French Advent Calendar Ideas to Try!

I was so excited when  received my latest email from the French online magazine Marie Claire Idées because it was filled with fabulous ideas for creating Advent calendars…for both adults and children! So just in case you don't read it, I thought I would share these wonderful ideas with you.
The first calendars originated in Germany in the early 1800s as a way to mark the arrival of Christmas during the month of December. It has always been such a charming custom to me and we have celebrated it in some form each year at my house…generally with the Christmas pictures hiding small pieces of chocolate. However, I am thinking we will try something different this year! This one is so pretty…organdy pockets buttoned on burlap and filled with tiny gifts…love it!

This one stars pretty wrapped boxes stacked on birch logs..unusual!

How cute is this one…not difficult to do with just some felt, gingham and yarn!

This one would be easy and fun! You could make it with milk or juice cartons and construction paper…love it!

If you are talented at handwork, this one is for you…stitched on muslin with button-on pockets and tags to update them each day. That’s an old Christmas card graphic transferred to the calendar.

This one is simple match boxes..painted and stacked and glued in the shape of a tree. Each box is filled with chocolates.

I love this one…socks and gloves appliquéd and hung in a child’s room!

This one is more modern and is meant for the adults in the family. You could make it all of felt and use Velcro to attach the numbers each day….or do a traditional flannel board.

Isn’t this one festive…pretty little drawstring bags to open each day filled with luxurious chocolates wrapped in gold foil!

You’ve gotta love this one…made on a vintage French dishcloth!

This one is a puzzle…with pieces in little numbered envelopes to open and assemble one piece a day. You can actually download this one here! Just scroll down and click on Téléchargez (download)  and print. There is a front design and a back with the lines for cutting it. Just mount both sides back to back on poster paper and cut with an Exacto knife. You can find little envelopes at an office supply store.

This one is my favorite, but a little more involved to try. You can find it here. Just scroll down and look for the word Téléchargez (download). For this one, you will want to download the four parts labeled …maisons A4 and the two parts labeled …fenêtres. It’s pretty self-explanatory. Just piece the houses together and glue, then cut the windows and doors open with an Exacto knife. Next, add the little numbered pictures to the back of the calendar. You can add the calendar to poster paper to give it more body. The picture on the web site may be helpful.

And finally, this one can be found here. Just download (Téléchargez) and use transfer paper to create these designs on fabric. Then stitch, stuff and pop into little numbered sacks. Or you could also just print, glue to poster paper and cut, then stash them in little envelopes.
December first is fast approaching, so I had better get busy!