I was searching online for a nice advent calender for the boys. Something that was a bit modern and would get them excited about counting down the days till Christmas. Most of the calendars were quite folky and were littered with Santas and characters that would date. And finding a decent Christmas pattern that doesnt involve red and green is difficult.

So i got to thinking. I could probably make one. But i didnt want to have to buy $100 worth of materials and slave over cutting, glueing and constructing. I had recently seen a tutorial on you tube, on how to make a paper box with only a sheet of paper and scissors and i gave that a try. It was so simple and quick that i decided my advent calendar had to use those boxes!

So 2 days later, i had 48 sheets of paper- ready to be folded into little boxes, a spool of red ribbon, 40 star split pins, 24 self-designed, numbered and printed lables, a small bag of chocolate santas, a small bag of chocolate snowmen, a bunch if branches from the yard, a vase and some christmas ornaments i had from previous years.

I made this:

The boys helped me find some suitable branches and hang the boxes onto the branches, becoming a little game of  ‘find the number’. I added some little red ribboned bows and my silver reindeer candle holders sit at the base with some silver pearls adorning the vase. Its about 5″ tall and is quite striking when you walk in the front door.

What i like about it, is that the branches can go back to nature and the boxes can be strung on some thick ribbon, like bunting, for next year. Or maybe we can just put them on the Christmas tree…the possibilities are endless!

Oh, i havent shown you my tree yet, have i? Its so pretty …