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Christmas

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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:
Saisong · 11/12/2019 07:53

We have the Eric Carle Dream Snow pop-up calendar. It is absolutely beautiful, each door has a little decoration to hang on the tree or put in a box. It is not strictly designed to be reuseable but we put all the decorations back behind the doors and seal with a tiny bit of bluetac. We've had it for 6 or 7 years and the kids LOVE it. I occasionally put a small chocolate to find in one of the boxes as an extra treat.

farnworth · 11/12/2019 07:54

Not quite an advent calendar, but a 12 days of Christmas with 12 small jigsaws to do, that you then put together on 24th to make one large scene. Can do one puzzle every second day over advent, or do one a day for final twelve days. Very reusable!

bluechameleon · 11/12/2019 08:01

merimeri.co.uk/products/wn19_wooden-woodland-advent-calendar
We have this one and it is on its 3rd year. We put the pieces back in the cardboard windows each year, but that part won't last forever.

TheLightGetsIn · 11/12/2019 15:03

Ooh there are some lovely suggestions here, thank you!!

I think it might be a decision between @0ttoline's fabric one and @bluechameleon's wooden one (though in that case I might go for one in the same range which is Nativity themed rather than woodland themed). Do you find the pieces stand up easily, bluechameleon? I found reviews of a similar Meri Meri one on Amazon saying that the figures fall down a lot as the bases are narrow and not entirely smooth.

OP posts:
BroomstickOfLove · 11/12/2019 15:12

I have a similar one to Ottoline's. It's been going strong for a decade. We lost an angel a few years ago, so now the angel flies back down after telling Mary she will have a baby, and moves to a new number ready to appear to the shepherds.

InMySpareTime · 11/12/2019 15:53

better link to the Christmas story book advent calendar.

Tiggles · 11/12/2019 21:35

I have a 17 year old fabric nativity one.
If you Google fabric nativity advent calendar a few different ones come up.

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