Advent Calendar and Family Gingerbread Project

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Advent Calendar and Family Gingerbread Project.

We only have one Granddaughter. Since she was two, we have MADE AND FILLED A pocket Advent Calendar. I have filled it with craft supplies, ornament projects, stories, family history, candy and well, just about anything fun or entertaining having to do with the holidays.

Now that she is 12 going on 40...it's become a bit harder. Upgrading craft supplies to fine art supplies...and girly things, less on the projects...Except DAY 1 ...

WHICH WAS A Four GINGERBREAD HOUSES KIT...SO CUTE.

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They all came to pick up the calendar from our house---this is the photo they took when they got home. I think this will be a shoe closet next year...as she will be 13.

But, today, DAY 1 was the gingerbread house kit which I thought would be a great family to do together on Thanksgiving weekend.

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All the makings for 4 tiny houses, icings and decorations. Only problem in making a family event was there was only one bag of white frosting. I pulled out the few cookie icings I had and some extra doo-hickeys (cake decorations). 

Since three of us were going to work it was a bit of passing everything around.

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Grinding off the rough edges of the nicely thick pieces. Only one roof piece was broken in the box...thank goodness,

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Works in progress...the plates keep the mess contained and easy to turn around. 

The houses are very fragile until they are dry. 

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Besides all the small candies and gumdrops, small cute signs were included to name your houses. 

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The Grand is very meticulous and talented...and she had hers together before anyone else.

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Of course there was monumental picture taking. We really used mostly the cute candies from the kit.

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The houses were all a bit different, this one had an add-on addition and an interesting roof.

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My D-in-Love ....look at that work on her roof...Golly...they are both PROS.

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Mine was a bit of a fright. I tackled the broken roof...which just would not stay together...so the icing ended up very thick, and then another layer again to mask the mess.

But, it finally held together. Thank goodness for the sign, it covered up even more sins...LOL.

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The Grand's was sliding a bit, so this we tilted it, so would dry straighter, and it worked.

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Grandgirl is now taller than Mom...and declared herself the winner...LOL. She finished two...while I was still trying to glue the roof together.

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The Four Gingerbread House kit was a hit...and lots of fun for $9.99.

PERFECT WAY  TO START THE ADVENT SEASON.

***HOW DID YOU START 

Dec. 1st?***

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 Sandi Magle

OldNewGreenRedo

DIY Christmas Advent Calendar

Last year I made a DIY lunch bag advent organizer, with bags attached with strings to a calendar. What a mess. This year, I decided to invest in something permanent...

sort of for my 5 year-old Grandgirl.

My son's house is basically BLACK,  WHITE, and LIME GREENS. .

So I chose the lighter green for the numbers.

The shoe organizer for the REDO was under $8.00 at Walmart. Finding the 24 pocket one wasn't that easy---since I didn't want to spend an arm an a leg. Besides the mesh front is a bit forgiving 

for different shaped items.

I used sticky foam for the numbers----I know these won't last forever, but that is the level she is at right now. I added felt snowflakes with hot glue and little foam embellishments in simple shape to go 

with their contemporary decor. 

I used a number stencil set on one of my alphabet stencils to trace on the back of the foam, backwards, and then cut them out...!

Because the front of the pockets is a nylon mesh, I hot glued a couple inches on the back of the letters and rubbed the hot glue across with a spoon, to encase the mesh. 

In the pockets, I used decorative lunch bags (5 for 97cents) and filled them with craft supplies, kits, books, puzzles, cookie mix and sprinkles, window clings, 

...glitter glue, velvet posters, wooden ornaments to paint, 

acrylic pots, pom-poms--life savers, and more books.

and of course chenille stems. A paper banner with stickum letters to put together for 

MERRY CHRISTMAS. 

Phew! I collect these things and more over the Fall season, and sale pricing was so good I hit Michael's and Joann's for small kids kits, as well as the Dollar Store. I probably have enough to do another one. To be honest, it didn't take that long to do. One night cutting out the letters in front of the TV and the next day attaching the numbers, decorations and bagging the booty.

The colored lunched bags add a very festive look to the organizer.

Here, is the finished festive Advent Calendar. The best part of this, is she has something to do 

everyday now and can learn how many days away Christmas really is.

I rolled it up in a ball and took it to their house yesterday.

My Grand can't wait to investigate, and the calendar installed into my son and d-in-law's home. 

I had an extra book wrapped up for yesterday---that was too big, just to appease her until

Friday, December 1st---!

Christmas is only 25 days AWAY!

Thanks always for visiting. 

I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question.

All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own, I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown or anywhere I shop.

 Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog without my permission. 

Thank you for your cooperation, Sandi Magle

I will be sharing at these fine Parties!

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Sandi