Advent calendars using Christmas boxes are a fun way to lead up to Christmas Day, beginning early or late in a countdown.
In the hustle and bustle of preparations for Christmas, time sometimes runs out to get everything done you want to do. If you are thinking, "Oops, missed setting up an Advent Calendar this year," think again.
A D V E N T C A L E N D A R C H R I S T M A S B O X E S
Here is a fast, easy Advent Calendar that can begin whenever you want it to begin and countdown however many days you want to count.
This calendar can begin on Dec. 1, Dec. 11, Dec. 15 or . . . The containers are not uniform in size which makes it super easy to include a variety of surprises, from small slips of paper to larger special treats.
S U P P L I E S N E E D E D
❶ Boxes, in all shapes and sizes
❷ Large container to hold the boxes
❸ Numbers for however many days you want to countdown
❶ Gather a collection of Christmas boxes from previous years. You will need as many boxes as you plan to countdown. If you begin your Advent Calendar on Dec. 1, you will need 24 boxes. If you begin your Advent Calendar today on Dec. 11, you will need 14 boxes.
Old decorated Christmas card boxes are perfect. They hold larger items like gloves, cosmetics, toys . . .
You could use the design on the box to give a clue as to its contents. Maybe a Santa ornament or a small teddy bear is in this box.
Christmas candle boxes are another great Advent Calendar box for large items, including a small votive, a matchbox car, or a Christmas ball ornament.
My late brother gave me the original candle that came in this box for Christmas a couple of years ago. When I look at the box, I remember his love for Christmas, his generosity, and how much he loved finding just the right gift for people on his list. This is our first Christmas without him.
❷ Choose a large container in which to display the Advent Calendar Christmas boxes. If you have more boxes than will fit in the container, just place some of them outside around the container.
A large French Country garden urn fits right in with my house. Other possible containers are olive buckets, wooden crates, vintage dough bowls, baskets . . .
❸ Write large numbers on LONG slips of paper to correspond with the dates you are counting down. If you begin on Dec. 1, you need numbers 1 through 24. If you begin on Dec. 11, you need numbers 11 through 24.
You can either handwrite the numbers or print them using your computer. I added a large fleur de lis to the numbers. Other ideas are to print the numbers in red or green and to add a traditional Christmas symbol such as a star, angel, tree, snowflake . . .
Slide the slips of paper inside the box, and close the lid with a long tail of paper sticking out of the box.
Place the boxes with the larger numbers in the bottom of the container ending with the first numbers on the top in the container or outside around the container.
Place the Advent Calendar on a dining table, buffet, kitchen island, coffee table . . . Add other seasonal decor like the boxwood tree and white ceramic stars around the Advent Calendar.
An Advent Calendar using old Christmas boxes is an easy way to create an Advent Calendar either early or late. You can still have an Advent Calendar this year . . . it is not too late.
l e t t h e m e r r y m a k i n g b e g i n
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In a few days I will share ideas for how to refresh a boxwood wreath and to change a green boxwood wreath to match the colors in your house.
I love the white frosted look of this preserved boxwood wreath.
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You can also find beautiful Christmas ideas on Botanic Bleu
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