Each Day A Gift ~ An Advent Calendar

I really love the idea of an advent calendar.  We didn't have one when I was little.  At least I don't remember.  They're fun to make and they help kids understand the passing of time until the highly anticipated Christmas morning!  It must seem like it takes FOREVER for Christmas morning to get here.  

(Not for us though, right moms!?)

We're heading toward a very meaningful holiday.  And if you are a Believer, then the birth of Christ is cause for celebration.  I want to teach my children that this season is about so much more than just receiving the presents that have come to represent Christmas.  I hope to share with them that we should be appreciative of every little gift AND each and every day we have been blessed with ~ as His gift to us.  

So in our home an Advent Calendar is more than just a countdown to presents...

It's a celebration of each day we have been gifted.

I found this advent tree at Goodwill for $2.99.  It was still in it's wrapping.   

When I opened it I discovered it contained 24 tiny little cards inside the drawers depicting the nativity scene.  How darling!

Similar trees at the craft store were going for $8.99 (on sale) and up.  I knew I was getting a steal.  Except...the trees in the craft store were a "blank canvas" white...and this one was finished in an exciting shade of "Christmas Tree" green...with numbered "stars of Bethlehem" on each little drawer.  Cute.  (Okay, not so much).

So, I sprayed it white!

I laid out all those cute little drawers on my work-space (otherwise known as the kitchen counter) and set to work.

It appears I'm using a glue stick for this project...and I am...but only to trace the little curve onto my scrap papers.  I cut out 24 little scraps, just slightly smaller than the fronts of the drawers, then added the little curve.

I glued them on using white craft glue.

Some embellishing was in order.  I used up all of the number stickers I had on hand, so I had to get creative for a few of the numbers.  See number 21 down towards the bottom (below)?  It's actually made with an exclamation mark instead of a one.  I cut a few capital L's to look like 1's as well.  

It works, right?  

DONE!!!

5 minutes of spray painting

30-40 minutes embellishing (Just because I can't make up my mind when choosing papers!)

A $2.99 advent tree

All other supplies on hand already.

I put the numbered drawers back in randomly...adding a little surprise to each one...

And now Alex gets to count-down-to-the-day he can start counting down to Christmas!  

Good thing it's only two more days until December 1st!!!

Do you still remember what it looked like before???

Yeah, that was so worth the time it took!!!

I hope you find each day a gift in some special way.

Enjoy the delights of the Season.

P.S.  Speaking of Christmas Trees ~ Inspiration Cafe is sharing a sparkly, thrifty Christmas Tree project you have to see to believe, courtesy of The Thrifty Rebel.