Advent three ways {printable}

I have been trying SO hard to just focus on November and Thanksgiving and not get all ahead of myself with Christmas things. However, I do realize that at times you have to prepare or you won't be ready when December 1 comes, especially in the area of advent. I love to start the countdown Dec. 1 and that means I need to have my advent calendars/countdowns ready before that. I also needed to prepare a easy craft for about 20 moms to do this last Tuesday in the moms group I attend. With all that in mind I got to work and created an activity based advent countdown that you can make three ways.

First: Start with the printable HERE

Choose the 24/25 activities that work for your family and cut them out. Each day of December you can do one of the activities. I might have some chocolate or candy ready for when the task is completed each day. 

Next gather some Christmas scrapbook paper or just some red and green typing paper and get to work. I've come up with three ways to use the paper strips.

Option One (the easiest option)

Find a nice look jar or vase. Glue each activity onto a nice piece of paper and cut into strips. Fold the strips and put into the jar. Each day pull one out and do what it says.

 

Option Two

Glue each activity onto a strip of paper 12 inches x 1.5 inches. Staple into a long paper chain. Hang for decoration, and cut one off each day.

Option Three
Cut your activities and colored paper as described for option two. Instead of making loops, fold in half. I used some fancy scissors to add variety. Hole punch at the top by the fold and thread some twine through the top.  For the long top of the garland I took a piece of twine twice as long as I needed. Start twisting the long piece until it starts turning on its self. Fold in half and let it twist together. Knot the open end. Now you have a twisty garland and can tuck in all the other pieces of twine so they won't slip. 

 It's pretty self explanatory from the photos.

Here are a few pictures from our group working on Tuesday and below that are photos of others completed projects. I love inspiring creativity!

What can you create from these advent activity strips?

 

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