We have to have a countdown to Christmas at our home…or I will get asked every day how many more days until Christmas. Really my girls could use a countdown calendar for every Holiday. It is actually Lola’s Birthday the end of November and we have a countdown calendar for her birthday going right now. I know it is early but I have to get a head start on these things- we go see family in December so I like to get our Christmas up early to actually enjoy it.
I do look forward to the calendar maybe just as much as my kids do. I love to set it up and typically look for a different place to hang our calendar every year. The past two years I hung it on an old vintage door. I thought about putting on our stair garland, maybe next year.
This year I decided to hang it on our French Cup Holder. I love this cupholder and normally have mugs, cups and cutting boards hanging from it in our kitchen. I made our countdown on muslin bags. I painted the numbers with stencils and some gray paint I had.
Another reason I really look forward to the countdown calendar is because of what I put inside each muslin bag. I do a scripture, with a service challenge or a Christmas activity along with a little sweet treat or an orange. It helps to really direct our attention to the purpose of Christmas. It is also a really nice way to have family time every night.
You can read and print out what I put in each of my little bags HERE.
Sources with Affiliate Links–
Mug Rack HERE I actually spray painted ours in my favorite gold paint
Muslin Bags HERE and smaller ones HERE
Number Stencil HERE
White Paper Basket Weave Basket HERE
Apothecary Glass Jars HERE
Gold Scissors HERE
White Felt Garland HERE
You can see what I did with my Countdown Calendar last year HERE. Love to hear what you do in your Christmas Countdown- please leave a comment and let me know!
Arie says
This really inspired me to start some new traditions with my boys. I love these ideas, and memories that hold on forever within our hearts. I lost my mom 5 days after Christmas 6 years ago, and it has always been my tradition to do those things that stay with my children. Brooke thank you for always shedding that most humble spirit that you have with you readers. I come back to your blog day by day, and I am constantly being filled with the most positive life steps. I saw that your girls love books, would love to send them some, if you have a P.O. BOX, being a 3rd grade Reading teacher it fills my heart to see them Reading. By the way Finn is a cute Mcfatty!!!!
[email protected] says
Well you just made my morning. Thank you for coming back to my blog. I so appreciate it your kind comment, it keeps me going. You are so kind. One of my daughters is in third grade actually! I can email you my address! And yes Finn is getting chubby- we think it is all muscle:)
Shawnna Griffin says
hey girl love the post! Can’t wait till Christmas!
[email protected] says
Thanks Shawnna! Me too!!
Tania says
Love this post! My daughter is 26 now but I started creating a countdown/advent calendar of sorts for her when she got her own place. I just use small brown lunch bags and put a little, inexpensive present in each one and number the bags 1 through 24. She loved it! Your never too old for a fun countdown!
Tania
[email protected] says
How thoughtful are you?? I hope I continue to do fun things like that when I have older children. I am sure she loves it. I have a friend that uses brown bags for her calendar, it looks darling. Hope you have a nice Thanksgiving!