Simple Crafty Advent Calendar

So, Christmastime is coming!! I feel I am awake enough in my new environment to actual notice a holiday is coming! Unlike all the other holidays that have passed without me noticing. I spent New Years in a chinese grocery store, we completely skipped Valentines and St. Patrick's Day. We managed to squeeze in a few eggs for Easter but the candy was crap and the 4th of July was a huge bust. I spend moments of my day worried about my kids not knowing or participating in all these traditions and what would become of them so I vowed to make it a memorable Christmas!

I have never owned an Advent Calendar. And since my crafts have slowly made their way out of their boxes, I felt a huge nudge to make one myself. I found these cute bags at Ikea. They actually are meant for a calendar and come with these little number stickers, but I wanted it to be a bit more crafty than that. Tsk Tsk!

I used the Doily die cuts from Papertrey Ink and cut out 24 of the 3 different styles in white. And adhered them to the front of the little bags.

Then I busted out the ol' Cricut and made up my numbers at 1 1/2 inches. 

(I was SO glad the power situation worked out on that on. Ask me about the other things I have blown out using Sing's 220 power.) 

 Aaaaaand, easy does it... Taped those on with pop-up tape.

 Voila! I stuck the finished bags on the wall in the shape of a tree. 

My first Advent Calendar:

 Here's a close-up of a few of the numbers. It's really simple and I really like it. You may know about my Christmas Books that I add to each year and which live each year under our tree for our reading enjoyment. Well this year I wrapped each one and placed a number on it that corresponds with a day from the advent calendar. I also added a few Christmas movies to watch and of course some scripture reading for each day to really set our holiday up right.

I'm excited for it to start on saturday! WAAAY more excited than my kids, for sure. I was wondering if doing these things would make me miss home more or fill the hole that I've had since we've moved here. Luckily it has really helped me become more planted in this place of the world we have chosen to "bloom" in. Family traditions are what hold us together! No matter the craziness of life or the experiences that pull the rug out from under us. Tradition gives you comfort and the reminder that you do belong somewhere. And that is together as a family in this journey of life. Each tradition that we have dusted off or created this past year has really helped ground me in my reality. And because of that, I am even more excited to welcome Christmas this year. Ho Ho Ho!