiser
A shoe or accessory organiser has never looked better when repurposed into this stylish advent calendar. This one will stand the test of time and can be folded up and used year after year. Simply stencil, write, or glue the numbers on in any colour you choose.
7. Wrapped presents
This particular example uses library books (genius!) as an inexpensive, clutter-free gift option, but you could of course wrap anything you like and number. We also love the use of kraft paper, which sets off the colourful number cards. You could also reuse the cards again next year.
8. Box of numbered envelopes
This is a very organised way of presenting your advent calendar. Whilst this wouldn’t work for larger gifts, you could fill these envelopes with inspiring messages, cards, or stickers. I love the idea of systematically picking an envelope each day and placing the previous ones at the back.
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