DIY Christmas 2012 with Shelley Munro

Welcome to a DIY Christmas for 2012! We had such a great response last year, I decided to do it again. 

We start out with my favorite world traveler, Shelley Munro. Last year, she dazzled us with a recipe for bath salts.

This year, Shelley is sharing an easy and frugal Advent Calendar that you can try with your family.

Leave a comment by answering her question at the end of this post, and be entered to win a book from Shelley's "Advent Calendar" back list.

An Easy Advent Calendar

Ever since childhood I’ve loved the countdown to Christmas. My favorite ritual always used to be opening the little numbered door on my special advent calendar to see what lay beneath.

As a child, my advent calendar consisted of a pretty picture of a Christmas tree or Santa in his sleigh or sometimes a stable scene with baby Jesus. The picture always sparkled due to a good sprinkling of glitter.

These days the advent calendars contain pieces of chocolate or other treats. My local stationery store does one with small pencils, erasers and other similar goods for each day. I still like my traditional sparkly one, but times change.

It’s very easy to make your own version of an advent calendar at home. Children enjoy them, and my inner child still loves to play too.

 

Instructions to Make

1. 24 envelopes—red or green for a festive touch or use Christmas cards, which is what I did. I pasted Victorian Christmas scraps on mine to make them look pretty.

2. Number the envelopes 1 - 24

3. Place a small treat in each envelope. If the calendar is for children place a few stickers or a tiny bag of sweets or a handwritten voucher for an inexpensive treat such as an outing to the park or swimming pool. If the advent calendar is for adults i.e. husband or boyfriend you can make the treats things like kisses, hugs, a romantic picnic etc. You get the idea, right? Use your imagination!

4. Arrange the envelopes in the shape of a Christmas tree and pin on a notice board, attach to a large piece of cardboard or your wall.

5. Each day during December open the relevant envelope e.g. On 1 December open envelope number 1.


Alternative ideas:

1. Use 24 matchboxes and pin on the wall in the shape of a tree. You can even put a star on top.

2. If you’re a crafty person make 24 tiny Christmas stockings

3. Number Christmas ornaments and hang one on your tree every day

4. Use 24 plain brown bags and place an inexpensive item inside each one

5. Wrap up 24 small parcels. Place a long string on each and tie from a coat hanger

6. Use 24 note cards and write a cute quote or sentiment on each one

7. Use your imagination – your idea here!

Do you have a favorite Christmas ritual? (I have an advent calendar every year while my husband and his brothers take an annual trip on the 24th December to Clevedon Oysters to buy fresh oysters to eat on Christmas day)

LUCKY DIP CONTEST: I’ve written over 50 books. They’re all romances and most are spicy. I’ll do my own private list of twenty-four of my books and will give away one. Answer the question about rituals and pick a number from 1 – 24 to put yourself in the draw. Note – make it easy for us to contact you if you’re the winner!

Shelley Munro lives in New Zealand with her husband and a rambunctious puppy called Bella. She writes spicy romance for Carina Press, Ellora’s Cave and Samhain Publishing. You can learn more about Shelley and her books at http://www.shelleymunro.com