As my Christmas gift to you this year, I have decided to create a customizable paper advent calendar that you can download for free! This calendar is one part freebie and one part craft! (Meaning that it’s not as easy as downloading and printing—some assembly is required!)
Because my baby could be born in December, a lot of people have commented that my poor son might have a December birthday! But as a December baby myself, I know that mothers and families can do a great job of making a December baby feel special. My mom did a great job, and apparently I looked forward to December every year as the “present month.”
Part of what made my birthday so special was our Christmas advent calendar. My mother had made (or bought?) a craft at some point that allowed you to put in a slip of paper with an activity for each day leading up to Christmas. I remember that December 1st was always “make a paper chain for the days till Christmas.” Other activities included getting and decorating the Christmas tree, making gingerbread houses, watching “A Christmas Carol,” and driving around to see the Christmas lights. And December 10th was always “Arlo’s Birthday” and December 15th was always “Alma’s Birthday.” What could make a kid feel more special than to see that their birthday was its own, separate event??
If you’d like to use my Christmas advent calendar, here’s what you’ll need:
1. A frame. The current measurements of the calendar fit perfectly into Ikea RIBBA frame that is 15 3/4 x 19 3/4 (matted to 11 1/2 x 15 1/2). (The image can be sized down and cropped to 8.5 x 11 dimensions without losing any of the design.)
2. A professional printer, if you’re going to print out the large version (it will need to be printed on 12×18 paper). Or your home color printer if you’re going to crop and resize.
3. An xacto knife to cut around the ornaments.
4. 25 event ideas leading up to Christmas!
INSTRUCTIONS:
Download the two images. (Click on the images to go to the full size versions. Then right-click and choose “Save Image As…” and save to your computer. Make sure you have both the colored bobbles and the black and white background.)
Crop and resize images to fit the frame that you are interested in. (Most basic photo editing programs that come with your computer will allow you to do this.)
Print the two images. I strongly recommend cardstock. Remember if you’re printing the full-size version to request that it be printed on 12×18 paper. (The background image doesn’t have to be printed in color—you won’t see any of it. It’s just there to be a guide of where to write in your events.)
Write the Christmas events on the background image in the numbered bobble silhouettes. Have fun with this!
With the xacto blade, cut around each bobble on the color copy. Leave the top of the bobble attached.
Match up the front and back precisely. Tape them to the picture matte, if using.
Remove the glass from your frame. Insert the artwork and enjoy! Each day, lift up the appropriate bobble to discover the day’s activity underneath.
Oh Alma, you’re amazing! I can’t wait to get started on this. What a fun thing to do with the kids over Thanksgiving! Thanks for the Christmas present!
I am so doing this!
clever gal you! the 15th is also my wedding anniversary.
This is such a great idea!!
does it come with little chocolates behind all the numbers? ;)
thansk for the good ideas for December birthday’s. my baby was born last december on the 27th and it has seriously become a debate within my family how to make him feel special on his special day.
Noelle,
My mom would also tell me that the most special babies were born in December. Apparently that helped :)
It only starts sucking when you get older and you realize that everyone just gives you joint gifts. Make sure you don’t give him joint gifts!
But he should always be on Christmas break during his birthday. Remind him that no one else gets that. He never has to worry about going to school on his birthday! He will always have the day off!
(On the 15th, I wasn’t so lucky. During college, I was always doing finals on my birthday. Not so much fun.)
Fun Idea
Noelle: My birthday is in December too…Christmas Eve! But I loved it because we always did a piñata on Christmas Eve for my birthday (not till I was an adult did I realize that it was actually a Christmas tradition a girl from Mexico had started in my mom’s family, not a tradition started for my birthday…but no matter). So you could start a fun tradition like a piñata, or something else out of the ordinary, to highlight his birthday.
Alma: lovely design! I am delighted to see your work and find your site. I heard your name at petit elefant and wondered if you might be married to Mike because of the unique last name. Sure enough.:) I was friends with Mike in high school. We had art class together. It’s been really fun to peruse your portfolios. To Mike: lovely work also! And how I love the business cards with one of you on each side. Terrific!
my son has a december birthday, too- the 23rd! we make sure to do his birthday specially and there are not any red or green decorations for his party, blue cups and plates or themed cups and plates, cake is totally all boy (camo for the last few years), it can be done!
for those activity ideas, I’ve got a list over on my blog:
http://birdsofpaper.blogspot.com/2008/11/advent-calendar-ideas-for-tons-of-kids.html
have a great day!
Thank you for the December Birthday inspiration – my daughter’s first birthday is on Dec 14th and your suggestion of incorporating it into the advent calendar is now something I will do.