DIY: Make A Last-Minute Holiday Activity Advent Calendar Using Recycled Envelopes

by Jennie Lyon, 11/30/12

Step 4: Choose Your Activities

I used pieces of leftover scrap-booking paper cut into smaller rectangles and leftover stationary to write 25 fun holiday activities that my family could do together during December. In case you need some ideas, here are my 25:

Camp out under the Christmas tree
Host our annual holiday party for family and friends
Walk around our neighborhood to see the holiday lights with mugs of cocoa
Write and send our holiday cards
Watch A Charlie Brown Christmas
Bake holiday cookies and treats
Have a snowflake making party
Make recycled ornaments for the tree
Ride the Polar Express (Watch the movie with cocoa, cookies and tickets)
Surprise mini-local vacation
Fold origami for the tree
Make organic pomanders for our home
Watch Home Alone and drink Soy Nog
Wrap our holiday gifts
Decorate the Christmas Tree
Watch Holiday Movies
Host a hot cocoa and cookie exchange
Bake and decorate gingerbread men
Make candy cane play dough
Make recycled paper trees for the mantle
Family Volunteer Project
Make recycled snow globes
Make a gingerbread house
Build a LEGO Christmas Village
Host a family game night

Step 5: Add Your Activities

Once you have written each of your activities on a piece of paper, slip it inside an envelope, and seal it. I plan each activity ahead of time – that way my son will open the correct envelope for a day that we have time to do that particular activity.