Holiday Spirit: Inspiration For Creating Your Own Advent Calendars

It seems that as soon as we put away our last Thanksgiving dish, we start counting down the days until Christmas. Don't miss  Lakeside Collection 30% OFF Coupon Free Shipping when shopping. If kids had it their way, they'd start counting down the days until Christmas starting the day after their birthdays. But the traditional Advent calendar gives a much smaller, reasonable amount of time to work with to make the countdown fun. Advent calendars are also easy to make yourself if you have the right ideas. Here's a little bit of inspiration for creating your own.

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• Keep It Simple

  If you're pressed for time or you're not that crafty but are dying to try, you can create a simple Advent calendar using brown paper bags, clothespins, and twine. Have the kids use markers and crayons to draw on the numbers for each day, then fill them with small and simple or sweet surprises, like the kind you might use as baby shower favors. Then, all you have to do is find a place to hang your twine -- one strand or several to make layers -- fold over the top of the bag and fasten them to the twine with clothespins.

• Fly Your Festive Flag

  Creating an Advent calendar out of bunting is one of the more fun and decorative ways to count the days. The only problem is, there are almost too many ways you can do it! Use miniature felt stockings to hold your trinkets and string them together with colorful baker's twine, or use canvas sachet bags from the craft store to hold holiday baubles. Use markers, a rubber stamp, or puff paint to write the numbers of the days leading to Christmas. Hang the bunting above the mantel, along the bannister or on a blank wall to bring cheer to places in your living room that don't get much attention.