Our DIY Advent Calender

Last year I wanted to make an Advent calender for the boys, but I never got around to it because I was busy. This year I made sure to put it into our schedule so that we could enjoy some extra seasonal festivities. In fact, we'll be doing a lot of festive things this year thanks to our Advent calender.

So here's a pic of our calender & below you'll find the steps I used to make it. It's simple & fun for the kids.

Start with scrapbooking paper of your choice. Cut into 4x6 inch pieces or whatever size you need to get the size pocket you want.

Fold & glue 1/4 inch all the way around. Fold in half & score with a bone folder.

Glue edges to create your pocket. Set under something heavy until glue dries.

Print off numbers 1 - 24 to put on your pockets. Cut out.

Glue your numbers to your finished pockets.

Print out tags for your daily activities, punch holes & tie with twine or ribbon. Write your activities on your tags...one for each day.

Put your tags into the appropriate pockets & hang up however you'd like! Be sure to have fun!

Below are a few of the activities we'll be doing.

Make an Advent wreath

Drive around looking for Christmas lights

Drink hot cocoa with marshmallows

Watch a Christmas movie

Paint holiday pictures on the windows

Read a Christmas story

Decorate the Christmas tree

Wrap presents

Make a homemade Christmas gift

Sing Christmas songs

Read about Baby Jesus's birth

Color Christmas pictures

Make ornaments for the Christmas Tree

....and more!

3 Thanksgiving DIY Projects For You

Why should Christmas have all the fun?

I love Thanksgiving! Not just the meaning behind it, but Autumn is my favorite time of the year. I love color & when it comes to decorating my house...this is the most inspirational time for me.

So recently my 3 year old has really gotten into doing crafty, creative type things. He really likes to color, paint, play with play-doh, help me cook, etc so I'm trying to come up with some fun DIY projects that we can do together.

Pinterest is great for finding stuff like this so today I'm going to share some projects that my little man & I will hopefully tackle this month. Not only to help him be more creative & have fun, but to help teach him the meaning behind Thanksgiving too.

DIY Gratitude Board via Parents.com

DIY Thankful Turkey via Parents.com

DIY Ceramic Leaves via Two Shades of Pink

Do you have any projects you're planning on tackling before Thanksgiving...with or without your kiddos? Let me know in the comments below & leave a link to it if you have one!

Enjoy!

xo, Meagan

Fabulous Fall DIY Project

I don't know about you, but I love fall. It's absolutely one of my favorite times of the year. I love the smells, the colors, the warmer clothes, the get-together's, everything!

I live in East TN in the lower Appalachian Mountains & we definitely don't lack in curvy mountain roads around here, but let me tell you...it's beautiful! I love to go for drives & just look at the colors & the farm land. It brings such a content, peaceful feeling to me.

Another thing I love about fall is the cooking & the decorating. So today I want to feature a fabulous Fall DIY project from Design Sponge that uses freshly fallen maple leaves that are made into roses. Yep, roses. They're so realistic looking & of course beautiful.

So what do you think? I was amazed when I saw this. Talk about a conversation piece. Make a bouquet for a sick friend, put some on your grandmother's grave, put them on your dinning room table, give them to your mother, enter them into a fall contest or bazaar. Whatever you decide to do with them...I guarantee you they'll get noticed!

All you need are:

1. 10 different sized maple leaves for each rose
2. short twig for each rose
3. green floral tape
4. scissors

After some folding, layering, cutting & taping you'll have a rose! Make several & you'll have a bouquet! Click here to read the actual post on Design Sponge & if you do try this, I'd love to see photos...put them on your Facebook page & tag me @EtsyBabySwank so I can see!

Good luck & happy Fall!

xo, Meagan