Milk Box Advent Calendar
Silhouette has a new limited edition Advent Calendar kit that is really cute, and during the Black Friday sale, you can snag it at 40% off using the promo code, JILL. Even if you don't have time to put it together for December 1st, you could get started a little late, or even have it on hand for next year.
The calendar kit includes the white picture frame with hanging wires and metal clips, and downloads from the online store, leaving you room to customize as you like - check out Silhouette's 2012 Advent pinterest board for inspiration.
The clips are removable and the kit comes with a lot more clips than you need for an advent, which makes it pretty versatile The frame could be used year-round to display instagram photos, your kid's artwork, countdowns to other events, like birthdays or family trips ... pretty much anything!
Instead of using the template downloads that came with the kit, I used the small milk box template from the online store - sized down to a 1.5 inch square box, it a perfect match for those little clips. I liked that the boxes aren't permanently sealed, and they fold flat, so they can be saved and reused next year. (One recommendation, if you do use the milk box ... be sure to reinforce the tab tops with a bit of tape inside, so the metal clips don't cut through the perforations.)
Each box contains a chocolate truffle (I am partial to advent calendars that have room for daily treats) and simple holiday activity. I'm actually sending this calendar off as a gift to a family member, so I tried to make each day's activity easy and free. There are a few days that I'm sending additional treats for the kids to unwrap (microwave popcorn for Christmas movie night, a salt dough recipe for making ornaments, etc.).
Edit: I've had a few requests for my list of advent activities. I want to keep a little surprise for my family, so if you want the list, just email me! I'll post it here after Christmas.
Disclosure: Silhouette America supplied the Advent Kit for this project.
The calendar kit includes the white picture frame with hanging wires and metal clips, and downloads from the online store, leaving you room to customize as you like - check out Silhouette's 2012 Advent pinterest board for inspiration.
The clips are removable and the kit comes with a lot more clips than you need for an advent, which makes it pretty versatile The frame could be used year-round to display instagram photos, your kid's artwork, countdowns to other events, like birthdays or family trips ... pretty much anything!
Instead of using the template downloads that came with the kit, I used the small milk box template from the online store - sized down to a 1.5 inch square box, it a perfect match for those little clips. I liked that the boxes aren't permanently sealed, and they fold flat, so they can be saved and reused next year. (One recommendation, if you do use the milk box ... be sure to reinforce the tab tops with a bit of tape inside, so the metal clips don't cut through the perforations.)
Each box contains a chocolate truffle (I am partial to advent calendars that have room for daily treats) and simple holiday activity. I'm actually sending this calendar off as a gift to a family member, so I tried to make each day's activity easy and free. There are a few days that I'm sending additional treats for the kids to unwrap (microwave popcorn for Christmas movie night, a salt dough recipe for making ornaments, etc.).
Edit: I've had a few requests for my list of advent activities. I want to keep a little surprise for my family, so if you want the list, just email me! I'll post it here after Christmas.
The paper used was from the Jolly Jamboree cardstock pad by Recollections (at Michael's).
To my non-Silhouette using readers: I know the past week has been a little heavy on Silhouette posts. I promise to have projects that can be completed with your own two hands, no fancy tech required, very soon. Thanks for your patience!