Easy DIY Advent Calendar to Make with Your Kids!

Thank you to Oriental Trading Company for sending us everything we needed to create this fun and easy-to-make hanging DIY advent calendar for the holidays.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

I am a huge fan of having reusable advent calendars.  There are some really nicely crafted hand painted wooden ones out there, but most of them are out of my budget.  I've made several different kinds of DIY advent calendars over the years, and I adjust each one to suit my family's changing needs.  With 3 children who are now almost 10, 10, and 13, what we fill the advent calendar with has changed.  I've included a list of fun and creative ideas for filling your advent calendar at the bottom.  Be sure to check it out!

Since we now have two dogs, we try to have hanging advent calendars, so our dogs can't get to the treats (often chocolate) inside.  This advent calendar craft was super-easy to make, and I was able to enlist my daughter to help with the artwork.  She happily obliged, of course.  This turned out to be a very fun holiday craft to make together. I love how this advent calendar turned out to have sort of a rustic, Americana style to it. Check out the short list of supplies needed below, all of which I found in Oriental Trading Company's Christmas crafts, stocking stuffers, and Christmas decorations sections.


DIY Hanging Advent Calendar Craft . . . 

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

(2) Dozen Mini Stitched Christmas Stockings

(4) 6pc Burlap & Jute Gift Tags

Fabric Markers (Red, green, black)

(2) Poinsettia Garlands (optional)

Large Colored Candy Canes (optional)

Step 1.  With a black fabric marker, write one number (from 1 to 24) on each burlap tag.

TIP #1:  It might be a good idea to order one additional set of 6 burlap tags in case you make any errors.

Step 2.  Using your fabric markers, decorate each tag with a festive and colorful design.  We stuck with red, green, and black (and occasionally yellow).  Invite your children (school-age and older) to help you!

TIP #2:  Although fabric markers usually require to be set by heat, we skipped this step since our advent calendar would not likely be getting wet, nor will it be handled extensively.

Here is a sample of what my daughter and I came up with.  We are quite proud of ourselves for coming up with 24 different designs.

Step 3.  Tie each burlap tag onto one stocking, creating a neat bow with the twine ties.

TIP #3:  If you are using stockings in different colors or designs like I did, then it will be worth it to take a couple of minutes to plan ahead by stacking the stockings in the order in which you would like them to appear.  This is a great way to avoid having two of the same color or design next to each other.

Step 4.  It's time to hang your advent calendar up!  We chose to hang each stock on a separate nail, which are hidden under the poinsettia garland, but you could tie each stocking (evenly spaced apart) to one long length of sturdy twine.  Then you could hang the twine up like you would a garland.  I personally think it's more fun to be able to take one stocking down at a time to hand to the children to discover the contents.

Step 5.  Fill your advent calendar!  As far as candy goes, I like to vary what I put in there from day to day.  Some days will have something chocolaty, and other days will have a surprise, like these flavored candy canes.  But, what about the non-candy treats?  Check out some of the fun and creative ideas I've listed below for filling your advent calendar . . .

5 fun ideas for filling your advent calendar . . .

1. Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces - Choose a jigsaw puzzle that fits your child's skill level.  Then assemble the puzzle, so that you can disassemble it in an orderly fashion.  Place a handful of puzzle pieces in each day's advent calendar so that your child will have completed the puzzle by Christmas Eve.
2. Lego Mini Figures - Instead of putting whole Mini Figures in each day of the advent calendar, only put one or two parts (hat/hair, head, body, legs, or accessory).  Then, as each day goes by, your child will be able to mix and match the pieces to build some cool figures.
3. Fun Coupons - Print or hand write a fun perk on a coupon for each day, such as a trip to the mall or the ice cream shop, having mom do your nails, getting to choose the restaurant next to the family eats out, etc . . . 
4. Collectibles - For a young collector of anything, it would be fun and exciting to receive a new item to add to his or her collection each day.  Some examples might be die cast cars, marbles, buttons, seashells, or stamps.
5. Beads - Include a handful of beads in the advent calendar each day.  By the 24th day, your child will have enough beads to make a necklace or a couple of bracelets.  If needed, be sure to include nylon thread to string the beads on, on the last day of the advent calendar.

What fun ideas do you have for filling an advent calendar? 

Share them with us in a comment here.

'Brilliance Award' Winners are Top Choices for Creative Gift Ideas for Children This Holiday

Thank you to Brilliant Sky Toys & Books for providing two award-winning toys and a book for us to base this review upon and for providing an additional product for our giveaway prize.  All opinions expressed are my own.

In my experience as a parent to three children (and having once been a child myself), toys that encourage creativity and flex the imagination often make the best gifts for children.  Brilliant Sky Toys & Books, a specialty retailer that caters to children and their imaginations, has recently announced which toys would be honored with the 2014 Brilliance Award.  The list includes toys for toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary-age children and range in price from just $9.99 to $39.99.

Why do I trust Brilliant Sky Toys & Books when it comes to gift recommendations?  Although there is not a store location in my area, I've heard ravings about this toy store from friends and I love the content on Brilliant Sky TV and on the Brilliant Sky Toys & Books Blog, where you can read more about this year's 10 Brilliance Award winners.

And the 2014 Brilliance Award winners are . . .

• Squigz Starter Set (24 pieces)
• Plus-Plus Mini-Basic (480 pieces)
• Lottie Dolls
• Doodle Quest
• Create Your Own Storybook
• Super Stadium Baseball Game
• LoopDeLoom
• Sew Cute Sets
• Illustrated Adventure Stories and Illustrated Fairy Tales
• Paint Your Own Porcelain Bowls

I was thrilled to give my children a chance to experience three of these award-winning toys and books.  Although it was difficult to choose, I felt like the LoopDeLoom would be a well-loved creative toy for my daughter and I was right!  I also correctly predicted that all three of my children would very much enjoy the Paint Your Own Porcelain Bowls craft kit and the Usborne book of Illustrated Fairy Tales.  I knew these products would be a big hit because both the LoopDeLoom and the Paint Your Own Porcelain Bowls kit produce a final product our children could keep and enjoy forever if they wished.  And, fairy tales are magical stories meant to be enjoyed again and again.

Giving our children a creative outlet is such an important thing.  Even our 7 year old son, who does not usually show much interest in art, enjoyed painting his ceramic bowl.  He did not show the lack of patience he normally would.  Instead, he painted very deliberately and carefully.

Another Brilliance Award winner that helps children develop patience, as well as further develops fine motor skills, is the LoopDeLoom weaving kit.  Although this toy is recommended for children 8 years and older, our 7 year old daughter was quite adept at it.  At first, it seemed like it would take forever to finish, but after a little while, she could see her progress.  The best thing about this craft kit is that it takes concentration and is an enjoyable, yet quiet, sit-down activity.

The Usborne Illustrated Fairy Tales is a wonderful book with beautiful illustrations.  Our daughter will sit and read one fairy tale after another.  She also loves to reread them out loud to her twin brother at bedtime.  I have such fond memories of reading fairy tales and having them read to me as a child.  I'm happy to see my children experience the same magic.  I am definitely going to look into buying this book's counterpart Usborne Illustrated Adventure Stories for Christmas this year.

You can find all these award-winning children's gifts and many more quality children's items at Brilliant Sky Toys & Books.  If you have not yet visited your local store, be sure to bring your children soon to enjoy the hands-on experience, child-height shelves and displays, and the superior personalized customer service.  You can check for the closest store location here.

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Good luck in the drawing!

This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. A random drawing will be held shortly after the contest closing. The winner will be announced here and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

The Ultimate Gift Idea for Young Artists . . . Bring Children's Artwork to Life with #Budsies!

Thank you to Budsies for providing complimentary custom stuffed animals samples for us to base this review upon.  All opinions express are our own.

If you have a child who has a deep love of drawing, this gift idea will surely be a cherished one.  We have two such children in our house and they were over the moon about the idea of bringing their artwork to life in the form of a custom plush toy.  It didn't take them very long to decide what to draw, but what then?  That's where Budsies came in . . .

On Budsies.com, you can submit a scan or a digital photo of your child's artwork to have a Budsies designer create a 16" plush toy in the artwork's likeness.  Our two children, who submitted artwork, are 10 and 7 years old and were able to follow the tips I gave them quite well . . .

Tips for Designing Your Budsies Creation:

1.  Try your best to show the entire subject on the page without having parts cut off at the edges.

2.  Use solid blocks of color when coloring in your subject.

3.  Try to assign a color to every party of your drawing.

4.  Keep your background white or another solid color.

5.  Don't worry if any parts are a little abstract.

6.  Have fun with it!

Even if you just do one or two of the above or your artwork was drawn for another occasion, you will be amazed at what the designers at Budsies can do.  Visit Budsies on Instagram for some wonderful examples!  All the materials that go into making each one-of-a-kind creation are hypoallergenic, so they are safe even for the youngest artists.  If your child needs a little inspiration, he or she can take a look at the Budsies templates.

I have to say that the whole process of ordering from Budsies could not be more simple.  When you submit your image, you will have the opportunity to include some characteristics about the subject to help the designers really capture its spirit.  The hardest part was waiting for the custom plush to be crafted.  It takes approximately 5 weeks from the time you submit your child's artwork to the time your child's new plush friend gets delivered to you.  My children asked me at least once a week about when their cat and owl would be arriving.

When the cat and owl finally arrived, I was pretty darn impressed.  In fact, I shared a photo of the plush toys next to the drawings on Facebook and everyone was amazed.  My daughter was thrilled with how her cat came out and would not stop hugging it.  My son loved his owl, but wished it was a tiny bit pudgier.  Both the likeness and the workmanship looked incredible to me.

Need more reasons to be impressed?  Budsies gives back by partnering regularly with children's charities, such as Easter Seals and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to bring smiles to children who don't have many things to smile about.  Learn more about how to get involved or suggest your favorite children's charity to Budsies!

Thinking about ordering a new plush friend for your child from Budsies.com?  Now is the time!  Budsies is offering a special online price of $69 (Reg. $99) per plush, plus 3G2S readers can save an additional 10% off when you checkout using Budsies promo code: 3G2S10. Remember to plan ahead because it takes up to 5 weeks to have your custom plush made.

The First Impressions Complete Art Studio Set is the Perfect Gift for Young Artists

Thank you to Jerry's Artarama for providing a complimentary art supplies sample for us to base this review upon and for providing a gift card for our contest prize. All opinions expressed are my own.

In our homeschool, we use an art curriculum that suggested we use supplies from the website Jerry’s Artarama. Therefore, when we were offered an art set from that site, I was really excited to try out their products. We were sent the First Impressions Complete Art Studio Set For Kids which includes 24 transparent watercolor cakes, 24 assorted colored pencils, 15 assorted oil pastels, 10 water-based markers, 2 plastic trays for color mixing, 1 artists’ paint brush, a pencil sharpener, and vinyl eraser, which all stores away neatly in a sturdy, clear plastic case.

Both my kids love this set, even though my oldest son (12 years old), Avery, isn’t as much of an artist as his 6 ½ year old brother, Quinn. The set is really nicely set up and includes everything they need for art in our homeschool, so they love sharing and having everything they need stored away nicely in this case. The supplies themselves are high quality - much nicer than you can purchase in most retail stores - so that’s another plus. It has really taken their art to a new level and I love seeing their creative juices flowing when they use this set.



The assortment of colors is great and all of the supplies have vibrant, deep, and beautiful colors. Avery really likes the colored pencils because he says they are “easier to use” but Quinn particularly loves using the oil pastels because he can blend and overlap them to make more color depths. I cannot say enough good things about this set and how happy we are with all of the supplies included. I have already recommended this kit to several other homeschooling families and look forward to purchasing more art supplies from Jerry’s Artarama in the future.

The First Impressions Complete Art Studio Set For Kids can be purchased here at JerrysArtarama.com. Usually it retails for $39.95 but it’s currently on sale for just $19.99!

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Good luck in the drawing!

This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. A random drawing will be held shortly after the contest closing. The winner will be announced here and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

Two New Books from Sterling Publishing Encourages Children to Explore the World of Animals and Their Own Artistic Talents

Thank you to Sterling Publishing for providing complimentary product samples for us to base this review upon. All opinions expressed are my own.

Animals Everywhere: A Pop-Up Adventure is new children’s book from Sterling Publishing. This hardcover book recommended for ages 4 and up takes an in-depth look at over 100 animals from both land and sea and even features 3-dimensional looks at some of them via the amazing pop-ups. These pop-ups are very cool and my kids were surprised at how many details they had. The story was great and the animals facts were interesting as well. This book is sure to be a favorite in your child’s personal library and would be a fun gift idea as an alternative to toys.

My 6 ½ year old son, Quinn, is quite a little artist, so when I saw Craft-A-Doodle: 75 Creative Exercises from 18 Artists, I knew it would be right up his alley. This book takes you on a crafty journey with short intros and prompts that get you doodling, painting, and using your creative skills. Some of these exercises are great for adults, some for children, and every age in between. Quinn loved trying out different styles of art and learning a little bit as well.

Sterling Publishing’s newest books are great additions to our home library and we’ve really enjoyed reading them. Both books are available at many major retailers such as Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com. Animals Everywhere: A Pop-Up Adventure retails for approximately $14.95 and Craft-A-Doodle retails for $19.95.

My Photos: Artwork Produced By Our 9 Year Old Son

This week, our children's elementary school will be hosting their annual Student Art Show.  Our 9 year old son brought home his art portfolio filled with the works of art that was not included in this year's show.  He has always been very talented and has even had one of his pieces included in a student art show at the Worcester Museum of Art when he was just 7 years old.

I know I may be biased, but I was truly impressed with the body of work he brought home.  If these are the ones that were not included in the show, I can't wait to see what will be displayed at the show this week.  The pieces below are my personal favorites among all the artwork he has brought home this year so far . . .

Our son said that this first piece was inspired by the work of Eric Carle.

Of course, I cannot wait to see the artwork proudly displayed by all 3 of our talented children.  Each one has their own unique style.  I'll most certainly share the photos next week.

Click here to view all my past favorite photos.

3G2S "Top Picks" 2012 Holiday Gift Guide for Tweens

1. The World According To Me Personalized Book Kit ($39.95) - This is a book kit from the creators of the well-known I See Me! personalized books.  One thing that makes this book even more special than the other personalized books offered on ISeeMe.com is that it includes your child's artwork and words, in addition to the usual personalization.  Included inside the ready-to-wrap box is an instruction booklet (which also contains interview questions for your child), paper for drawing each themed picture, extra blank paper, a pack of 10 thin markers, and a postage paid envelope.  Of course this book kit can be gifted to a child of any age, but I think it is especially perfect for a child between the ages of 8 to 11.  At this age, a tween is still very much a child and still has a wonderful imagination, but he or she is beginning to truly develop a drawing style and has the patience to put a lot of detail into the illustrations.  Our nearly 9 year old son thoroughly enjoyed this project.  It takes approximately 3 weeks for the finished book to be shipped to you after you have submitted all the interview responses and artwork by mail or online.  Our son just cannot wait to see how his book turned out!  To shop for this and other personalized books, visit www.ISeeMe.com.

2. My Friendship Bracelet Maker Kit($24.99) - This is one of 6 craft kits made by the Choose Friendship Company, all designed around the theme of "friendship."  This particular kit is the one that started it all and includes the Friendship Bracelet Maker, 56 skeins of floss in 14 different colors, and easy-to-follow instructions.  There are many more tutorials for fun patterns available online.  Although this product is recommended for ages 6 and up, I think it is a perfect gift for an older child, who will have better dexterity and a longer attention span.  I had to teach myself how to make a few patterns before I could teach our nearly 9 year old son and I am still working my way through the beginner patterns.  The online video tutorials are such a huge help.  Like with knitting, weaving friendship bracelets is a very therapeutic hobby.  It is the perfect activity for a tween who needs a quiet activity to focus on in order to escape his or her hectic life.  It is also a wonderful creative outlet and your child will be so proud to show off and share these bracelets with his or her friends.  You can find the My Friendship Bracelet Maker at many major toy and craft retailers nationwide.  Visit www.myfbm.com to find out more about this and other products by the Choose Friendship Company.

3. The LEGO Adventure Book, Vol. 1: Cars, Castles, Dinosaurs & More!($24.95) - This is the first of two very different LEGO books that are new from No Starch Press for Fall 2012.  Although this book does teach the reader how to build specific models, it also does an amazing job at inspiring the reader to use his or her imagination to create something great.  My son found the bright and colorful photos to be captivating and refused to put the book down until he had looked through it twice.  This hardcover book is currently selling on Amazon.com for $15.48 with Free Super Saver Shipping.

The Unofficial LEGO Builder's Guide (Now in Color)($24.95) - Now this book is a very handy how-to LEGO manual.  It will help the reader learn new ways to build things, how to build sturdier structures, and how to get around certain obstacles, such as running out of a specific type of brick.  While my son read through this book, I heard him say "Hey!  I didn't know that!!" many times.  It would definitely be an interesting read for any LEGO fan.  This paperback book is currently selling on Amazon.com for $16.14 with Free Super Saver Shipping.

4.  Gap Kids x Junk Food Tees ($26.95) - If you are considering buying your tween clothing for Christmas, you must make it something super-cool.  Nothing is cooler than the t-shirts from Junk Food Clothing.  This brand has been seen on the children of famed celebrities, such Angelina Jolie, Gwen Stefani, and Heidi Klum.  For Fall/Winter 2012, Junk Food Tees have arrived at your local Gap Kids store, making it even easier for you to shop for these sought after shirts.  These long-sleeved shirts are currently available in-store and online in raglans, hooded tees, and layered tees with Star Wars and superhero themes.  Our son just loves the stylized artwork of the Millennium Falcon on his long-sleeved pullover hoodie.  The shirt is also extremely soft because it is a polyester/cotton/rayon blend.  Visit Gap.com or your local Gap Kids store to see all the shirt designs currently available.  The selection will vary from store to store.

5.  Kidz Bop Christmas! CD($13.98) - New for 2012, this Kidz Bop Holiday music CD (or any Kidz Bop CD for that matter) would make an affordable gift or a nice stocking stuffer that can be enjoyed for years to come.  If you are not familiar with the music brand Kidz Bop, it is a series of music CDs where young Kidz Bop singers record popular hits in kid-friendly versions.  What I love most about these songs is that they usually maintain the sound of the original music.  This CD includes some of my favorite Christmas songs, such as "All I Want For Christmas Is You", "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", and "Jingle Bell Rock."  Visit KidzBop.com to listen to samples of all 15 Christmas songs.  This CD is currently selling on Amazon for $10.00 with Free Super Saver Shipping.  You can also download the Kidz Bop Christmas! MP3 for $5.99.

6.  Guinness World Records 2013 ($28.95) - This hardcover book is my nearly 9 year old son's most-wanted book for Christmas.  Since receiving his first Guinness World Records book 4 years ago, he was hooked and has anxiously awaited for the release of the next one every year to follow.  When asked what his favorite record was for the 2013 edition, my son said the man that holds the record for the largest muscles.  Although this book would be fascinating to adults as well, I think the Guinness World Records book does an especially good job at encouraging tweens to read something other than fiction.  The book is also filled with interesting full-color photos that make you want to find out more.  You can find this book at most major book retailers, such as Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and Scholastic Books.  It is currently selling on Amazon for just $16.30 with Free Super Saver Shipping.  To learn more about how to set a world record of your own, visit www.guinnessworldrecords.com.


Although complimentary product samples were sent to facilitate this gift guide, all opinions expressed are my own.

Silly Monkey Story: A Portrait of Moi!

Our 5 year old daughter just loves to draw.  Whenever she has free time at school, she almost always opts to draw a picture to give to me, my husband, or one of her teachers.  Well, a couple of weeks ago, she presented me with this portrait, which is pretty impressive for a 5 year old.

If I was not the confident person that I am, I would think that she's trying to tell me that I have big hair, fat ankles, and I wear too much lipstick.  I am also dying to ask her what those purple things are.  I suppose I should be thankful that she didn't draw me with a laptop permanently attached to my hands, right?

(Click photo to enlarge)

Click here to read all my Silly Monkey Stories

Reuse Wipes Bins to Make "Boredom Kits" (Free Printable Labels)

Although our children have been out of diapers for about two years now, we still have quite a collection of diaper wipes bins.  Each time we bought a case of wipes from BJ's Wholesale Club, one more empty bin was added to our collection.  I have always used them to hold small toys, but have recently discovered a new way to repurpose them.

I got the idea of making pre-assembled boredom kits from Savannah of the Garnish blog.  Since this is a school vacation week, it was the perfect time for me to test this project out.  It only took one day for our children to come to me to tell me they were bored.  I had made 6 kits altogether and will refill each one with something new after it has been used.  Below you will find labels that are sized to fit on the ends of Huggies Wipes bins.  All I did was print and cut out the labels.  Then I glued them on with a little Modge Podge and added another thin layer of Modge Podge on top to seal them.

TO PRINT:  Click on image below to enlarge.  Then right-click on image and select print.  Use your browser's back arrow to return to this page.

Now comes the fun part . . . filling your "Boredom Kits!"  I did purchase a few things from the craft store, but a lot of what I used were things I had in the house already or could print off the Internet.

(Click any photo to enlarge)

Ideas for filling your "Boredom Kits" . . . 

• Color pencils, crayons, or markers with printed coloring pages
• A brightly colored crayon with several copies of this free printable at-home scavenger hunt activity
• Fun pens with printed mazes, word searches, Sudoku, drawing, dot-to-dot, or other puzzles
• Fabric markers with a blank shirt for each child
• 20 drinking straws to use for a game of Pick-Up Sticks.  (To play, simply drop the bundle of straws onto a flat surface, allowing them to land randomly.  Then take turns trying to pick one straw up without disturbing any of the other straws.)
• Glue sticks, a variety of colored construction paper pre-cut into small shapes, and half sheets of blank paper
• Beads in a variety of shapes and colors with a spool of plastic lacing and a pair of child-safe scissors
• Markers and a blank jigsaw puzzle

There was one glitch that was unforeseen by me.  An 8.5" x 11" piece of paper is just slightly too wide to roll and fit inside the bins.  I had to trim them to make them fit.

When my children came to me and announced that they were bored, I instructed them to choose one bin.  They could not look inside the bins before choosing and they had to agree to do whatever activity was inside.  The first Boredom Kit my children chose contained age-appropriate word searches and mazes.  All three of our children, ages 8, 5, and 5 actually enjoyed doing these puzzles even though some of them were a little challenging for them.

If you have other ideas for filling our Boredom Kits, I would love to hear them.  I intend to have these filled and ready-to-go for all those snowy, rainy, and lazy summer days ahead.