I don't like chocolate Advent calendars...

[MorticiaAnnSpookington]

it just seems wrong somehow, give me a proper Nativity scene with just windows to open..but daresay I'm in the minority here !

I agree, I can't stand all of the branded, chocolate-stuffed advent calendars. I have a fabric one with 25 little decorations that you hang onto a tree and a musical CD one for dd that sings a new christmas song every night.

This year we are flying back to the UK on the 5th Dec and returning on the 25th, so will have to do something different.

As a non-crafty type, ok engineer, do you think this would a) cost me £££ to buy the stuff and b) look completely rubbish if I attempted it - Advent Calendar

I could put in little poems or funny photos and clues for what we were going to do each day in the UK (plus a present or sweet, I'm not that mean).

Wow i think Photobox is missing an opportunity here - bespoke advent calendars for grandparents etc. would be FAB

I can't abide the chocolate ones either. So unimaginative. I would make a fabric one except that it would be embarrassing to DS as he gets older (due to my excessive rubbishness at making things).

We don't have chocolate ones here as a) they are vile and tacky and b)DS2 cannot have chocolate.

We already have our advents as DD and DS2 got really excited when they saw them at the shops on Sat.

They are in Smiths - so not that hard to find actually.

We obviously don't have chocolate on the tree either so each of the children has a small is christmas box on the tree which the tree fairy visits some evenings and leaves them sweets suitable for gluten and dairy free diets. Clever old tree fairy.

I have ditched the first idea and am going to make this one [http://www.marthastewart.com/article/baby-sock-advent-calendar?autonomy_kw=advent%20calendar&rsc=im age_3 Easy Peasy]]

Even an idiot like me can clip a baby sock to a line.

Sorted. And not a chocolate covered festive Bratz in sight.

Easier than links, clearly

We have bought DS (2) a wooden train shaped advent calendar- it has numbered drawers and you add your own treats (not decided what they will be yet)

Dps mum still buys him an advent calender even though he is nearly 30!!

On the lentil end of the spectrum, I am completely taken with this (except for the austerity of its graphics, which I think is a bit exaggerated) and ds & dd will so energetically approve.

They can have all the selection boxes they want at Christmas itself. Chocolate schmoclate

Oh my gawd. Yesterday it was FC, now it's advent calendars. Tomorrow's debate - Why I won't be watching the Queen on the telly!

Actually, I might start that thread. Should be interesting!

(FWIW, I hate choc advent calendars too)