Reusable Advent Calendars

[megg]

Does anyone know where I can buy those advent calendars you fish out every year and just put your own surprises in? I've seen them in GLTC and another mail-order but would really like to just do it the old fashioned way and go to a shop.

Do you have a Rosebys (bed linens and tablecloths place) near you? They have quite a good selection. I've seen them in several other Mill Outlets (Dunelm Mills, etc) and similar type of shops too.

I've seen them in Lakeland Plastics - a wooden version. Although I bought my fabric one for dd at Baker Ross on the web (www.bakerross.co.uk)

Costco do really lovely ones in dark green velvet

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John Lewis do "make your own" in the fabric dept. - I've just finished ds's - it's really really cute! Though it did give me some stresses over the box-pleats...

robinw
I can still - just about - get away with 2 smarties a day in the pocket until the day before christmas eve, and then.... DA DA!!! It's 3 smarties on Christmas Eve.
It's worked so far, but ds is now 4, and I'm wondering if I'll be able to swing it for one more year...

We've got one, have had it for years (pre-children even!), and always get it out. They are great. My children rarely get sweets/chocolate, so they are thrilled with a chocolate coin or something similar. We got it from a 'traditional family-run department store'. But they are quite popular now, have you tried Debenhams or similar?

I saw one in Woolworths. It was a felt chrismas tree with 24 velcroed christmas decorations in little pockets.

I love the little chest of drawers one I've seen in catalogues.

BHs have some lovely 'New England' style ones with big Father Christmas on the front - £12.50

Avon had them in their catalogue.

Thanks everyone. Well after phoning round and nobody having one (not even John Lewis) I went to Woolies and bought that one and then walked across the road to the Linens Direct shop and there was another one. BTW the Bhs down here didn't have any wouldn't you just know. So now I'm ready for December I've even got a nativity stable. Now if I can just find a shop that sells waterproof trousers for a 3 year old I'd be sorted anybody?

You can buy them online at Muddy Puddles

I think there was a thread about this a little while back actually...

Megg - I'd try your local camping/outdoor shop for waterproof trousers - we found them cheaper there than at the online places. If you can't find them locally these websites might help (for the waterproofs that is, not the calendars!):

Raindrops ,
Togz ,
Outdoor Family ,
Little Trekkers

We bought ours from Traidcraft, I think. They are a nativity scene with all the little characters and animals and trees and stars taking up pockets at the bottom, then each day you take one out and gradually make up the picture with it. It's really lovely and ds1's was funny last year, with the wise men in the sky and the star in the manger etc.