Sparkle !
I love glitter and it’s a good thing because my kitchen , my son and I are all covered after this and we bought pre-glittered stuff! I figure a little extra sparkle is never a bad thing! This advent craft is a fun number search every day leading up to Christmas, it’s also a great Christmas centerpiece. My plan is to take each number off the tree and place it on to our Christmas tree ! These are great kid friendly ornaments that add sparkle but not a lot of cost to your decorating budget.
- Gather your materials. You will need some fun wire decorative branches, some snowflake ornaments, some labels ( pre cut circles ones would be way easier) some crayons, a marker and a vase.
- Start by writing out the numbers 1-25 on the labels. I didn’t have circle ones so we cut ours into circles but if i did this again we’d get pre-cut circle ones.
- Have your child color the numbers, and identify the numbers they are coloring too ! Yay Math!
- Cut into circles if you need to.
- Peel and place the stickers on each snowflake ornament. Press firmly.
- Hang onto the tree!
- Have fun counting down to Christmas!
Books!
The Little Drummer Mouse by Mercer Mayer is a beautiful book. The dedication to his grandchild is perhaps my favorite part even though the book itself is wonderful too! Read it and you’ll see ! The story is a retelling of the little drummer boy , but in this book he’s a tiny little insignificant mouse. At least he thinks he’s insignificant until he follows the bright star to the manger on the very first Christmas night! The little acorn drum that this little mouse beats is anything but insignificant and he is thrust into the spotlight as Baby Jesus likes his music best of all ! The illustrations are amazing, they have so much detail I find myself opening this book over and over to just look. Great book, the test is lengthy for toddlers but preschoolers and older will love it.
Merry Christmas, Mouse! by Laura Numeroff is an adorable little Christmas counting book. Most of the praise should really be on Felicia Bond the illustrator because the pictures take the cake on this one. The book follows the mouse as he decorates the Christmas tree, 1 Star, 2 angels, etc… It’s a perfect to read and then count the ornaments on your own tree. After reading it my son and I found 4 bells, and 3 trains on our own tree.
McDuff’s Christmas by Rosemary Wells was a classroom classic in my last year teaching. I think I read it every day for 3 weeks straight and then a few weeks after Christmas too! In it McDuff the little Westie dog saves the day finding Santa stuck in the snow! I love Susan Jeffer’s retro illustrations and the little details like the dad feeding the baby, the doggy sweaters the McDuff wears in the snow, and how Santa gave them all gifts they needed in the story . This book was never really put away after last Christmas and has been in bedtime reading rotation since, a definite favorite of my now 3 year old!
Starr Weems de Graffenried says
In case you are interested, I have a bunch of activities for another holiday-themed Laura Numeroff book:
Activities for If You Take a Mouse to the Movies:
http://www.examiner.com/x-15855-Early-Childhood-Educational-Activities-Examiner~y2009m11d12-Childrens-book-activities-If-you-Take-a-Mouse-to-the-Movies
anabelle says
i made one a few years ago out of a large peice of red felt. On top I hot glued a green felt Christmas tree….. then strips of felt beneath that I sewed on to create 25 little pockets. ON the tree I sewed 25 buttons. I bought 25 miniature christmas tree ornaments for the pockets.. everyday we hang an ornament on one of the buttons 🙂
.-= anabelle´s last blog ..Rowan’s Santa Claus List =-.
Beverly says
great idea
.-= Beverly´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday! =-.
Kristin says
So pretty and I love the idea to hang each day on the tree!
.-= Kristin´s last blog ..Build your Own Pilgrim Settlement =-.
Rachel says
What a great idea! We will definitely implement a variation in our home! Thanks!
.-= Rachel´s last blog ..Ways to Encourage your Preschooler to eat more Veggies =-.
mommies wise little bookworms says
I love that tree!
.-= mommies wise little bookworms´s last blog ..Happy Thanksgiving =-.
Tanya says
What a fantastic idea. We’re going to make one this weekend with our kids. Thank you for the idea!
I love you blog BTW! I’ll be back often.
Tanya
http://www.proudmaman.wordpress.com
Christie says
What a wonderful idea, love it and still have a few days to make one!
.-= Christie´s last blog ..The People in your Neighborhood =-.
EntertainingMom says
Oh Allie, I just love love love LOVE that advent calendar tree! I will have to come up with something similar!
I made ornaments with my son today… totally thought of you. So easy and so simple and so beautiful! Come on over and take a look!
.-= EntertainingMom´s last blog ..Deck the Halls with Handmade Ornaments! =-.
Karen Dinsmore says
Look for ideas for our church liturgy group but I can’t seem to open anything â˜¹ï¸ Interested in things for advent and Christmas but church and gospel orientated.
Allison McDonald says
Karen, I am sorry I am not following what are you trying to open? Let me try to help you find what you need!