I’ve always loved advent calendars. As far as I can recall, they were pretty modest when I was a child, without chocolate incentives or something of the sort. Maybe my parents didn’t like them much! Instead, in our family, we recycled the same advent calendar year after year and I would look forward to certain days because I knew a particularly pretty picture waited behind the door.
This year Officeworks is encouraging Australians to give the ‘Gift of Creativity’, providing loved ones with the right tools to facilitate projects that align to their passions. As you know I’m a creative person, I get a lot out of the creative process and this is something I like to inspire my children to pursue. I immediately thought of how I could kit the kids up with the tools required to create a new family advent calendar, encouraging them to tap into their imaginations all while continuing a much-loved family tradition.
You see, for me, this season isn’t about the ‘big day’ of December 25 – the whole month is wonderful. Marking the end of the year, it’s about transition, celebration, patting yourself on the back and getting together with loved ones. I wanted my gift to reflect this viewpoint while also reflecting my interest in creative challenges and triggers.
This is what I came up with: Creative Advent Calendar (for less than $20)
What you need:
20Pk Tags (x 2)
(I had at home: scissors, glue, Sharpie pen and old magazines. The first three are also available at Officeworks.)
As I was sitting on the floor, cutting out words and images from magazines, Keira came and sat beside me. I explained my plan after she asked what I was doing. As I’ve done this kind of creative cutting a lot, she’s used to it and I thought she’d get up and walk off.
Instead, she reached for a magazine and started to help.
“What are you doing?” I said.
“I like this idea,” she said. “I’m going to see what I can find.”
As far as I’m concerned, that’s a winner right there.
Process wise, it was very, very simple. Pulling out the twine, I pinned a tag in place where I wanted it. I wrote the days of the month on the front and on the back left a ‘surprise’ which will remain hidden until (hopefully!) the appropriate day. They held in place well.
I wanted to keep the imagery simple. They’re supposed to be interpretable. They could even trigger an action or a discussion.
For example, on day one, I have a Christmas tree. For many families, this is the day trees are put up and decorated around the country – but naturally, if your family has a different date for tradition, use that! On day two, I cut out some love hearts from scrap paper. That could mean anything: tell someone you love them or do something for someone you love, or even a stranger. Donate some time or food.
Speaking of food, the images you see are part of Keira’s contribution. When we get to those particular days I’m going to ask her what her interpretation of the theme will be! I think that’s an important part to these kinds of challenges – follow through. Creativity, after all, is an act and one of my true passions.
There were two main options for displaying the creative advent calendar. It looks very effective strung out across the piano, making it very easy for little fingers to flip over every day. However, it also looks very nice hung on our Christmas tree, very much at home among all our other homespun and school-made treasures.
Sitting down over the afternoon to make this, with Riley piping in his suggestions and comments when inspiration struck, will be a memory I’ll treasure always. I hope it’s something they’ll remember as well.
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With a wide range of arts and crafts at everyday low prices, Officeworks is perfect for gifts that inspire creativity and encourage imagination. I urge you to think about projects you could inspire your friends and family to pursue and share the gift of creativity via #creativegifting – I can’t wait to see what you come up with!
This post has been sponsored by Officeworks.
