I've got the itch...

Last year I noticed I was spending a lot of time pinning items on Pinterest. I also spent a lot of time making my favorite items. I've got that itch again this year. I'm not sure if it is due to having finals right around the corner and needing a mental break or my LOVE for the Christmas season. I wanted to make an advent calendar for my family filled with small traditions. I found many options on how to make one and this style caught my eye. I spent hours in Photoshop making my own numbers. On the inside of the tins are things to do or to talk about during the month of December. The nice thing is that I can switch the tins around next year (they have magnets on them and are not glued down) so each activity doesn't have to be on a certain day.

I found this book last year and wanted to incorporate the ideas celebrating a Christ-Centered Christmas. The items in gold are the days we focus on the special people that fill the nativity scene each year. I also found mini ornaments that represent these people and they fit perfectly in the tins.

I put the tins together over Thanksgiving. I added lights to my shadow box which I love. All in all, it took a ton of time but I plan on having this around for many years to come. I can replace the activities in the tins or let my children help plan next years activities and traditions. 

We decided to go to temple square the night they turned on the lights for the season. There was hardly anyone there a half hour before the lights were turned on. By the time the lights were turned on it was so crowded! What a neat experience.