Michele Made Me

The Boy’s Advent Clock Calendar

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If you remember yesterday’s post, you’ll know that the boy (who’s 6 years old) and I were busy busy working on our little Advent Calendar. This is our very first handmade Advent Calendar! I know, crazy. Before this year, we’ve always bought them, tisk tisk. It was never on my radar before… But with the “advent” of the blog (chortle), I’ve been inspired by so many amazing crafters and their amazing Advent concoctions! So I thought I’d get the boy involved and create one of our very own design and making.

I sketched 3 different possibilities and passed them by the boy. He, being president of Everything, chose the final design: the Advent Clock Calendar. Here you see it partially made, most of the components ready for assembly.

It is made out of a large cardboard box, frozen concentrated juice containers and their metal lids, some ribbon, a piece of newsprint, a few bits of used giftwrap, some regular white paper, paint and Mod Podge.
The boy is a snowflake expert (he was making snowflakes back in the womb) so he helped with the lid embellishment including the cutting of circles of paper and of all those little snowflakes that you see on the tops of the juice lids. He also penned all the numbers which I then cut out. I’m darn fond of The Boy Font, and use it whenever possible. It’s got character, ya know?
We got Lo involved by forcing him to poke holes in things and by sending him out to get the goodies for the little snowflake cups.
Today I put it all together and spent some time gathering Christmas jokes to add to every cup. The boy loves a good joke. Whenever he tells a joke, he always asks: “Do you get it?” and proceeds to explain the ins and outs of the joke, and exactly why you should be laughing.
After school, he excitedly threw off his coat, hat and boots, like a flash raced to the Calendar, and swiftly found the goodies and the joke that were waiting for him. Then he begged me to let him do tomorrow’s today to which I said: “No way, José!”
Pretty sure he likes his Advent Calendar! Yay!

Now you go have yourself a lovely evening!

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Comments

  4. Michelle L. says

    So cool! I love the concept, the execution and the story. What a big, fun, mechanical advent! Boy friendly and neato for him, beautiful for us. His snowflakes and numbers are lovely. So much talent in one family. The jokes are such a great idea! I don't think I know any Christmas jokes. Can you post one or two you like?

  7. Amy says

    Such fun!! I have a hard time finding goodies small enough for the doors on ours…ideas? Did Lo find anything good? I only fill each door the night before to prevent sneak peeks. So I have time still! You did a great job on this!

  15. rossichka says

    What imagination and skill! Good for the little boy – he must be very contented and proud of his work! You, too!:) I find the clock amazing and pretty, but maybe the most interesting thing is that it's full of surprises!:)

  16. Anji* says

    I love it! Our boy has some interesting lettering tricks up his sleeve too, brilliant aren't they! I really wanted to make an advent calendar this year but haven't got to it in time.. maybe we'll make something at the weekend, it will be a few days late but better late than never! (or next year!)

  19. PEACHES says

    Somehow I missed this in my blogger reader thing –THIS IS SO COOL! Im just dying to know what you put in each of the little boxes (I'll bet your son is just itching to see!)….what fun, and what a great idea!!!