Easily Changeable Advent Calendar

I am in the process of making a pretty formal Christ centered advent calendar and the example I am following has simple Christmas activities to do with their kids each day. I love the idea of having something fun and Christmasy to do each day but I also didn't want to be stuck on the preset schedule, things change you know. So I wanted a cute and simple way to keep track of our Christmas plans that I could change at will.

I came up with a decorated frame with a calendar on it that I can write with dry erase markers on. I attached magnets on the back so that it could stick on the back of my front door, right where my daughter and I will be able to see it.

I used:
- a frame from the dollar store, look for one that is lightweight and pretty simple
- tacky glue
- glitter
- magnets, the stronger the better
- hot glue

First, I took out the insides of the frame, the glass and cardboard backing. I poured a line of tacky glue around the frame and had my daughter spread it Because she doesn't mind getting all glue-y. But I kept a baby wipe handy for our fingers.

I let her sprinkle the glitter on the glued up frame, I should have had something bigger beneath it, but it vacuumed up. 

I left that overnight to make sure it was all the way dry. While it was drying I printed a calendar template. You could make your own or print one. I found mine here. You could use one with numbers and replace it every year but I choose one without numbers. 

In the morning I put my printed calendar in the frame and heated my glue gun. 

I glued magnets on the corners, but there are a few things I would do differently. I would use magnet strips and glue them to the frame, not the cardboard. Sometimes the cardboard is pushed in further than the frame so then the magnets don't get as good of a connection. 

Hang it up, and write on it. The black on mine are the ones we for sure have to do, like Christmas parties and traveling. The Last few days before Christmas are blank because we don't know if we are leaving town or not yet, but that's the nice thing, I can change it. 

Here are some activity ideas: 

- Decorate the Christmas tree

- Make Snowflakes

- Sleep by the tree

- Watch Charlie Brown Christmas

- Spend the day at Grandma's house

- Visit the Christmas display at the museum

- Make gifts for friends

- Bake gingerbread men

- Go to the post office and then go to the bakery near it and get Christmas cookies

- Build snowmen

- Make Christmas treats

- Share Christmas treats with neighbors

- Wrap gifts

- Library visit with Santa

- Drive around to see lights

- Go out to Breakfast

- Go to the mall and see Santa

- Christmas Craft 

- Watch Muppet Christmas Carol

- Make a new tree ornament

- Write a letter to Santa

- Board games with Daddy

- Read some Christmas books

- Play around with "Elf Yourself" and send one to grandparents

- PJ day

- Sledding