Make This Reusable Advent Calendar with a Ladder!

There are thousands of advent calendar ideas on Pinterest and all over google, but I wanted to show you one of my most favorite ones I have made.  Keep reading to see how I made this reusable advent calendar with a ladder and some burlap!

I am always trying to come up with advent calendar ideas, and this reusable advent calendar with my ladder is a great one with so many options!

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me a reusable advent calendar.  Who doesn’t love an advent calendar, or is looking for advent calendar ideas at Christmastime.  I know my kids love them.  We always have a few paper chains hanging around the house and tear off a chain everyday.  However, I wanted something a little more interactive and maybe something that could teach my kids a little something.   I started to brainstorm about different ways I could do that.

How I made my reusable advent calendar with a ladder and some burlap:

 I came up with an idea of using some type of bag system that the kids could open each day with something fun in each one.    We had this old ladder just chilling in my family room, just waiting to be used for something other than blankets, a higher calling you know?

It was time to start looking around on the internet for some fun little bags I could use, and I found some great ones on Amazon.  I will link to them later.  But let me tell you this first.  I made my own.  There was a stockpile of burlap in my fabric closet, so instead of buying some, I made some.   I felt silly buying some when I had so much fabric sitting in my closet being unused.  So I will repeat, there is nothing wrong with purchasing bags.  I just like doing things the harder way.

If I did not have my Pfaff sewing machine, I could not do any of this.  My husband gave it to  me for Christmas a few years ago.  I told him I didn’t need it, nor want it.  Boy was I wrong!

Here is a quick list of things I needed for my reusable advent calendar, along with a link to pre-made burlap bags:

4 X 6 Burlap Bags with Drawstring
Stencils
White Paint

If you decide to sew your own bags you will need:

Sewing Machine

Rotary Cutter
Double Sided Self Healing Cutting Mat
Christmas Ribbon

Thread

Okay lets talk about how to make these advent calendar bags:

 

Step 1: Cut my fabric into squares

 

You will need to cut them 10 inches by 9 inches.  I cut 24 of these. Then I cut one  more square out of some red and white striped fabric.

Once they were all cut out, I folded them in half and sewed one the open side down, followed by on of the ends.  This creates the bag.

Here they are all stacked up and ready to go.

I wanted to have the 25th bag to be a little different and special for Christmas Day, it needs to be a little more special.

Once the bags were all sewn, (and seriously, this took me about 15 minutes to sew them all) I turn them right side out and began stenciling the numbers on them with white paint.

Once the stencils were done, I tied each with some leftover red and white fabric.  I simply clipped the edge and then ripped the fabric, to create a frayed edge.

Here are 25 ideas for your reusable advent calendar bags:

I have been brainstorming a while and this is what I have come up with.  Some of my ideas are more like a scavenger hunt type of note in the bags, others are simply candy.  I want my kids to be involved and create memories.

1.   Note telling them to read the story of Jesus birth from the bible.  What a great way to start the holiday season.  With the real reason.
2. Candy
3.   Write letters to santa
4.   Make Christmas cookies
5.   Watch Elf
   and have popcorn
6. Find the Christmas book “…..” and read it as a family.
7. Candy
8. A small Ornament
   to go on the tree
9.  Listen to Christmas music while cooking dinner
10.   Drive around and look at Christmas lights
11.   Candy
12. Do something nice for your siblings
13.   Watch The Santa Clause
14.   Go on a treasure hunt to find a treat
15. Candy
16.   Make snow man pizzas for dinner
17.  Drink hot wassail and listen to Christmas music
18. Candy
19. Make a fun piece of Christmas art
20.  Make a Christmas treat and take it to the neighbors
21.  Candy
22. Watch another fun Christmas movie of your choice
23.   Pick out a Christmas book to read as a family
24.   Special letter to each child
25.   Read the Nativity store again, after all, it is the reason for the season.

These are just a few advent calendar ideas that you could use to do with your family.  Can you imagine the memories you can create?  Some are incredibly simple, and some are more involved.  Obviously I added candy in there quite a few times.  I am a sellout, what can I say.

You cannot be that involved everyday.  I really want to do things that will involve my kids, so each night, they are more grateful for the season, and more grateful for each other.  Don’t make it complicated.  Do things that will resonate with your family.  Can you imagine how excited they will get when they get to open a new bag each day, always with a surprise?  I cannot wait.

These little bags are so adorable on my vintage wooden ladder!  This is just one of the many advent calendar ideas that I have up my sleeve.  Make sure to check out more of my Christmas projects at the end of the post!

 

I hope you are enjoying my 12 Days of Farmhouse Christmas. I know I am!  We arereally excited for Christmas this year.  Not so much for the gifts.  But for the feeling, the love, and the memories.  I will be holding my little ones tight, and I will watch as their eyes fill with wonder for the season.  This reusable advent calendar is just one way to bring the spirit of Christmas into our home.  

If you like this post, check out these other great Christmas posts:

Easy Chalkboard Advent Calendar

DIY Vintage Wooden Sled

How to Upgrade Cheap Faux Christmas Garland in No Time

Neutral Farmhouse Style Christmas Tree