merry christmas! advent calendar #25...

Oops... had this all ready to post but never got to the computer to publish it yesterday! Hope your Christmas was wonderful!














Okay, this one tops even the last one and at $1125. makes The Advent House look like a bargain. It's from FAO Schwartz and is no longer available but totally deserving of a post!

It's handmade from Germany and I found this description as wists:

Handcrafted and meticulously handpainted in Germany this giant solid-wood advent calendar is sure to become a treasured part of your family's Christmas tradion for generations to come. Elegant and heirloom-quality, it's sized to fit comfortably on your mantel. Children will delight in turning the windows around each day to reveal figurines inside the house. Don't just look forward to Christmas; look forward to counting down the days.

Check out some photos of the details inside at this site.

Okay, this is the one I really want! I especially love that it will fit on a mantel. What a lovely focal point, besides the tree. I would decorate everything to coordinate with this lovely piece! Do you think it will come up on ebay at a price point The Husband could live with!?!

photo via Luxist

advent calendar #24...

Okay, this would be the ultimate heirloom advent calendar. For $450 you should be able to pass this one on! The Advent House is lovely and famous, I guess. Alas, I don't think I could get The Husband to agree to purchasing this one!

Hmm... maybe The Advent Express. It's only about $300!

Both are very, very lovely. Wish I were in the market for such fancy Advent Calendars!

advent calendar #23...

Love all the bright colors in this quick handmade advent calendar . There's a chocolate coin attached to each numbered circle. Cute, simple and very versatile.

advent calendar #22...

Okay, this Ornament Tree isn't technically an advent calendar but I think it could work perfectly as one. Wouldn't it be fun to choose twenty-five beautiful little ornaments to fill the tree with?

advent calendar #21...

Saw this pretty little Garland of Boxes Advent Calendar last year on a lovely blog. It was so memorable that I had to go back and find it for you. Then I saw it on another favorite blog the other day. Leslie, you've got great taste!

There's even a link to the template for making the boxes. I'm not sure how well this idea would last from year to year but it sure is cute!

advent calendar #20...

Fontanini makes this magnetic Nativity Advent Calendar. What a wonderful reminder of the true meaning of Christmas each day.

Wow, I think I might have to start collecting advent calendars. There are so many that I love. All these years we haven't had ONE and next year I'll probably end up with TEN!

advent calendar #19...

This At the North Pole Advent Calendar from Chinaberry is fun. It has vinyl stickers that you can place wherever you want each day and the last day the kids get to send Santa off to bring toys to all the good girls and boys. Fun!

advent calendar #18...

Is it really the 18th already?! So much to do still, so much to do!

This dollhouse advent calendar is sweet. The girls would love it. Pretty how it folds open like it does. So fun to peek into all the little rooms and see how the family is getting ready for Christmas!

advent calendar # 17

Or should I say calendars? Love 'em both!

This simple advent calendar is a lot like the one at Target and Restoration Hardware. Love the snowflake motif! It's the Hallmark 25 Days of Merry - Christmas Countdown Calendar.






















Here's a similar version from PID.se, a tad more modern. So bright and pretty! Love how they mixed up the days and the red on red numbering!

advent calendar # 16

Oh, oh, oh... loving this idea at Sunset Magazine! The Modern Advent.

Always looking for another clever use for those adorable little glass lidded tins and this advent calendar is a great one! Head over for a complete tutorial. So, so, simple!

P.S. The metal tins listed in the tutorial do not appear to be available at Paper-Source but these ones are available at The Container Store.

P.P.S. Or these come in a pack of 25 (perfect) and you could just attach your own magnets.

P.P.P.S. Or these that come in many sizes! Okay, that's it. No more post scripts!

advent calendar #15...

How about a Cookie Sheet Advent Calendar?! Another very clever and customizable option.

Here's a pretty vintage-y one from Teresa McFayden. Lots of inspiration for making your own! Check out her tutorial here. This would be so, so cute hanging in a kitchen and a sweet gift for a friend! Geesh, I think I'm going to be busy crafting all sorts of advent calendars next year!























If you're not feeling the DIY thing, you can pick up a cute pre-made one, like this one from Etsy.

advent calendar #14...

Okay, I love these garland ideas! Too fun!

The Stocking Advent Garland by Soule Mama. She sewed up these sweet little stockings and strung them into a garland. Use up your pretty scraps or have a blast choosing lovely fabric. Embellish them to your heart's content! Fun, fun!














Or you could buy this premade String of Stockings Advent Calendar by Kathe Kruse... darling!







Or look at this idea at Family Fun using storebought socks and clothespins. Super easy and wicked cute! How fun, choosing all the different socks!











Oh, and look Martha has a version of this, too... the Baby Sock Advent Calendar!

















You could even use hats or mittens to make your own like this one from Garnet Hill. Or mix it up and use hats, mittens and socks.















Making one of these would be such a fun, creative project. I'm putting it on my list of holiday crafting for next year!

advent calendar # 13...

The L.L.Bean Cabin Advent Calendar looks like a fun one. The kids would love all those little doors and windows, although I'm sure at some point they would try to adopt it as a dollhouse of some sort!


This one from Sur la Table is the same idea but in faux Gingerbread form.

















And Martha sells a similar style in paper. The Advent Calendar Cottage Kit probably wouldn't last for too many years but it sure is cute.

advent calendar #12...

Check out this cute advent calendar that Blue House Mom made. Amy at my words made one, too. Go see it here. Simple, sweet and so customizable.

advent calendar #11...

Loving these Advent Calendar Pockets that you can make yourself! The white and red is so pretty and peppermint-y but they'd sure be cute in any color combination! Go to allsorts to download the pattern! Then go here to download the cute little dangles hanging from the buttons (scroll to bottom of post- they can be used as gift tags or ornaments, too) and take a peek at how pretty the original pocket garland looks in the artist's bedroom! Oh, and while you're there check out the pattern for these adorable little elf clogs!

advent calendar #10

This Mittens Advent Calendar from The Company Store is clever and nicely done. The more I look at it, the more I like it(go to the site and zoom in on the pretty details). It would be cute in the kid's playroom... the green is just right. Hmmm... I think it's going on the short list. Maybe I'll have to get different ones for different rooms... one for each child perhaps...

advent calendar #9...

This Mirrored Advent Calendar from Target would be pretty reflecting candlelight and colorful ornaments. Not sure that all those mirrors and sticky little fingers would work so well together though!

advent calendar #8

The Christmas Countdown Calendar from Land of Nod is a cutie. It's on sale and they're offering free shipping, too! Love the idea of filling the little pockets and removing one each day to reveal sweet little holiday designs.

advent calendar #7...

Okay, I saw this one I couple months ago when I very first started looking for Advent Calendars but I wasn't sure about the quality. It was $30., which is certainly reasonable, but I wasn't in love.

Well, I have to tell you I looked at it again the other day while perusing for calendars and it was on sale for $15. plus free shipping(love, love, love free shipping)! For that price it's worth a gamble. Even if we just use it for a year or two while we find the perfect one.I've placed my order and I'll let you know! And I'll continue looking...

advent calendar #6...

Sorry, this beauty is no longer available but I think it deserves a post just the same.

The House Advent Calendar from Restoration Hardware is exactly what I had in mind. And I missed it... maybe they'll have another one just as pretty next year!? I'm going to keep looking though, I'm sure there is something else just as lovely or lovelier still out there to find!