Mantle Advent Calendar
I was struggling with what to do for an advent calendar this year with 3 kids. We have a very small one from Target that I used with my oldest but now that the twins are older, I knew we needed something bigger. I came up with this mantle advent calendar! It was so much fun to put together!
It’s pretty simple to put together. I’ve been stockpiling random sized boxes (nothing fancy — just some amazon boxes or old jewelry boxes) and random holiday goodies throughout November. I found some leftover kraft paper envelopes from old Christmas cards. I tried to add a mix of “fillers” and listed them below. I made sure to switch up the contents to the size of the boxes — some of the big boxes have just a piece of paper with experiences.
First, I made a list of December dates 1-24 and added things that were already in the calendar (going to see the Nutcracker, seeing Santa, etc.). Next, I made a list of small things I wanted to accomplish during the holiday season and looked at the calendar to see when would be a good day to do those. Last, I filled in the remainder days with chocolates and inexpensive goodies.I have a master list and gently taped the numbers on the boxes, so if something changes with our schedule, I can easily change the dates.
I printed the numbers via this blog on heavy cardstock, wrapped the boxes with kraft paper and twine, and stuck them on the mantle with this stuff — way better than tape and it won’t peel the paint! The small, colorful boxes are from IKEA and linked here (they have a whole set of 25 but I just used a couple to make it last for a couple of years!).
Here’s what we have in our boxes this year:
decorate the tree
make paper snowflakes
chocolate coins and special santa chocolates
Christmas socks ($1 each from the Target dollar spot!)
Holiday party
Christmas movie at a theater
make snow globe villages
have hot chocolate with marshmallows
snowflake bath bomb
make a birdfeeder (the old toilet paper roll and peanut butter with seeds)
decorate gingerbread houses
wooden paint set from Target dollar spot ($1 each)
a couple sets from this lego advent calendar (a good investment — purchased last year and used some then, plus some this year, and we still have a bunch left for next year and the year after!)
go to the festival of lights
go caroling
see santa
decorate cookies
open Christmas Eve box
I only did 1-24 and will put up the stocking on Christmas Eve. I’m a big do-ahead person so I’m so excited I’ll be able to do the stockings ahead of time!
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