The Anti-Treat Advent Calendar with ideas for Family Activities

This week I have shown you two other advent calendar ideas – my Dollar Tree galvanized pail Advent Calendar and the Ballard Design Knock-off Pillow Advent Calendar. I will say today’s post is definitely the easiest way to pull off an advent calendar plus it is perfect for chubby little fingers to participate my removing the magnets each day.Â This is the magnetic advent calendar with mini ornaments that gives a daily activity to do as a family rather than treats or candy!Â

Hi there, I’m Val from Home Made Modern and I’m ridiculously excited to share my idea for a DIY advent calendar here on Infarrantly Creative. I had the privilege of meeting Beckie a couple of weeks ago and am so inspired by all of her talent. So without further ado, here’s how to make a mod, colorful advent calendar for your fridge with simple and inexpensive materials.

Supplies:

24 mini Christmas bulbs (I found mine in the dollar bins at Target)
24 round magnets
circle punch
Thick, decorative paper (you can get 12 circles out of an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet and you’ll need 24 circles, so 2 sheets will be enough, unless you want more than one or two colors)
White Sharpie paint pen

1.Â Using the hot glue gun, attach magnets to each of the mini bulbs.

2. With the Sharpie paint pen, write the numbers 1 through 24 on the bulbs. You may have to go over the numbers twice, just so the white is brighter.

3.Â Using the circle punch, punch out 24 circles from the decorative paper or cardstock. I chose to cut out an equal number of circles of each color.

4.Â Write your favorite Christmas activities on the back of each circle. (See below for a list of ideas.)

5.Â Arrange your calendar on the fridge or another magnetic surface in the shape of a tree, like I did, or just in rows.

There are a few things I love about this advent calendar. First, it was extremely easy and inexpensive to make. I only spent $2 on the bulbs, and I happened to have the magnets and circle punch. More importantly, it focuses on ways to spend time together as a family rather than trinkets or candy. Also, the calendar can be used from year to year. Putting the days on the bulbs instead of the paper circles allows you to swap the days on which you do the activity, depending on your family’s schedule. Finally, it’s just fun and a little bit different from other advent calendars you might find. I hope you like it!

Here are some activity ideas for the advent season: