12 Weeks of Christmas - Week 6

Yep its time for another installment of 12 Weeks of Christmas. It's Week 6 and it's my turn again.

This time I have created an Advent Calendar. Now it isn't quite what it's meant to be, but more on that later.

I had this idea rolling around in my head for a while and am relatively happy with how it turned out. Now this Advent Calendar is a little different to your normal Advent Calendar that is filled with sweets and small treats. This one is made up of little pouches, each with a tag inside. You can write anything you like on the tags, or even skip doing the tags and add Gift Vouchers etc into the pouches. Now because I have used the little pegs to hold the pouches onto the bakers twine, you will need to make sure you don't put anything heavy in them.  And for the big day, Christmas Day, there is a gorgeous box which can contain a small gift.

In my Advent Calendar I have written something on each day that corresponds to the day number. The idea is that the child takes out the tag each day and on it is written things they can experience and claim throughout the year. For example, the tag may have on it "10 trips to the Movies". They keep the tag and throughout the following year they can claim these 10 Movies. They simply keep count on the back of the tag how many times they have claimed it already.

I love this idea as it is a gift that keeps giving throughout the year and it isn't all about buying gifts. A lot of the tags are about experiences and spending time with the child. And let's face it, it also eliminates a lot of sweets that children really don't need at this time of the year with all the extra treats around already.

Remember when I said I was relatively happy with it.  Well I LOVE all the little pouches and how they hang on the bakers twine, and I love the box BUT I am not happy with  how I have displayed them. I wanted to use a fancy frame and have it empty so the pouches just hung in the frame with nothing behind them. But what's that syaing about the best laid plans......well my poor daughter got sick and I couldn't get to the shops for the ideal frame. So I looked around my house and found this frame...mmmmm...yes that will work I said, until I took it off the wall and looked at the back. It was taped and nailed shut like Fort Knox....LOL. So I had to cover the picture that was in it with Whisper White card stock....Nothing like a little compromising...lol

I do hope you can still see the effect I was aiming for.  If you would like to get instructions on how I created the different elements, then just pop me an email (narelle@simplystampingwithnarelle.com) and I will be happy to send you the pdf.

Here is what my tags will have in them this Christmas, it might just give you some ideas for yours too. These are tailored to my daughter and include a lot of her favourite things, things that sometimes we don't always get around to doing. This way she can claim her favourite things and we make sure they happen.

1  trip to the Zoo 2  friends sleep over 3  favourite restaurant visits 4  trips to the drive-in 5  dates with Mum 6  dates with Dad 7  pizza cooking nights 8  trips to the beach 9  bowling games 10  baking sessions with Mum 11  trips to the local pool 12  trips to the Movies

13  shopping days with Mum 14  popcorn and movie nights at home 15  sightseeing drives 16  Youghurtland frozen youghurts 17  stories read by Mum 18  stories read by Dad 19  games of UNO 20  Ice Cream Sundaes 21  craft sessions with Mum 22  trips to the Library 23  family board game nights 24  trips to the park

Now as always we have a special bundle available for purchase. This bundle comprises some of the items used to create this Advent Calendar. So here it is:-

Tag A Bag Gift Bags

25 Days Photopolymer Stamp Set

Trim The Tree Designer Series Paper Stack

Tree Punch

You get this product bundle for the special price of $89, AND get these FREE.

Mini Metallic Clothespins

So not only do you get the items above at a reduced price but you also get the Clothespins added in for nothing. You can not order this bundle through my online store, you must contact me to purchase.

Thanks for dropping by.

Have a great day.
Cheers,
Narelle