Educating Our Children | Our First Advent Calendar!
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Our First Advent Calendar!

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I’ve been wanting to do it for a few years, but this year I finally buckled down and made our first Advent calendar!  I was reading through the e-book Everyday Emmanuel, and the authors suggested sealing envelops, cutting them in half and then gluing them onto a poster board, open side up.  Easy! Easy!  Of course, I didn’t have that many envelopes on hand, so we made a bit of a revision.  Want to follow along?

A large greeting card displays Merry Christmas! at the top in red handwriting. Below, an Advent calendar-like arrangement features three columns of green and red rectangles in a festive checkerboard pattern on a white background.

Here’s What You Need:

  • Poster board or Tri-fold Display
  • Red and Green construction paper or card stock (2-3 pieces of each)
  • Stapler
  • Glue stick
  • Paper cutter or scissors

Here’s What You Do:

I started by cutting 2 inch strips along the long edge of the paper.  I discovered later that if I wanted all the pockets to fit on one panel of the tri-fold, I needed to cut 2 inches off the short edge (leaving each pocket about 3 inches long when folded).  Of course, I discovered this AFTER I had cut everything, so I had to go back and trim all the pockets up.  Learn from my mistakes!  🙂  Cut 2 inches off the short edge, making the paper 6 inches by 11 inches before you begin.

An advent calendar is nestled beside a paper cutter positioned on an orange sheet of paper, lying on a wooden surface. The cutter boasts a clear plastic ruler with an orange sliding blade, perfect for precise crafting tasks as the holiday countdown unfolds.

Once I had enough 2 inch strips, I began folding each of them in half.  I was hoping to do this project by myself, but of course, once the art supplies came out, it became a family project.  🙂  So, the kids helped glue and staple along the way!

Four orange paper rectangles folded and arranged in a row on a white surface, resembling an Advent Calendar, with green sheets partially visible in the background.

I held the paper in place and the little ones pushed down on the stapler, sealing each side to create a pocket.

A child in a yellow shirt is using a black stapler to attach a green piece of paper to a wooden surface, crafting an Advent Calendar, with an adult hand assisting by holding the paper.

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Chipmunk glued the back of of the pocket and then I put it in place on the tri-fold.

Young child with long blonde hair sits at a wooden table, crafting an advent calendar with colorful paper. The child wears a yellow shirt, and the background features a curtain with circular patterns.

This worked out pretty well.   It would have worked even better if I didn’t have to trim every piece along the way!   Eventually we got everything in place!

Orange and green rectangular cards, reminiscent of an Advent calendar, are arranged in a random grid on a white surface. This playful pattern graces a wooden table with chairs in the background, promising a delightful surprise for each day.

After all the pieces were glued down, I wrote Merry Christmas across the top!  Inside the pockets you can put different family activities to do, recipes to try, books to read, movies to watch, etc.  Each day, you take the slip out and complete the daily action.  For me, I filled the pockets with crafts from Truth in Tinsel e-book.  I can’t wait to get started!

Several colored paper strips with handwritten notes about biblical verses lie on a wooden surface, much like the cherished slips of an Advent Calendar. The notes mention the Cross (Phil. 2:6-8), Gifts, Wise Men, and Star (Mt. 2:1-12). Tape and paper remnants complete the scene.

What about you?  What are you filling the pockets with?  Leave me a comment and share!

A handmade card with Merry Christmas! at the top. Below, an Advent calendar design features rows of alternating red and green paper squares resembling gift boxes on a pristine white background.

About the Author

Lindsey Whitney is a blogger over at Growing Kids Ministry.  A blog designed to help parents, teachers, and Children’s Ministry workers who want to help the kids they love grow in their faith.   You can connect with her via twitter or on facebook.

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One Comment

  1. This is a great idea I have some free printable for advent on my blog that I put on each of the children’s doors to their rooms. This year was my first year to have the advent as well. I love what you did with the verses.

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