How to Make an Awesome Advent Calendar
Let the countdown to Christmas begin by making an awesome advent calendar. Your advent calendar can be as simple or complicated as you want. You can make a basic, rectangular calendar with little pockets for each day of December. If you have the inclination and time, you can build a 3-D advent calendar or turn the calendar into a scavenger hunt by putting written hints in each pocket that will lead the person to his gift for the day.
To make a simply awesome calendar, you'll need a large piece of felt or a heavyweight piece of fabric. You can use a solid color or a festive Christmas print if you decide to use fabric. You'll also need 25 small felt or fabric squares, a marker or pieces for fabric cut into the shape of digits, hot glue gun and glue sticks, and a pair of scissors. If you want, you can slide the finished calendar onto a metal or wooden rod to hang it.
Cut the large piece of fabric or felt so that it measures 40 inches square. Cut the small pieces into 5 inch squares. Write the numbers 1 through 25 on the squares. Write one number on each square. You can also cut the numbers out of fabric or felt and glue onto the center of each square.
Arrange the squares on the large piece of felt, making five rows of five squares each, starting about 5 inches from the top of the felt. Space the squares about 3 inches apart. Apply a line of glue on three sides of each square and attach to the felt. Leave the top side of the squares open so that you can put a treat into the pockets.
If you want to hang the calendar from a rod, fold the top edge over about 2 inches towards the back. Glue the top edge of the calendar to the back to make a pocket, and then slide the rod into the pocket. Tie the ends of a piece of ribbon to the ends of the rod to form a loop to hang the calendar from. Decorate the calendar with Christmas trees, the word "Advent," and other Christmas decorations if you want. Slide a treat into each pocket.
Make a fun, 3-dimensional advent calendar by arranging a group of thin branches in a large vase. The branches should have shoots that will hold a hanging pocket. Cut 50 small squares of felt. Glue the squares of felt together in groups of two, leaving the top edge unglued, to form little pockets. You can cut the felt into fun shapes, such as stars or Christmas trees if you want.
Poke a hole in the top of each pocket and thread a ribbon through it. Tie the ribbon into a loop. Drape each pocket onto the branches. You should have 25 total. Label each pocket with a number from 1 to 25. Fill with treats or, if you want to turn advent into a scavenger hunt, a small clue to direct someone to the treat.
