Creative Christmas Countdown – Our Virtual Advent Calendar!
Oooh I do love advent, such a magical time to get ready for Christmas and really enjoy the Christmas season. We love advent calendars too and I am forever trying to steer away from “just sweets” but to something special and magical – planning activities and time together through the advent days – bring on the Virtual Advent Calendar/ Creative Christmas Countdown.
UPDATE: This is an OLD post (from 2012!).. but is still full of LOVELY ideas that you can check out daily! I have made sure that all the links work (as of Dec 2023) and have provided alternatively links when websites are no longer active!
I also have a DIY Ornaments Christmas Advent Calendar
FREE PDF Ornament making calendar (click each day for a craft) . This also comes with a downloadable 30 Christmas Ornaments Book.
Back to our Virtual Advent Calendar
Organised by the wonderful Creative With Kids and Red Ted Art, we are bringing together 24 wonderful Kid Activities bloggers to share with you a daily activity! Ranging from crafts, to songs, to things do for Santa.
Come back daily – and “open up” your virtual advent calendar with us and start your very own Creative Christmas Countdown.
On even days, Red Ted Art, will feature the new activity and on un-even days you will find the activities on Creative with Kids.
UPDATED DAILY (click on the image to see what is in store):
- Magic of Play with DIY Fake Snow
- Make some Star Shape Treats with Science Sparks
- Recycle old paper and magazine and make some Recycled Greeting Cards
- Simple Twig Ornaments
- Santa Tin Can Activity
- Ornaments with Happy Hooligans
- Decorate a window with Hands on as we Grow
- Make a recycled village with Nurture Store
- Make a Bow Wreath with No Time for Flashcards
- Creative Family Fun makes photo cards for distant family and friends
- Rainy Day Mum makes a Santa Plate
- Color and sew simple ornaments with Mama Smiles
- Practice fine motor skills with Creative Connection for Kids Cheerio Candy Canes
- Make a Christmas I Spy Sensory bin with Happy Toddler Playtime
- Make Felt Gingerbread Houses with Toddler Approved
- Get Crafty with Old Christmas Card Puzzles here
- Make a set of Toilet Paper Roll SnowMen
- Paint Swirl Christmas Ornaments with Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
To make sure you are ready and have all the supplies to hand, we have a created a supplies list for you, the list may look long, but I think you may have many already!:
Basics
- Markers
- Crayons
- Pencils
- Pens
- Paint in various colours
- Acrylic paints in various colours
- Paper – variety of colours
- Brown paper on a roll
- Cardboard/ Construction paper/ Light card (red, yellow, black, white)
- Tape
- Pipecleaners
- Ribbons/ Thread for hanging
- Glitter (different colours, incl red & gold)
Utensils
- Craft knife (for one craft)
- Scissors
- Stapler
- Camera
- Printer
- White glue
- Hot Glue Gun (for one craft)
- Sewing needle (one craft)
Specific
- cookie cutters
- cereal boxes
- twigs
- yarn
- pull-tab topped soup can,
- can opener,
- Hershey Kisses,
- Coal
- styrofoam meat tray,
- white pencil crayon or golf tee,
- glitter glue,
- tissue paper (white or other wintery colors),
- toilet rolls/paper rolls,
- cake cases / cupcake liners,
- cotton wool,
- gift bows,
- a paper plate,
- embellishments of choice (stickers, glitter glue, stamps, ribbon, washi tape, etc.)
- Old white dinner plate
- coloured sharpies, black sharpie marker
- embroidery thread
- fruit loops (any O shaped cereal)
- small round ornaments,
- Felt in different colours
- other embellishments your child chooses (sequins, pipe cleaners, buttons, fabric, etc.)
- Xmas gift bag
- window/dry erase markers
- Clear ornaments (one craft)
- stickers of any sort (we used stick on buttons, but can be made with anything, incl foam or felt or other self adhesive items like gems etc)
Optional Items
- contact paper
- cellophane
- sprinkles of choice/ food gel pens
- vanilla essence
- lemon juice
Food items
- Icing sugar,
- 1 can of condensed milk,
- peppermint extract,
- dark chocolate just to drizzle over the top.
- Plain Flour,
- Unsalted Butter,
- Sugar,
- 1 Egg,
- Baking Powder
- food colouring
You Ready??? Yes! Well.. come back regularly to enjoy your Virtual Advent Calendar! Hooray!