Pretty Little Packages — Advent Crafts

As a big picture Organic, I was initially attracted to these pages with all the pretty bows, bright colors, and sweet little packages. But then I started looking at the fine print — the details if you will — and this big picture Organic quickly nixed this great idea. Too much work for too little reward and, um, I already have an advent calendar, shaped like a little house in the woods with 24 numbered little boxes that pull out with a tiny knob. And I didn’t have to glue or nail it together.

But detail oriented types like Funs and Classics dig these kind of projects if they’re so inspired. They love working with their hands and if they have the time, they love the small little details that these crafts entail. And as someone with a 5 foot wall full of Christmas decorations that I dutifully take out each year, who am I too judge?

Traditional Advent Chain

Hang this vertically with gift 24 at the top. Snip one from the bottom each day.

Tools/Materials

  • Wrapping paper
  • 24 small gifts
  • Twine or thin ribbon
  • Rubber stamps or pen
  • Tags

1. Wrap each gift. (They use patterned Japanese art paper) Tie each with twine, leaving several inches of twine at the top. Stamp or write number on tags, and tie them to the gifts. 2. Arrange the gifts in order from 1 to 24. Tie the loose twine on gift 1 to the twine on the bottom of gift 2. Continue, joining all 24. Hang the chain.

Merry Bundle of Bags

The striped bags are festive, but you can use solid-color ones, too.

Tools and Materials

  • 24 small gifts
  • Small paper bags
  • Rubber stamps or pen
  • Round stickers
  • Cord
  • Small clothespins

1. Place 1 gift in each of 24 paper bags. Stamp or write numbers on stickers, and adhere to bags. 2. Hang the cord. Fold over the tops of the bags and clip them to the cord in numerical or random order.

Find supplies here: Red and white striped bags, Mailing Seals, Spring Clothespins.

Photo Chain

You can use swatches of decorative paper or even holiday wrapping paper instead of the numbered cards.

Tools and Materials

  • Heavyweight printer paper or decorative paper
  • Twenty-four 4″x6″ photos
  • Hanging postcard or photo holder

Print out our numbered cards Martha Stewart, and trim them to size; or cut decorative paper to size. Slide photos into the holder, and cover with the papers.

Find supplies here: Classic linen coverstock, Hanging Collage Panel