I remember always loving the advent calendar my family had when I was a child. It’s one thing I have yet to implement in my family each year, although I always have thought of it but just been too hurried, lazy, something to do it.
This year, I am only a few days late but finally got to it. I wanted to make one with my kids with stuff we had at home. I did a little online searching and found an idea for using a cookie sheet and making a magnetic one. It looked fun and easy and I saw a few different whimsical styles. All I had to do was go to the store and get some magnets to stick my numbers to. I bought $2 magnetic tape. That is where my project when terribly wrong.
I spray painted my cookie sheet. I glued down my background paper. I horrifically wrote out December. I made my grid. I even made my first magnet number and then…oops…the magnetic tape I bought was not nearly strong enough to work on my cookie sheet with paper on it. *sigh*
Wanting to remain in the spirit of our project and remember it’s supposed to be fun and doesn’t have to be perfect, I kept making number magnets. And my daughter happily stuck each one on the refrigerator in order. We had a great time, it was fun and creative. Instead of getting stressed out and giving up because my first idea didn’t work, or going back to the store to spend $12 on heavier duty magnets, I decided just to keep having fun and doing it with what we had.
We now have an advent calendar on our fridge and I think it’s really cute. I put all the numbers up to take this picture but we’ll be putting the magnets in a basket on top of the fridge and the kids can put a new one up each day.
I am so glad that this project turned out this way. It was a perfect example of what I am hoping for this holiday season. Time with my family, embracing imperfection, and focusing on the true spirit of the season.
I love that! I think just putting something new on the fridge is much more fun for the little ones.
Alison´s last blog post..If You Give a Boy a Wii…
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that’s pretty cool – and fun to make.
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What an awesome idea for an advent calendar Emily. I have a Hallmark 3D ginger bread house and I open a “window” every day
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Perfect attitude. I need to keep that in mind and focus on actually enjoying the holidays instead of driving myself crazy *trying* to enjoy them. It’s like the preschool art mantra: It’s the process, not the product. Though I do love the product here–adorable and way easier to store.
Sara at On Simplicity´s last blog post..Lower Expectations Can Sometimes Be a Good Thing
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Great idea, and I love how your project went horribly wrong! LOL! That is SO me.
In the end, it turned out great!
Happy day (I’ve been without internet all week except for a few moments here and there….eek!)
Looking forward to seeing your photos, whenever you have them!
xo
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I love this!! Yeah, the ideas I have in my head never turn out the way I plan… especially when crafting with kids:-)
Amy from Texas´s last blog post..Personalized Wall Art
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They look great on the fridge! Your disaster worked out well
livingmyrichlife´s last blog post..Conferences – The good, the bad, the ugly
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What a wonderful result! So much better than the plan.
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VERY cute! Even if it did go “wrong”!
) I like that you didn’t use typical Christmas colors.
Marie´s last blog post..It’s a marshmallow world in the winter…
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Oh, that is SO cute! I love that idea and it is definitely more space efficient than the one I was going to do. Really cute!
Amy´s last blog post..My Hostess Gifts This Year
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How cute – great idea!
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