plain advent calendar - 30th birthday

[CloudsAway]

I have a friend whose 30th birthday is coming up, and I had an idea that I could give her 30 tiny presents, in some sort of boxes.

And I thought that some kind of advent calendar might be a way of displaying the gifts. I know that some of the chocolate ones you buy in the shops go up to 30 or 31 days, rather than the traditional 24/25. But when I've searched for any of the kits or re-fillable ones, they are always 24 or 25 days only.

So, I'm looking for some kind of plain (i.e., not Christmas decorated - either one that can be decorated, or a wooden one, or vaguely wintery themed etc) Advent calendar, that has 30 pockets or drawers or other containers.

Oh, and preferably cheap! Apparently Tesco did some £5 chipboard drawer ones one year, that could be recovered to make it not Christmassy, but I don't think they still have them (not that I saw, anyway). But the drawer ones that I've seen are starting at about £18.

I also don't have very many days to do it, so hoping for actual physical shops, or online sources with very fast delivery times...

Any of you fabulously organised Christmassy types seen anything that might fit the bill?

[TeasingFireDemons]

Have you tried hooby craft? they do little draw stoarage, but also a big box that is divided that might work. Not sure exactly how close to what you are looking for i am but it might be a start.

[TeasingFireDemons]

*hobby craft

[CloudsAway]

Yes I had a look at their website, but didn't find anything - might not have been using the right search terms though!

Another possibility is if I could find tiny gift boxes like you use for decorating parcels or something, but I'd have to find a whole bag of them for a fiver or something to make it worthwhile, as the individual ones or packs at the party shop are still pretty expensive each. I'd be better off just spending the money on a nicer present!!

I should have been collecting them and then I'd have a whole selection of different ones, but I have about 3.

[Tippychoocks]

Tiny boxes was what I was going to say - some of the wedding suppliers have them quite cheaply don't they? Or buy sheets of stiffish card and make them yourself?

The only box-type things I can find wouldn't do 30 or are too expensive.

[brookeslay]

cuddlybuddly.com/shop/v6319-papier-mache-advent-calendar-boxes-stars/

24 boxes plus the main is 25 then get 5 more star boxes.

They also do a cake segment which would work. You could put two presents in some boxes to make 30.

Can I have you as a friend so thoughtful

[CloudsAway]

oh the stars one is pretty. Just a bit expensive.

I will google wedding suppliers and see. They might be cheap if I wanted 200 of them, but not sure about 30. maybe I could ask for samples...

A really thoughtful friend would probably have been thinking about this more than a week in advance... :)

I'm off to try Lakeland, and also one of those cheap Xmas decoration places that might have bags of little boxes. maybe another party shop, too.

thanks for the ideas so far...

[CherryMonstersUnderTheBed]

clouds- i make cards, and am quite good at making little gift boxes. if your not in too much of a rush, and you dont find anyone else i would be happy to make them, or even, make you up a template if you would rather do it yourself x

[brookeslay]

Thats kind Cherry do you sell on Folksy/
Ebay/Etsy ?

Good luck in Lakeland do you know your small pressies yet?

www.ohsocherished.co.uk/product/3003/508/my_friend_giftbook

This site looked good might also have this book in WHS.

[CloudsAway]

Oh Cherry, that's kind; thank you. Unfortunately I think I have left it far to late this time.. but maybe this is an idea for next big birthday!!

My presents were mostly going to be just little tiny things, sweets, chocolates, balloons, soap, tea-lights, etc, anything that could get several for a pound really, so that I could get a bit of a real present - gift card - for the last box, without spending a fortune. But although I still like the idea, I think it's not really going to end up in budget if I haven't started collecting more things by now.

Anyone else thinking about this... start long in advance and collect party/wedding favours, things that come in multi-packs, crackers, and so on!!

[scrappydappydoo]

Could you make your own with large matchboxes??

[brookeslay]

www.stockfood.co.za/image-picture-Advent-calendar-with-small-bags-made-from-napkins-272160.html

could adapt this use birthday napkins and numbers and pop them in a wicker basket loads around atm

[squirrel42]

Craft Matchboxes?

[CloudsAway]

oh the napkins might work, and be cheap! Thanks for the link.

Interesting that you can get craft matchboxes! I had thought about using matchboxes, and then last night as I was going to sleep, I was actually pondering the practicalities of doing it, and trying to work out what I would actually do to get rid of that many matches. I decided that I couldn't bin them, as the striking ends might rub against each other and set things on fire in the bin or the bin lorry or something, and that could be a disaster. I decided maybe I'd have to burn them all somehow, but wasn't sure how or where I could do this!! Then I fell alseep.