Growing up, I loved using our advent calendar. We had a simple one, that looked like a house, which hung on a door. It had a little felt mouse that you would move throughout the house each day as you got closer and closer to Christmas and while it was simple, it brought me so much JOY. I love traditions and each year as the boys get older, we add new traditions to how we celebrate as a family. For the past couple of years, I’ve had lofty goals of creating my own advent calendar. One that we could keep and use year after year. But then the holiday season came and went and I never got around to it. But this year is different (in more ways than one) and I finally made it happen!

I was inspired by the advent calendar that A Beautiful Mess shared a few years back and with that same idea in mind but using bright colors and wood numbers, I planned out my design. I started by gathering all the felt colors I wanted to use. Keep in mind you will need 2 sheets of felt to make 3 stockings. I then also purchased all yarn and ribbon, in the same color palette. For the designs on each stocking I used scraps that were left over, after cutting out the stockings. For the outside shape, I used two wooden garlands that I purchased, which I attached to the wooden poles you see in the middle. My husband drilled tiny holes into the poles, which I then attached to the garland with twine. I attached each stocking to the poles with yarn and a gold little pin. To decorate each stocking I tried a few different options but quickly realized the cold setting glue gun was easiest to work with. The last step was attaching the wooden numbers, which I did using the glue gun. I ran out of 2’s when I first finished so you may see a few missing in these pics, but the project has since been completed.

diy advent calendar_advent season_easy felt DIY, casa de fallon

diy advent calendar, diy Christmas, felt diy, casa de fallon

Need ideas for your own advent calendar or just fun holiday themed actives in general? I created 40 printable holiday themed actives that you can pick and choose from. I hope you enjoy. For an added bonus, print and then laminate , so you can use year after year.

Download free printable here

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How to make a DIY felt advent calendar plus free printable, casa de fallon

how were doing advent this year

“Advent is a time to prepare him room and to orient our hearts, homes, and minds to the ungraspable magnitude and the true meaning of Christmas.” - She Reads Truth

Advent beings on the first Sunday in December and continues every Sunday throughout the month. In our home we celebrate the commercial magic of the Christmas season and the reason for the season, which is Jesus. How you celebrate in your home is a very personal decision and many of these celebrations will look different family to family and that’s okay. We will be using this advent calendar and the printable actives that I made. Along with one activity from our advent calendar a day we also do “Elf on the Shelf” (who we sometimes tie into our advent activity) and the Kids Read Truth, Christian based Advent Conversation Cards, which can be used for ages 1-12+

This is how we are doing advent this year. I would love to know how you are doing advent in your home? If you use our advent activity cards, please share on social media and tag us @casadefallon. We would love to see you using these cards, to enjoy the holiday season. xxo

photos of my and the kids by Lina of Forrestal Creative