Coke Crate Advent Calendar.
Well Thanksgiving is tomorrow but I am already excited about Christmas. My house is already decorated, the Christmas music is playing, and my Advent calendar is all set up and ready (all this is mostly because I will not have time for decorating in the coming weeks).
What is an Advent calendar you might be asking. According to Wikipedia:
“An Advent calendar is a special calendar used to count or celebrate the days in anticipation of Christmas. Since the date of the first Sunday of Advent varies, falling between November 27 and December 3 inclusive, the Advent calendar usually begins on December 1, although many include the previous few days that are part of the season. The Advent calendar was first used by German Lutherans in the 19th and 20th centuries but is now ubiquitous among adherents of many Christian denominations.“
I have found memories of our Advent calendar growing up, we had a cute cardboard one and each day starting on December first and going up till December twenty fourth, we would open a little numbered door and behind it was a piece of candy and a fun holiday activity.
When I got married I wanted to have something similar but with a little more of a vintage feel.
One day while wondering through the antique store I saw an awesome coke crate and thought about what I could use it for. I played around with a few ideas in my head and then it dawned on me coke crates have twenty four spaces, there are twenty four days in most advent calendars. Bingo!
The Materials you need to make this are pretty simple.
- A twenty four space soda crate (preferably wood).
- Twenty four small favor tins with lids.
- Round black stickers the same diameter as the lid of the tins.
- White chalk pen or number stamps and white ink (you can hand write the days or just stamp them).
- Daily activity written or printed on paper.
- Candy (this year I used my favorite Andes Mint’s).
To put the whole thing together simply put the chalk stickers on the lids of the tins and stamp or write the days from the first to the twenty fourth. Then fill the tins with candy and your activity and arrange them in the crate, in order.
Picking what you are going to do each day is the most fun!
I used some spare scrap booking paper, writing each day on a different line then I cut the days out.
Here are a few ideas from our Calendar this year:
I usually consult my calendar for activities that are already scheduled, like going to The Parade of Lights or our traditional Christmas date to see The Nutcracker. Then I fill in the other days with various things to do.
- Go for a walk and collect pine cones.
- Do a puzzle.
- Leave a gift for the mailman.
- Build a snowman (this one is hit or miss, sometimes there is snow and sometimes there isn’t).
- Go to a Holiday party.
- Watch a Christmas movie and string popcorn.
- Make and deliver treats to the neighbors.
- Listen to Christmas music during dinner.
- Go pick out a new ornament for the Christmas tree.
- Buy coffee for a coworker.
- Go ice skating downtown after church.
- Donate food to a food drive.
- Take flowers to the nursing home.
- Write a Christmas letter to each other.
- Read the Christmas story (we always do this on Christmas Eve).
There are just so many ways you can celebrate. Some are just for fun, some are to remind to be generous, and some are things we do every year (like picking a new ornament for the tree).
I also add a Bible verse to read each morning. This list is amazing, it has you read through the story of Christmas in a pretty comprehensive way.
I love how this great project turned out…to be honest I have actually made a few of these as gifts. Now if I am out I specifically look for soda crate so I can make more.
How do you celebrate Advent? Do you have an Advent calendar? Let me know in the comments.
I hope and pray that each of you has a safe and happy Thanksgiving. If you plan on enjoying an adult beverage or two do so responisbly, don’t drink and drive (a public service announcement, from a friend who has experienced the lose of a loved one to a drunk driver.)
Happy Thanksgiving from the whole Frontier Family.
Nichole
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4 comments on “Coke Crate Advent Calendar.”
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This is such an awesome advent calendar!!! I’ve been wanting to make an adventure calendar; I just need to keep my eyes peeled for a Coke crate! Love this!!!
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Well Thanks! I made this last year and when I started blogging in March I just wanted to share this so bad. I have been waiting very patiently, hoping people like them as much as I do.
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I absolutely love this! Pinned!
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What a fantastic idea! Just love it. So unique!
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