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Super Simple Advent Calendar

September 27, 2013

Can you believe that I thought of this easy advent calendar idea a year ago? But it was already December and I thought that most of you would have gotten your advent calendars sorted already… So finally, it is time to share it with you in the next “big rush” to Christmas!

This is the easiest Advent Calendar Idea that I have done to date and I love it. It is great for the “uncrafty” amongst us, or those with little time.

Materials: a set of festive paper cups (24), paper for numbers & glue, tissue paper, string for hanging and clothes pegs (I like to re-use tissue paper that comes in parcels or between clothes sent in the mail or that shops wrap fragile things in )

Basically you are hanging up 24 paper cups, filling them with small treats and stuffing a bit of recycled tissue paper on the top. If you want to “fill” it with activities for you to do during the Christmas season, check the last two year’s Virtual Advent Calendars: Advent Calendar 2011 and Advent Calendar 2012.

1) Find a space where you can  hang 24 cups – you may need to do 3 rows. Alternatively you can do one row and then update the numbers as you go along, but personally, I think it is lovely to see the WHOLE calendar all in one go, as then you have a proper “countdown” to Christmas too.

2) Hang your string

3) Clip on your paper cups with clothes pegs

4) Cut out some paper numbers and stick on

5) Fill your cups, with chocolate coins, activities to do with your kids or small gifts

6) Stuff the top with tissue paper!

DONE. Sit back. Enjoy and see the delight on your kids faces!!

Tip top tip: You don’t have to fill the WHOLE calendar in one go. You can always focus on the first 7 days and then add more as the month progresses! Just remember to do it, else the kids will open the advent calendar one day and find it empty!

Or go and visit Creative With Kids, she has a great “Keeping Christmas Cozy” printable at $4.99 which will give you lots of ideas of what to activities pop into your calendar.

Simple-Activites-Advent-Calendar

Click here to view more details (affiliate link)

What are your favourite advent calendar ideas? Do share them in the comments!

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Filed Under: Christmas, How To's 19 Comments

Comments

  1. chickywiggle says

    September 27, 2013 at 5:09 pm

    What a brilliant idea. have featured on my “Alternative
    to chocolate advent calendar” post

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      September 27, 2013 at 5:10 pm

      Wonderful! Thank you so much!! And agree, nice to have alternatives!!

      Reply
  2. Chris at Thinly Spread says

    November 3, 2013 at 5:25 pm

    Eeeeek! I love, love LOVE this! So simple! Have pinned (of course!)

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      November 3, 2013 at 8:26 pm

      Yay! Simple is best!!

      Reply
  3. Deb @ Living Montessori Now says

    November 29, 2013 at 5:41 am

    I love this, Maggy! The simplicity is great … and it looks very inviting, too! I featured your post and photo in my Christmas Countdown Activities post. 🙂

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      November 29, 2013 at 7:54 am

      Awwwthanks Deb!

      Reply
  4. Faffy Tea says

    November 2, 2014 at 8:27 pm

    What a clever idea – not everyone is really crafty or has to time to create a complicated DIY advent calendar!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Christmas Advent Ideas - Teach Beside Me says:
    November 2, 2013 at 12:24 pm

    […] Red Ted Art has a simple idea using cups and clothes pins. […]

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  2. Hodge Podge Craft » DIY paper cup advent calendar (made by toddlers), plus 30 ideas of activities to include! says:
    November 27, 2013 at 3:45 am

    […] advent calendar in time for the weekend.  Yes, it’s THAT easy to make (and thank you to Red Ted Art for the paper cup […]

    Reply
  3. Christmas Countdown Activities {with Lots of Free Printables} | LivingMontessoriNow.com says:
    November 28, 2013 at 2:30 am

    […] Super Simple Advent Calendar from Red Ted Art […]

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  4. Countdown to Christmas - 25 Advent Activities for Kids - Fun-A-Day! says:
    November 30, 2013 at 5:02 am

    […] Mom} 22. Kids Advent {Housing a Forest} 23. 25 Days of Christmas Play {Sugar Aunts} 24. Super Simple Advent Calendar Ideas {Red Ted Art} 25. Easy Sticker Advent Calendar {No Time for […]

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  5. Our super simple activity advent calendar – with free template | cuddles + muddles + muddy puddles says:
    November 30, 2013 at 11:52 pm

    […] Festive paper cups from Red Ted Art – pop your activity cards and/or treats inside and cover with some tissue paper! […]

    Reply
  6. Oh my! It’s a Hotel Chocolat Christmas for us… | Actually Mummy... says:
    December 4, 2013 at 6:45 am

    […] first got the idea for our Christmas cups advent calendar from Red Ted Art, purveyor of simple but lovely craft ideas for kids. It didn’t involve glue, paint, or too […]

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  7. Christmas Guide: Advent Calendars - Boo Roo and Tigger Too says:
    November 17, 2014 at 1:00 pm

    […] across this amazing advent calendar idea over on Actually Mummy, who was inspired by the amazing Red Ted Art.  This has to be the best home-made advent calendar idea I have seen and what’s more it […]

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  8. 24 DIY Advent Calendar Ideas - Study-at-Home Mama says:
    November 25, 2014 at 11:10 am

    […] We might do this paper bag advent garland from Most Lovely Things with the daycare kids, I love that the brown paper packages are tied up with string! Or, if you have festive cups rather than paper bags on hand, Red Ted Art makes this fun advent banner. […]

    Reply
  9. 5 Last Minute Advent Calendars – Super Simple says:
    November 26, 2014 at 7:46 pm

    […] paper or plastic cups with numbers written in sharpie (See how Red Ted Art makes this advent calendar so cute here.) You can line them up on a bookshelf or window sill, on top of the mantle or entertainment […]

    Reply
  10. Advent Calendars - CKD reset theme says:
    December 15, 2014 at 1:28 pm

    […] Or even simpler you could just hang paper cups like  Red Ted Art … […]

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  11. Christmas Fun with Disposable Cups - The Chaos and the Clutter says:
    November 30, 2015 at 12:18 am

    […] Super Simple Advent Calendar Idea from Red Ted Art […]

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  12. Celebrate the Season with These DIY Advent Calendars - Our Daily Craft says:
    November 14, 2017 at 6:26 pm

    […] Ted Art has a simple calendar made with paper cups (and another one with little bags), which doesn’t take much more effort (other than gathering […]

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