Tuesday, November 9, 2010

countdown to christmas...

Looking for a fun way to count down the days until Christmas with your kids?


Add simple tags to these bags (found at Michael's, but standard brown lunch bags will work as well)...


Fill the bags with treats and a daily activity strip (leftover Halloween candy is great for this)...


Fold over the top of the bag and close with a cute ribbon...



...and you've got instant Christmas fun!

Instead of displaying the bags together, I think I'll hide one bag a day and have the kids take turns finding and opening it. Of course everyone will get a treat and we'll all enjoy doing the activity together as a family.

Want to make one for your family? Download the tags here!

But wait! Once you've punched your tags, save your scraps because you can use them to embellish gift boxes, bags or jars. Here, I rounded the corners of a remaining tag and used it to frame a glittered chipboard shape from My Little Yellow Bicycle...


And just like that, the Christmas fun has begun!
Posted by beth at 2:20 PM Labels: , , ,

46 comments:

  1. I cannot believe it is already time to start thinking about Christmas countdowns, but I can't wait! Very fun ideas! They sure beat the traditional paper chain!

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  4. Very cute! I'm wondering where you buy your punches and what size they are? I'm having a hard time tracking anything down that isn't tiny! Thanks for your great ideas.

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  6. These look so fun! Thanks for sharing! I think I might make a set to send to a family in New Mexico...a little pre-Christmas gift!

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  7. That is awesome! I would love for you to come link that in my Strut Your Stuff Party! http://danajeanward.blogspot.com/2010/11/strut-your-stuff-party.html

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  8. This is the first time I have visited your blog. Those are soooo cute. Thank you. What an amazing idea. I am a new follower.

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  9. I love this idea. It's much simpler than what i used to do- wrap a gift for each day for the kids to open. That got too complicated for four kids! I think I'll use four colors for the background, then each kid can have a color. That way there's no fighting over who's turn it is! (not that my kids EVER fight :))

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  11. I've been trying to think how I want to do a Christmas countdown with my son - I love this idea! Thanks for sharing!!

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  12. That is such a brilliant idea! I wish we had Michaels over here. I will have a look to see if we have something similar as I would love to try this.

    Best wishes,
    Natasha.

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  13. Congratulations, your Christmas Countdown idea made this week's Top 5 Hits. Come check it out, grab a button if you'd like and thanks for sharing such a fun idea!

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  14. total perfection!!!
    I just love Little Yellow Bicycle!!
    great project!!
    =)

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  16. cute-love those tags-my girls would love the hiding part the best!

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  17. First time visiting your post. It is AWESOME! Thank you for this incredible sharing. Besides "write letters to Santa", what are some of the other ideas inside the bags. Also, what size is the punch. Thanks!

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  18. thanks so much for sharing. what a cute idea!

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  19. Very cute!! Such a great blog - I am a new follower. I hope its okay if I put a link to this on my blog. :)

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  20. So so cute! Great idea! I am going right now to post about these on my blog, www.simplyawesomeprintables.blogspot.com! Thanks!

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  21. Love this! So easy, even I couldn't screw it up! :)

    But I'm with "Amazed" I'd love to know what other ideas you had for inside the bags and also what size the punch is. Pretty please?!

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  22. CUTE JARS, AND DARLING ADVENT LOVE WHAT I am seeing! Jen ;)

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  23. such a cute & simple countdown!

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  24. These countdown bags are just so stinkin cute...great idea!!!

    Blessings,
    Linda

    Christmas is right around the corner…hop over to enter my gift card GIVEAWAY…WIN some Christmas cash!

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  25. Here is a few more "activity" ideas for the paper strips- Bring Neighbors treats, Make a snowman (we'll have snow in Idaho),Christmas Bingo, Eat Peppermint icecream, sleep under the lit tree, make a christmas craft, make christmas cards and mail them to grandparents.....

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  26. Thanks for the countdown printables, they will definitely come in handy this festive season :)
    Love your little bags for the countdown too!

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  27. Thanks for the additional ideas, Amber! I included my list in my "this and that" post, but I think I may need to trade out a couple of my ideas for yours! :)

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  28. Congrads. This was the most viewed link last week at the Whatever Goes Wednesday party. I am highlighting it today at Somedaycrafts.blogspot.com.

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  29. Your printables are DARLING! Thanks for sharing them! I am your newest follower. ♥ DavesWife

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  30. What a cute idea, can't believe it myself that it is that time of year again.

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  31. What a great idea. It is so effective. I know that the children will absolutely love it! Look forward to viewing some of your other wonderful projects!

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  34. Hey Beth! This is such a wonderful idea! And the tags are great! Thank you for being so generous! Would you mind if I linked up your idea on my blog??

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  35. Absolutely, I'd love it if you linked up!

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  36. simplicity is divine! thank you for sharing.

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  37. absolutely adorable! Just shared on my blog today! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  38. lOVE the countdown! I shared it on my blog today with a link back to you!

    Amanda

    frillsandfrolic.blogspot.com

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  39. Hi!
    I am Ashley from Simply Designing.

    I have been asked to host the Holiday Countdown on Nickelodeon's parent's website ParentsConnect. It is a great month-long countdown that, every day, I will be featuring great ideas / crafts and recipes! They also offer chances to win prizes every day just by leaving a comment!

    I just wanted to let you know that today I featured you on ParentsConnect!

    Feel free to check out ParentsConnect Holiday Countdown, link to it and let all of your followers know that you can be found there!

    And if you have a moment, come and join me for the Countdown! I am posting a new topic every weekday the entire month of December!

    Thank you!

    ~Ashley

    www.simplydesigning.blogspot.com


    http://www.parentsconnect.com/parenting-boards/holiday-countdown

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  40. Thank you! Just what I needed :) I posted mine with a link to you here: http://aloadofcraft.blogspot.com/2010/12/birthday-party-ideas.html

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  41. Love this! Thanks for sharing. Featuring it on my blog Tuesday.

    Blessings,
    Holly
    http://hallelujahsbyholly.blogspot.com

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  42. Hi there! Thank you for sharing this, I made it for my family and they are loving it! I shared it on my blog and linked it back to you if you want to check it out. I would love for you to visit!

    Amie
    http://coffeecakescrazies.blogspot.com/2010/12/our-first-advent.html

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  43. Thank you so much for this post. I want to let you know that I posted a link to your blog in CBH Digital Scrapbooking Freebies, under the Page 5 post on Dec. 17, 2010. Thanks again.

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  44. Totally blog stalking you this morning! Although Christmas has passed, I love how you offered a suggestion for the sraps! I definitely plan on using it for scrapbooking ideas! I hate throwing away all the scraps so often! Thank you!

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  45. HI! Just wanted to let you know I will be featuring this calendar in my Advent post over at my Delightful December celebration. You can come over and grab a featured button if you would like.
    http://nap-timecreations.blogspot.com/

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  46. It was fun to feature your bags in House of Fifty mag, so creative! Janell

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