It's not too late ...

... to make something for Advent, if you haven't already! Hello, and it's Alexa here with my last post of the year.

Several years ago, I was inspired by this wonderful tutorial here by Tracie Hudson, on making an Advent Box from twenty-four matchboxes and some pretty paper and ribbon. I made one that year for my daughter as she began her first December as a self-supporting young adult; and last year I made one for my son and daughter-in-law, and their own little one, and thought I was done! That one, alas, got lost in the post somewhere between here and Europe, so here I am again, in November, producing this:

Tracie's instructions are excellent, so there is no need for me to do more than point you to her post and lovely photos (see second paragraph above). However, being somewhat of a veteran at these, here are some tips should you decide to make your own - either as an Advent calendar, or for storing buttons, or paper-clips/drawing pins etc.

• choose your match-boxes carefully: the sturdier, the better. I bought several sets of plain ones this year which have been a big disappointment. The card is soft and feels even flimsier after painting or inking, making opening and closing the drawers difficult. Next time, I will buy lots of full matchboxes and empty them!
• inking drawers I found quicker than using acrylic paint - I only did the outsides.
• double-sided sticky tape is a must - use copiously everywhere.
• having taped sets of three matchboxers together, I covered each stack with patterned paper all the way round, rather than simply glueing a panel down one side: this made each set firmer and easier to manage.
• if you are using rub-on numbers, make sure you have enough '1's before you start! You will need thirteen of them!

When I was a child, Advent was a time of preparation, like Lent, and calendars did not contain chocolate or sweets. As parents, we hung on to this for a while with our own children, but caved in by the teenage years to the pressure of a little chocolate-ly or sweet something. However, I have been loath to let the aspect of preparation diappear totally, and so inside each drawer I added, for my daughter's more secular Advent calendar, a small piece of paper with a task to do before the delicious mouthful could be savoured. Much to my astonishment, this was much liked by both her and her young adult flatmates! and so it is a tradition I continue every year when they calendars are replenished. Here are just a few of the 'tasks' offered down the years:

• say something affirming to someone today with whom you normally do not have an easy relationship.
• tidy out a drawer.
• next time you are offered a free newspaper or leaflet as you rush to/from work, stop, look the person in the eye, and smile nicely before either accepting or saying 'Not today, thanks'.
• ask your partner/flatmate to gently point out your most irritating habit, and stop doing it.
• send a postcard to a relative, or someone you have been meaning to get in touch with, but haven't yet.
• polish your shoes/boots. If you don't have polish, go and buy some!
• put £1 in a charity box today, or give to a busker.
• straighten the books on a bookshelf.
• ask a flatmate/partner to tell you some small task you can do for them today, and do it gracefully with no grumbling.
• phone a parent or grandparent!
• water the plants.
• clean the top of the oven, or the grill pan.
• listen to the news and write down 5 things you are grateful for. Keep it where you will see it for the next three days.
• buy a little something nice and share it with someone where you work or study.

I am sure you will be able to think of your own for whichever family members your Advent calendar is destined. If you like the idea, but already have your Advent calendar made or planned, you might like to devise twenty-four little suitable tasks, write each onto a rectangle of card or the white back of pretty scrapbooking paper, fold each in two and pop them in a hat or bowl or bag. Whoever gets to open the calendar door/drawer or chocolate, also has to pick a task, and do it first!

Wishing you a happy and creative time, and thank-you all for your support this year!

Comments

[Miriam]

Alexa, this is such a lovely idea and is so similar to one I did for my son many years ago. I have the calender ready to photograph for you. Hope you are resting and this post was sheduled?

[Eleanor]

The calendar itself is very pretty, and I just love these little tasks; I feel quite moved by them, and the thoughts behind them, each different.
I also feel very sad for the 'lost' calendar, bobbing about in a sea somewhere last year. :(
xx

[PepPop]

Beautiful advent calendar and I love the little tasks. Jaqui x