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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Original poster

Advent Calendars

34 replies

ValiumQueen · 04/08/2013 12:07

Yes I know it is only August, but with three young children I need to be prepared for December.

I have an Advent Calendar with little drawers in (home made) and put things in for each day - activities, coins and/or sweets.

I have seen some wonderful suggestions on other threads, but thought it might be helpful to have a dedicated thread for this.

Two things I have learned is to 1) put activities in the night before, not all at the beginning, as they are very much dependent on weather, time available, energy levels etc, and 2) do not put sweets in until the night before otherwise they disappear

OP posts:

sillyily · 04/08/2013 13:30

We do this too- we have a nativity scene from Lakeland which has boxes with a different 'character' in each one, and we also add a couple of coins :)
Also this year I'm going to wrap up a Christmas book /DVD/ craft for each day to be opened. I counted up all the xmas books &dvds already accumulated over the last 3 years and I have 13 books and 7 DVDs so just need to find 4 more by dec :) also our elf brings us a hamper on the 1st while decorating the tree, which has an advent calendar for all 4 of us possibly going overboard....! I'm getting married on the 14th dec and determined not to let that, and the stresses beforehand get in the way of Xmas for the kids so planning all now :-) eeeeeee I'm excited!!

Original poster

ValiumQueen · 04/08/2013 15:06

I am really excited about Christmas already as we had a newborn last year so it kinda got missed in the blur of those early weeks. Having a wedding to look forward too must be awesome

OP posts:

lunar1 · 04/08/2013 15:25

I have bought one of those candy grabbers and will be wrapping up some little things for the boys in there.

Original poster

ValiumQueen · 04/08/2013 16:44

Lunar where did you get it from? Sounds like fun

OP posts:

lunar1 · 04/08/2013 17:30

Amazon, if you search candy grabber they are around £20

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 04/08/2013 18:23

My advent calender comes out every year (it's a Family Tradition now
There are tiny ornaments in the boxes to hang on a little tree (it turns round and plays a tune)
I put chocolate coins in each drawer then last year two £1 coins in the Saturday boxes instead. DC had an extra £1 a week to spend (or in DS case, squirrel away in his jar)

iklboo · 04/08/2013 18:28

They make a gin advent calendar (different miniature gin behind each window). If I don't get one of those this year there will be sulking.

sillyily · 04/08/2013 19:09

Iklboo- where cAn I find one of these?!

hippoherostandinghere · 04/08/2013 20:36

Silly I love the idea of a nativity advent calendar but its £59.99!! Will keep searching.

iklboo · 04/08/2013 20:40

Can't link on this phone but if you google / amazon gin advent calendar it'll be there. A bit dear (70 quid I think) but I reckon I've been a good girl .

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 04/08/2013 20:51

There was a Cosmetics one a couple of years back (Clinique or similar) with a tiny perfume or cosmetic behind each window.
Wonder if they sold them 50% off after the start of December?

everydayaschoolday · 04/08/2013 21:05

I've bought Squinkies from Home Bargains (£1.99 for 12) to go in the drawers this year. And a big Squinkies adventure set to wrap up from Santa from JFT at £14.50 (bargain, it is in Amazon for much more).

www.amazon.co.uk/Squinkies-75362-Adventure-Surprise-Playset/dp/B005603BO6/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1375646282&sr=8-15&keywords=squinkies

Original poster

ValiumQueen · 04/08/2013 21:14

Squinkies genius! (Adds to list)

The year before last we had polly pocket clothes that I had bought at a car boot sale. And an activity every day. I am trying to remember them but my brain is mush.

OP posts:

hippoherostandinghere · 04/08/2013 21:16

Can anyone explain squinkies to me feels a little daft. I have een them and the dispensers in Home Bargains and wondered what they where?

hippoherostandinghere · 04/08/2013 21:16

seen, obviously

fuzzpig · 04/08/2013 21:22

I'd really like to get a decent wooden one but have never been able to find a nice one!

AnneEyhtMeyer · 04/08/2013 22:05

We have two wooden ones (one for me and one for DD) and DH has a chocolate one.

The wooden ones are from Costco and they have a little ornament in each box to hang each day.

In DD's I also put one of the miniature Cadbury Dairy Milk bars each day and a gift.

Last year the gifts included squinkies, hair bobbles and Ikea finger puppets (pack of ten for a couple of quid).

This year I have got some marbles, lip salves and hair bobbles already put aside for it, and a couple of Lego minifigures.

everydayaschoolday · 04/08/2013 22:33

Squinkies: little squishy rubber people and pets. Can be used with the playsets. Lots of different sets to 'collect' inc barbie, hello Kitty, Cars, etc. They come in little plastic round balls so can be used in squinkie dispensers. Not everyones thing, and some might consider them tat - but my 5YO loves them!

attheendoftheday · 04/08/2013 22:35

I'm collecting for our advent calendar too. We have this one (although it was on £14.99 when I got it), because the buckets are open it means I can jam in slightly bigger things, but I do have to wrap them.

So far in my collection I have finger puppets (from the Xmas bargains thread), some dinosaur figures from a charity shop, balloons, stickers (i will cut a sheet up to spread out) and I have a couple of Xmas books (too pick for the calendar, but I prop them nearby).

I usually put really cheap bits in the calendar, and a few bigger things that I want the dc to enjoy in the run up to christmas (like christmas stories or an activity book).

everydayaschoolday · 04/08/2013 22:45

everydayaschoolday · 04/08/2013 22:46

aargh - sorry posted twice (how did that happen?)

Belugagrad · 15/08/2013 20:11

I make my calendar every year as I find it hard to find nice ones. Love the pop up snow dream one though. Growing up I always had a religious one no chocs but dh was against that!

Last year I did 'that's not my tree' theme, like the books but as a calendar and stowing sweets and stickers in sandwich bags with the tree on front. The stickers are 'x number of sleeps' off eBay.

This year I'm making 24 trees reflecting the change of seasons, made in the style of paper dolls. There is a family at door number 24 and a removable stickman that travels each day to get home to the family tree! Love that book.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 15/08/2013 21:57

"Blott" sell rubbers and pencil toppers (start at £1) and little plastic boxes to store them in.

I might buy some for DD stocking (and keep the traditional gold chocolate coins for the Advent Calender)

dementedma · 15/08/2013 22:03

My dcs are very deprived. I refuse to buy one with chocolate or gifts in when they are about to get a load of gifts anyway on Dec 25. I buy a nativity scene advent calendar and they open the wee door. That's it. They love it and don't need a reward.

iloveholidays · 28/08/2013 12:37

can I ask people with more than 1 dc and who make your own advent calendar do your dcs share the calendar or have one each? I have 3 DDs and plan to either make an advent calendar type thing or buy one of those felt ones. half tempted to buy 24 cheap stockings and hang down the banisters....

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