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Christmas

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

Reusable Advent calendar, but without drawers or pockets to fill?

33 replies

TheLightGetsIn · 10/12/2019 20:29

Has anyone seen a really lovely reusable Advent calendar that doesn't involve drawers or pockets to fill with chocolate or toys every year but is also not one of the very basic cardboard ones?

I'd love to buy one to reuse year after year as a new family tradition, but most of the reusable ones seem to have drawers or pockets to fill with little gifts, and most of the non-chocolate/gifts ones seem to be made of cardboard and probably won't last all that many years. I'd like one that has e.g. doors to open with pictures inside, or decorations to take out and velcro to a Christmas tree, or a Nativity scene to assemble day by day etc. Looking for something really beautiful, ideally with a bit of a vintage or old-fashioned look to it. Any suggestions very welcome!

OP posts:
pinkpixie83 · 10/12/2019 20:33

I have a wooden nativity scene from Lakeland

LoisLittsLover · 10/12/2019 20:36

Dd has one that is a Christmas tree and the drawers underneath are full of decorations that you add each day. It came from a local.garden centre so maybe try a couple near you?

ManiacalLapwing · 10/12/2019 20:37

I have a cardboard tree one with woodland animals that slots together. It's onto its third Christmas and looks new, so they last if you look after them.

glitterbugsparkles · 10/12/2019 20:37

I have a wooden one from lakeland that has super tiny drawers. Just right for either filling with Haribo or smarties or a Xmas message. We do activities, e.g got chocolates or a Xmas movie or book occasionally but putting a message in it. Kids love it and it's something different and personal.

MergeDragons · 10/12/2019 20:39

We've got a fabric one with stars which sit snugly in their pockets so no room for anything else. Then you hang one star a day over the nativity scene. It is on its 10+ year.

LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow · 10/12/2019 20:39

I had a small tree that had 24 little decorations to put on...I think I go it from aldi or lidl years ago, and then spotted the exact same thing on the Edinburgh Christmas market for £££££

I did see a glass (maybe plastic) one in Tiger the other day

Dislocatedeyeballs · 10/12/2019 20:50

I love that you ask for one that has no drawers specifically and you he loads of replies about ones with drawers good luck I love a real wooden advent calendar

TheLightGetsIn · 10/12/2019 21:01

Some of these sound lovely. I've checked Lakeland and Aldi but nothing there sadly. Does anyone have a link to theirs?

OP posts:
RB68 · 10/12/2019 21:03

Flamingo have a nice one that is solid card it is reindeer in a stable and on different days you add different bits, with care it should last a few years

fancybiccies · 10/12/2019 21:06

The pockets are filled with felt shapes to stick on the tree.

Reusable Advent calendar, but without drawers or pockets to fill?
babycatcher411 · 10/12/2019 21:10

I picked up a Disney StoryTime advent in Asda the other day, it’s huge, maybe half a metre tall, and each day is a new Disney book. Couldn’t resist

AnnoyingSatsumaInMyStocking · 10/12/2019 21:24

Have a look on eBay for a vintage Playmobil calender that has pieces each day that build into a scene - the older ones were designed to be reusable.

Bluebelltulip · 10/12/2019 21:31

I have one by Melissa and Doug which has magnetic decorations to attach each day.

DM1209 · 10/12/2019 21:43

Wooden star with small draws, I just put a post it note inside each draw with a message for the day ' be kind', 'be grateful', 'donate a present to someone who won't have has much'.

But I also mix it up, 'wrap the tree in toilet paper', 'make up a Christmas dance and sing Careless Whisper to it really badly (I get the camcorder out), tell 5 jokes and make sure at least one gets a laugh'. My 3 children all love it and look forward to it, I don't spend hours preparing (I work full time) and sometimes I even let the children themselves pick their 'task' of the day.

sohypnotic · 10/12/2019 21:54

This

Reusable Advent calendar, but without drawers or pockets to fill?
inkysplatter · 11/12/2019 00:23

Maybe not a useful response as it a still pockets, but I put a slip of paper rolled up with an activity on it in the pockets.

I put a new scroll in each night/ early morning and what's on it depends on what we have planned or how much energy we have. It's things like, post Christmas cards, Christmas colouring in. Make a decoration, watch a Christmas film, sing Christmas songs/ Christmas disco, read a Christmas story or on panto day 'see a Christmas show' go to school Christmas fair etc. Have I mentioned Christmas? Xmas Hmm

Only replying because it's not 'stuff' based even though it is fillable.

0ttoline · 11/12/2019 01:26

I have this. The pockets are only really big enough for the nativity pieces so no need to add anything. It's good quality and my kids are really enjoying playing with it.
www.plaidtidings.co.uk/product/nativity-fabric-advent-calendar

Popcornalley · 11/12/2019 06:42

M & s used to have one where you turn the boxes around to see a picture forming. I know you didn’t want boxes but you wouldn’t have to use them. It was a tree shape.

Redwinestillfine · 11/12/2019 06:47

Something like this?www.<a class="break-all" href="https://amazon.co.uk/LUOEM-Tabletop-Christmas-Wooden-Decoration/dp/B01MDLH38B/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=wooden%20Christmas%20tree%20advent&qid=1576046806&sr=8-3&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-christmas-3765612-Reusable-Advent-calendar-but-without-drawers-or-pockets-to-fill" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">amazon.co.uk/LUOEM-Tabletop-Christmas-Wooden-Decoration/dp/B01MDLH38B/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=wooden+Christmas+tree+advent&qid=1576046806&sr=8-3

Redwinestillfine · 11/12/2019 06:48

24 decorations, one per day of advent

Sniv · 11/12/2019 06:53

I just have a bog standard cardboard one with pictures behind the doors, and it's lasted years and looks in perfectly good condition. All that happens is that once a year, each door gets carefully opened, so I'm not expecting it to get worn out any time soon.

DreamingofSunshine · 11/12/2019 07:31

I have a wooden one I bought in Costco years ago. Each door has a decoration to hang on the advent calendar so the scene is completed by Christmas.

DreamingofSunshine · 11/12/2019 07:32

I'll have a hunt online to find it.

Bowerbird5 · 11/12/2019 07:46

Paper tiger.

I saw one at country living fair too. You push out the pieces and it builds a scene. Several different scenes including Nativity.

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