For each of my grandchildren this year I made a advent calendar kit which included all the supplies to make an ornament each day.   I found the idea on the internet (this website offers a kit [sells out quick-I was too late].  The website also has templates and instructions for each ornament).

In addition to the kit to make an ornament I also included a small Christmas tree, extra ornaments, a star tree topper, bags to keep the completed ornaments, a photo book which included a scripture, video and thought for each day to go with the ornament they made.  I also included a binder with big pictures (already printed) for each day, the scriptures already printed and a video disk,  a clothesline and clothespins to hang each ornament before it was placed on the tree and a small tree skirt to go around the tree. A cute Christmas box was also provided to store everything in one place until the next year.

Since I was too late  to order the kit (already sold-out) I decided to do it on my own.  I also decided to make changes and embellish it a bit, “make it my own”.  I wanted each ornament to be a bit more of a “project” for my grandkids (the oldest being 5 years old)- a bit more painting, a bit more glueing etc.    I made sure all supplies needed were included so busy moms did not have to run and purchase supplies.  So putting the kits together was not as “quick” as the website suggested where I found the idea.  I precut all items- but left all painting and glueing for the kids to do.  Small children like sparkle so I added items to add sparkle, if possible, to each ornament.  This also meant a lot more glueing which small hands can do.  I also had small phot0-booklets (which held 4 x 6 photos) for each child.  The booklet had several pages for  each day (a picture of the ornament, the thought, the scripture, and a web address for the video).  The 3-ring binder had big pictures of the Savior coordinating with each day. The significance of each ornament and the moment it represented in the Savior’s life could be talked about with small children using pictures as they worked on the ornament.  It also included the scripture of the day (already printed for use), and a disk with the videos pre-recorded and the thought or quote of the day.  I wanted to make it so everything was in one place.  I wanted to make it so busy parents did not depend on the internet, did not have to go find scriptures or lookup a video etc.   The kit had the photo booklets for each child along with the “kit” for the ornament.  Each family got the big binder with pictures, scriptures and videos and supplies to finish the ornaments.  The results were a fun advent (and “project”)  for small grandchildren.

The completed small tree had an ornament for each day.  My grandchildren made the ornament that went with a particular scripture, video and thought.

I also made an individual bag for each ornament to store it safely:

Each kit also had a “clothesline” and clothes pins so the bags may be hung at the beginning of the countdown in anticipation of hanging the the ornament on the Christmas tree on the appropriate day.  Definitely an advent calendar that can be enjoyed for years to come.

Booklet:

Booklet is  in .doc format (look in your download folder).  Each page measures 4″ x 6″, ready to be printed for a photo book.

booklet pages 1-33

booklet pages 34-66

booklet pages 67-99