Saturday, November 27, 2010

Advent Calendar Blog Hop

I am so happy you are hopping along with us on this
Advent Calendar Blog Hop hosted by the very talented Ruthie.
If you came from Raven's Blog your on the right path.
Now on to some Advent Calendar History...

I was trilled to be apart of this Advent Calendar Blog Hop and
 in searching the Internet on Advent Calendar's and their origin, I came across some History about Advent Calendars. Here is some of the history about how the Advent Calendar became apart of our Christmas Tradition.

Some form of the Advent Calendar has been used for more than 150 years and it becomes increasingly popular every year.  The origin of the calendar, like so many of our Christmas traditions, started in Germany in the 19th century. Different methods of counting down the days to the celebration of Christmas were used.

The first Advent calendars were based on 24 days with Christmas Eve as the last night to either put up a picture or take a candy. Today, the traditional German calendars still show 24 days, but in the United States, it's not uncommon to also find ones with 25 days -- the last opening to occur on Christmas Day.

Advent Calendars can be found everywhere Christmas is celebrated and have been made with many different themes. There are permanent ones with little drawers that are opened every day, felt pieces to decorate a tree, religious icons behind the different doors and lots of pop-culture/character Advent calendars. The traditional ones are still a paper/cardboard piece with a small treasure behind the doors.
 The treasures can range from a beautiful miniature religious picture, perhaps a little wooden toy or even a piece of candy. 


So keeping with the tradition of the paper Advent Calendar here is my
25 day count down to Christmas... 

I cut my base envelopes from the Smiley Cards Cart, I also cut the matching tag.
 This gives you a envelope for each day with it's own tag, for special counting down treats.
I plan on noting a special treat a day to do with my grandson, Jason. Like reading a special bedtime story, baking cookies, or his favorite a trip to  McDonald's for a Happy Meal.
Each day has a cute toy or character to help celebrate the season. I used the
Winter Frolic, B is for Boy, Sugar and Spice, 3 Birds on Parade, Simply Charmed, Jolly Holidays (My only Black Friday Must Have), Cricut carts. Also it was easy to
put together with my Xyron Create a Sticker.  Just run the cuts thur and
they come together perfectly with no mess or sticky fingers.

I am really pleased with how my advent calendar turned out. It is my first ever undertaking of such a project. I  hope you found some inspiration from all the talented ladies and be inspired to do one for your family and start a traditions in your home too.


 Now on to my  blog candy giveaway for this Advent Calendar Blog Hop.


Now you have all seen my Christmas Blog Makeover, by the talented
Shabby Vanity, now here is your chance to be a Shabby Girl too!

My giveaway is a blog makeover sponsored by myself and Shabby Vanity.
The winner will be picked by Random.org and will receive a custom blog makeover for yourself and a blog makeover for a friend!

 A FREE Custom Blog Makeover by The Shabby Vanity!
This is more than a $100 value!!!

Here's what you need to do...
  1. Leave a comment on this post, about your favorite family tradition.
  2. Leave a Comment on Shabby Vanity blog also. Click here for Shabby Vanity's Blog.
  3. Become a follower of both The Queen and Shabby Vanity.
Here the list of the blogs in the hop:

Angelica
http://handmadebyangelica.com/
Dawnica
http://dawnicakorner.blogspot.com/

Gale
http://www.thehappystamper.com/

Janie
http://www.typicalscrapbooker.blogspot.com/

Joanna
http://scrap-making.blogspot.com/

Joy
http://joyslife.com/

Mary
http://cardztv.blogspot.com/

Melissa
http://www.apaperjourney.blogspot.com/

Michelle
http://www.mumoftwoblog.blogspot.com/

Nicole
http://primpedinpaper.wordpress.com/

Raven
http://love4stamps.blogspot.com/

Theresa ~ME!
http://www.thescrapbookingqueen.com/

Tracy
http://www.craftjunkietoo.com/

Yolie
Denise
http://cricutmyway.blogspot.com/

Ruthie
 http://septemberninth.blogspot.com/

Now I really want to thank Ruthie for putting this all together for us!

The next stop is Tracy's blog...
Thank you for hopping along with us today!

121 comments:

Anonymous said...

yay first comment lol
I loved your calendar so cute!!! And this is such a generous thing you are doing I desperatley need a makeover hahaha thanks...
MattTheScrappingKing

Josie0602 said...

Cute calendar! I love all the images you added to yours. I am so excited about the blog makeover! That would be a great blog candy to win!

jtg0398 at sbcglobal dot net

Trisha said...

This is a very special advent calendar. Thanks for sharing and the chance to win.

Trisha
patnbobcuddy@gmail.com

Peggy said...

Love your blog and enjoying the blog hop . It wa so easy to follow. First time sticking with following blog hop. TSF Love your calender. Caint wait to use my new carts on my gypsy.
red467atjunodotcom

Banner Market said...

beautiful calender I just love how it turned out. ALl of the images on here are perfect you did a great job!

My favorite family tradition is gathering all of our friends and family on special evening and trimming the tree. we have christmas music, hot cocoa or cider holiday music playing in the background and we are are all in a festive mood. we have white chilie to start things out and get warm then we gather all the ornaments and start to decorate the tree each of us tell about our favorite things about the holiday season, its so much fun and we learn so much from one another. its terrific!

On to the next wonderful blog and your looks so cute all decked out for the holidays!

Thanks
Gina
raegina at gmail dot com

mum of two said...

Hi Theresa, It's Michelle from the hop. I wanted to hop around and be inspired by everyone else's calender. This is so wonderful! I just love everything about it :)

My favorite holiday tradition is reading twas the night before Christmas to the children after we get home from church, and leaving cookies for Santa.

Your blog candy is beyond amazing!

Craftyhomemade said...

Thanks for share with us some history. Your calendar it's adorable.
My favorite family tradition, it's the night before chritmas all my family have a big dinner together.

Indira
craftyhomemade7atgmaildotcom

ladybugstamper said...

Wow, what a great idea, thanks for sharing.

Shay Shay said...

I love this calendar, I'm thinking that it could be a great gift for my friend's kids. My favorite family tradition is listening to Christmas Music in the days leading up to the holiday!

Shana said...

Love the calander, Jolly Holidays was my only circut purchase on black friday too. My tradition is I buy each of my kids a special orniment every year. So someday they will have them for there trees.

shanasewing@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

Love it!! Beautiful job!!

Lois Cook Berrett said...

Our favorite family tradition is our big get together at our daughter's house for Christmas Eve. We have so much fun and it is a wonderful way to spend time with our wonderful family. Thanks for sharing your talents. I am hopping on over to Shabby Vanity now to leave a comment on her blog and become a follower.

Theresa said...

Your calendar is super cute..I love all the papers you used on it. If by chance you pull my name, skip over me as I don't have a blog..I'm just here enjoying seeing all the projects you ladies are sharing today.
firelass51@aol.com

JennyKozar said...

Your project is adorable. I love the use of the cartridges and images. Thanks for sharing.

Perfectly Unperfect Cards said...

I love it, I am so glad I finally got to see it :D


My favorite family Holiday thing we do is our 25 days until Christmas tradition, every night starting December 1st we as a family watch a Christmas movie while drinking hot cocoa :D

crafty queen said...

Very cute...Love it. My favorite is Christmas Eve at G & G's(that's us). We do Christmas Eve and then we go to our children's homes and see what was under the tree for them on Christmas morning. That way only the old guys are hauling out on the cold morning leaving the kids to enjoy what they got.

gdobberteen at yahoo dot com

Suzy said...

I love this tag project! One of my favs. The cuts are so cute. Happy Holidays!
-Suzy suzyq28024@gmail.com

GreenScrapinMachine said...

What a great idea for an Advent Calendar!
My favorite family tradition is that the day after Thanksgiving, we decorate our house for Christmas and spend the rest of the weekend baking cookies.
Thanks for the chance you win your great prize!

Brigitte said...

I love your advent calendar!!! What a great giveaway!. I'm already a follower.
brigitteetleschats at hotmail dot com

Linda said...

Oh what a great idea! It will be so much fun to use.I love all the Cricut cuts.
I would love a blog make over.
The cartridge on my BF list was out when I got to the display. I was there at 11:55 and they were not suppose to go on sale until 12:00. Oh well I really need to uses what I have. I see a lot of them on your calendar. I love B is for Boy!
Thanks for the great idea.
Linda
http://cardsbylinda.blogspot.com

Ashleigh said...

Theresa you are amazing as always. your grandson will love it!

aecopenhaver at gmail dot com

CyndiU said...

What a darling advent calendar. TFS and for a chance at such awesome blog candy (a blog makeover is soooooooooooo cool).

Fav tradition is Pizza on Christmas Eve. There is a very long story that goes with it, but I'll try to give the sort version. A long long time ago my boys and I had just moved to Philly (newly seperated), we had been living in a motel for a couple of months while looking for a place to live. The boys received a Christmas card from a friend of my mother's with some $$$. We went out looking for a place to celebrate Christmas eve on the $$ they had received. We found a Pizza resturant that was still open and invited us in to celebrate with them. We had a wonderful evening making new friends (we knew noone other than my ex's family). The $20 we had seemed to go a very long ways, we had more pizza, drinks, and surprises that the waitress kept brining us. It was a blessed evening. We've changed the tradition up a bit and instead of going out, we make pizzas at home.

Thanks for the chance to win a blog makeover, I sure could use one.

cureta2@yahoo.com

Kristin said...

Wow what an adorable advent calendar! I started making one last night with my son! They are fun to make!! Jolly Holly cart my fav too but I couldn't get it I am so sad!! Thanks for sharing!!


Pinkldycrafter:)

Jessica said...

I'm lovin the more traditional look you chose. Thanks for sharing.

Unknown said...

Love this calendar. The images are so cute

Our tradition is everyone gets new jammies christmas eve so we all look great for pictures on christmas morning. Lol. We do not have traditional christmas dinner. Everyone picks 2 or 3 favorite foods and we have munchies all day long

katieo said...

I love your calendar. I have cut alot of these shapes out ready to make my holiday cards. Hopefully they find a home somewhere soon. Where does the time go

Julie said...

Theresa...you so outdid yourself on this calendar! It's perfect:) I can see lots of work and love went into it. It's obvious! Great Job Girl:)

Cricut Chick
cricutchick@rocketmail.com
www.cricutchick.com

Gale said...

Fabulous Advent Calendar & I love all the details! Your blog is soooo cute too & how nice of you to givee that opportunity away to someone else. Great idea girlie...
Happy Huggs,
Gale The Happy Stamper :)

Tonia said...

My favorite family tradition is a new one for me. My son is going on 4 and every year we read a christmas story and he leaves carrots for Santa. He started this when he was 2 and when I asked him why carrot and not cookies he said that Santa needs energy! LOL!!!

I am a follower of both blogs and commented!

Darlene said...

Wow! I would love a blog makeover!

Your advent calendar is so cute! I think will have to give it a try. TFS

Darlene
desaucier at bellsouth dot net

Savahanna said...

Super cute calendar. I love all the different cuts and I like the idea of writing different treats for the kids. Thanks or the idea.

Ruthie @ SeptemberNinth said...

Super cute calendar my friend! Jason is going to LOVE it!

Thanks so much for being a part of the hop!

Ruthie :)

Denise G said...

That turned out fantastic. I love all those cute tags. You and your grandson will enjoy this.

Denise from the hop

Ashley said...

I love your advent calendar Theresa! I especially love the fact that you researched advent calendars before you created one and honored the tradition in your project - and I learned a few things too! :) My favorite holiday tradition is opening stockings with my family on Christmas morning. My sister and I used to try and wake up before my dad when we were younger and see who could get to their stocking first. So much fun and such great memories! Thank you for sharing your project and the AWESOME giveaway!!

Happy Holidays!

Ashley "Scrappin' Pink Piglet"
scrappinpinkpiglet(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Hi I loved your calendar, great Inspiration! I am already a Follower. My favorite tradition is going to Midnight Mass as a Family. TFS!!!!

debpaint16@aol.com

Carol said...

I love your calendar, it turned out great. Thank you for sharing not only the calendar, but also the history. Wow, what a great gift... I could use it! chale@gci.net

Teribelle8 said...

your calendar is so cute..tfs...so many treasures can go in there...lots of gift cards!
:)

Liset Villarino said...

I love your calendar, I thought it was beautiful. soooo cute. I love the idea and I think I will try this one out.
Thanks so much for sharing.
I love watching my kids open up one gift the night before. Their faces just light up in expectations for the next morning.

Thanks,
Liset
hailemnat@gmail.com

SimpleScrappin said...

I love your calendar. What a great way to plan quality time with the kids. TFS!!
My favorite tradition is staying up late with my kids watching holiday movies and waiting for "santa" lol
Hugs
Nicole
simple.scrappin at yahoo dot com

SherriC. said...

i love love love your calender, TFS!!!!
brodiec88 at hotmail dot com

shanna13 said...

I loved your advent calendar! My favorite holiday tradition is decorating our tree together. TFS Susan
shanna13@frontiernet.net

Sue said...

Your advent calendar is amazing. I just love how bright and cherry it is. Your grandson will love this. My favorite Christmas tradition is baking cookies and making gift baskets to give away to others who don't have the time to bake at the holidays. I do this with my grand children. We have a blast and I think it teaches them what a great feeling it is to make a difference for someone else.
Sue

Unknown said...

My favorite tradition is getting together with my mom sisters, daughters, and nieces to make tamales and empanditatas

Manhattan Mandie said...

Love your calender!!! All of the cuts are great and I LOVE the envies you used. I REALLY need to start messing with my Smiley cartridge :) I'm a follower and I'm going to check out and follow the Shappy Vanity too! Thanks for the chance to win!

Anonymous said...

I wish and hope I can win this one. I just started a blog and have NO IDEA what I'm doing. I have nothing up there except the automatic followers, which i have none, and the blog archive. I want to inspire and share my ideas with others! Oh this is such a great giveaway. And I LOVE the calendar you made! I need to get that smiley card cart! Great cuts seem to be on it!


dncnqueen02@yahoo.com

Creative-Time said...

my mother myself and daughter always get together to make christmas cookies to give out to friends. we wear our christmas aprons that mother made. I just love this time of year.

The advent calendar is wonderful can not wait to try this.

thanks for sharing

Carrino@aol.com

Unknown said...

Your Calendar is very festive and I appreciate the time you took to provide us readers with a bit of history.

Our favourite family tradition is to visit Santa!

Happy Christmas!!
Jennifer McIntyre
@atthebluebarn

p.s. I follow you - please follow me!!!

jenni said...

I don't have a blog to make over but I had to tell you how darling your calendar is. The best part is the time you will spend with your grandson every day, such a sweet idea! Thanks for sharing!
jpshirley@ymail.com

Unknown said...

Oh my I love your calendar and want to get one done for my granddaughters that I babysit, now I am thinking I will have to make two, one for each of them.....oh my..
I tried to become a folower of your blog and hope it works. I sure could us a blog makeover for sure..
Favorite holiday tradition is our annual christmas party and we have an ornament exchange playing the steal the ornament game....

Lezlye said...

Became a follower! Love your advent calendar! I would absolutly LOVE to win the Blog Makeover Candy! I need it! I want something to identify me! Thanks for the chance and you you would like stop by my blog at www.lezlyes.blogspot.com

Heather said...

Love your advent calendar. Thank you for sharing it with us.

And what an INCREDIBLE giveaway. I have been frantically saving my pennies from my latest card orders for a blog makeover. It would be a wish come true to win one.

Heather at princesspaperprojects at yahoo dot com

Michelle said...

holy moly what ALOT of work girl !!! It is beautiful!!!! That is definetly something to keep year after year !!!
scrappinwithmybug.com

Melissa said...

This calendar is super duper cute!!!!

Melissa
www.disneydreamerdesigns.blogspot.com

Auntie Em said...

Great Advent calendar! Bright and cheery and easy to follow.
Thanks for sharing! :o)

Fav tradition of the season...all my brothers and their familys and ours get together for dinner...AWESOME and fun!!!

I am following your blog and now I'm heading over to Shabby Vanity! :o)

Leanne said...

This is adorable! I love all the cuts you have chosen (I wished I could have gotten that cart. for Black Friday to hee hee) My favorite Christmas tradition is kinda of a silly one that me and mom do each year. We each buy a amarillo flower (the flower that comes in a box that you have to plant in a pot that also comes with
it) we see which one blooms the fastest and also gets the biggest! I told ya it was silly but it's something we've done for years and we really get a kick out of it!! I would LOVE to have a blog makeover! Thanks for the chance!!
Tobusyscrapping at bellsouth dot net

Audrey Breaux said...

I like how you use the envelopes great idea,and the make over gift what a Christmas gift

Audrey Breaux said...

Oh I forgot to add Our family have a cookie bake off every Christmas Eve and we exchange gifts after the blue ribbons is given

Kimberly said...

Beautiful calender....thanks for sharing. Great blog candy...would love to have a blog...kimbob27@hotmail.com

Minta's Creations said...

Wonderful calender...
favorite Family tradition is Christmas eve. When the boys and I make cookies for Santa! and then my husband oops I mean Santa will eat one and leave crumbs and write the boys a note telling them Thanks for the cookies and to be good and that he will see them next year!
Minta

I'm already a follower...
Thanks for the chance to win!
Would Love to win a blog makeover...

mintab@gmail.com
http://mintascreations.blogspot.com/

Alex said...

Awesome! I love it TFS :)

HUGS :)
Alex
thecondes@gmail.com

Janice W. said...

I love your pocket/tag advent calendar! Thanks for a chance to win a blog make-over! Great prize!

Anna said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anna said...

Such a great idea!!! So clever!!! I am a follower and plan on follower The Shabby Vanity. My favorite Family Tradition now is going to my youngest daughters and enjoying CHRISTmas day with family.
Thanks for the chance to win.
annadowdy at gmail dot com

Becky said...

exciting giveaway! You have such a cute blog!

Lucy said...

What a beautiful calendar, thank you for the inspiration

Unknown said...

having been married for a good many years now and not having children, I am often saddened at the thought that we have no traditions... But one of my favorite traditions as a child was Christmas Eve at my aunt's house!

I love your calendar and what fun treats for your little guy! Thanks too for the back ground on the advent!

Haidee said...

My family tradition is to eat tamales for Christmas. It's hard work BUT we enjoy it WAY too much!!


New here and following both sites.:)

created2bunique at ymail dot com

Scrappy Jackie said...

Great job on the advent calendar! I love how you made it so kid friendly and used so many different cartridges to get the adoarable shapes! THanks for being part of this hop and for the chance to win a blog makeover... I need more than the makeover though I need to figure it all out! Ha ha... just been too busy! someday! Thank you...

Totally Twisted Cards said...

=) Great advent calendar. What an awesome prize. Thanks for a chance to win.

stacy at mycraftingtime dot com

Heather said...

WOW! I love your calendar! It looks great! My favorite tradition is the "giant pancake" that we have for breakfast on Christmas morning! What awesome blog candy too!
ra6352 (at) gmail (dot) com

The Couponing Family said...

One of my family's holiday traditions is to make buckeyes! The kids love to roll the peanut butter into balls.

danadbrown at hotmail dot com

Roni said...

I am now a follower and hopping over to Shabby Girl Blog! That is an amazing PRIZE!

Anonymous said...

I love your calendar. You used some great cuts. A favorite tradition in our family is for me to make "Texas" trash and give it out to family and friends. I'm a follower. I can't tell how much I would appreciate a blog makeover. I still have the blogger header that I couldn't get rid of when I chose a free blog pattern.
stuff@gt.rr.com
http://cricutmimi.blogspot.com

ibecircled.blogspot.com said...

ilovetonkinese2athotmaildotcom
Rexann


Thanks for sharing and having such a wonderful Hop!! I have done all that you asked!!

Anonymous said...

I'm a follower here and at Shabby Vanity. She said to enter again if I take a button and blog about yhe giveaway. So I'm doing it all. I really need this.
stuff@gt.rr.com
http://cricutmimi.blogspot.com

Scrappers' Ranch said...

Theresa
Your calendar is very cute, love the festiveness and details.
I am already a follower of your blog
I am already a follower of Shabby Vanity's blog and have left her a comment..
TFS and a chance to win
Bonnie C
http://ascrapabove.blogspot.com
ascrapabove(at)aol(dot)com

mamascrapper69 said...

i love the little images that you used on the front of your advent calendar. theyre adorable. thanks for some more inspiration

Stephanie Collins
stephanoid69@msn.com
stephanoid69-YT

Sharon said...

Beautiful Advent Calendar!

My favorite Christmas tradition is buying pajamas for my boys and gifting these to them on Christmas Eve for them to sleep in that night. They are now 21 and 13 and they still expect those pjs! :)

Maureen Reiss said...

This is really cute!! You put alot of work into this, and its great

Terry@ a quilting blog said...

Cute advent calendar...love all the adorable images you chose for each day!!
I'm already a follower of your blog. I'm a follower of Shabby Vanity's blog and I left a comment there.
A favorite family tradition has always been a countdown calendar, as my children called it. I would make a new one each year so this has been a really fun blog hop for me with all the wonderful designs from such talented ladies.
Thanks for the chance to win an amazing blog makeover!

Scrappin Melissa said...

This is really colorful! I love it. I think the envies are great!

Favorite family tradition is going to Christmas Eve service at church and then driving around and seeing the Christmas lights.

Kerry T said...

What an awesome giveaway. I love your advent calendar. I am sure your grandson will love it.
Kerry

mommakcrafts.blogspot.com

Barb said...

What a cute calendar. I am so excited for my Winter Frolic cartridge to come! Also, your blog candy is awesome. I already went and became a follower of Shabby Vanity and left them a comment.

Unknown said...

Your calendar is perfect.... I love that you shared the history of the advent calendar with us!

Thank you so much for sharing & for the chance to win such an amazing blog candy!!!

~Ola
okj83 at live dot com

Unknown said...

My favorite tradition is that we all make time to decorate the tree together, with Christmas music in the bakcground & cookies in the oven... I love it!

I forgot to add that in my previous comment!

~Ola
okj83 at live dot com

jennyplace26@gmail.com said...

OMG! How I would love to win this blog candy, you are the best THank you so much!
jennyplace26@gmail.com. I am on my way over to your friends site to leave a comment and follow. I have been following you for a long time now.

Live Love and Scrap said...

WOW Theresa...your calender is so stinkin cute!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE it....so creative!!!

I will get your GC to you soon, I promise....I am so horrible, sorry!!!

hugs,
Sarah
liveloveandSCRAP!

Dawnica said...

What an adorable calendar! So many different things to look at. I had so much fun being in this hop with you and the other talented ladies.

Janie said...

Hi Thersa, Janie from the hop ! Oh what a nice calendar your made ! And I know your grandson is just going to love it, and want you to make on every year !! A blog makeover, wow what an excellent gift !! I would love to have one of those after Christmas , because I am loving my Christmas blog right now !! My favorite tradition is getting to see my kids open there presents on Christmas morning ! To see there faces is just priceless !! TFS
HUGS, JANIE

Valerie said...

Oh my goodness what an awesome give away...I am a follower of both blogs and I left comments on both. I LOVE you advent calendar!!! So cute. Thanks for sharing.
Valerie Martin
jeffnval@hotmail.com

Norma said...

I love the calendar!!! Super cute:) Wow!! a blog makeover what a great giveaway!!!!! Thanks for the chance.
nlpimentel@aol.com

BUZZY BEE DESIGNS and GRAPHICS said...

What an awesome giveaway! I am a follower of both of you! Your Adent calendar is wonderful. Put both your blinks on my blog site too!
Rebecca Minor
http://buzzybeedesigns.blogspot.com
buzzybeedesigns(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

Elaine said...

Beautiful project, love all the characters you have put on them. Our family tradition is spending one Sunday making treats to give to friends and family

MontuckyGirl said...

Great project! I love this blog! My favorite tradition is making mini German Christmas cookies that are similar to Gingerbread, they are called Moravian cookies. I also love hiding the glass pickle for my daughter to find. I had one years ago that broke, so I got two more just in case! I have a rich heritage and plan to research all of the holiday traditions of each ethnic group I come from and incorporate those traditions and foods as the years go along. I am Irish, Scottish, Welsh, English, French, Dutch, and German! Who knows maybe a smattering of French Canadian and Native American, too!
Natalie
mtmcbroom at gmail dot com
http://timelesslegacydesigns.blogspot.com

Peggy said...

Super cute. You are very creative. Thank you for the chance to win blog candy. {Hugs} Peggy
Stampnmore at aol dot com

juelmarie said...

Well - too cute - i have today and tomorrow to make an advent - too much to do - just not gonna happen - maybe i'll try to get one done for next year - love the idea!

Kim. said...

Love your advent, it is so bright and colourful and perfect for little ones.
Our favourite Christmas tradition is that we have a secret santa for all the family that is about 20 of us. We each spend a maximum of $10 on a gift for the person whose name was pulled from a hat and then the gifts are only name with the recipients name. We each have to guess who brought the gift by the clue of what you have been brought. All guesses are written down so no cheating and then if you guess correctly you keep the gift if not it has to be donated to charity. Our local hospital usually ends up with quite a few nice gifts lol.
Kim xXx

Jennie Garcia said...

I love your image and your calendar idea!! So cute!! TFS!! Take Care!!
Jennie @ http://earthyscrap.blogspot.com/

Julie's Paper Treasures said...

I LOVE your calendar, everyone did a great job.

I'm new to the whole blogging thing, so my poor blog needs some serious help. I'm a follower of both blogs and I would love for you to design my blog.

Julie

missyvonne67@yahoo.com

MrsBcrafty said...

Hello.
I'm new to your blog but wanted to share with you my favorite tradition.
I just adore the holidays every year, it a special time to be with family. Each year the women in my family get together for crafting and cookies. We pick one holiday craft to do together while swaping christmas cookie recipes.
Thanks so much for sharing your calandar.
Megan
meganbordinaro@yahoo.com
www.MrsBcrafty.blogspot.com

Melissa said...

Love It Girl !!! Thanks so much foe all the hard work you put into your calendar...And for sharing it with all of us...Had a blast hopping with you today !!

Hugs & Scraps

Melissa

aremus said...

What a great advent calendar. TFS!!

amandaremus at gmail dot com

Kendra-Sue and Jamie said...

In my family we take a picture of everyone that is home on Christmas morning. We sit on the steps and wait to go down for Christmas until the pictures are done.

donna habbibi said...

loved your calendar soooo cute!!!
habis1088@gmail.com

Luv 2 Create said...

Loved your advent calendar. So cute. I did the Walmart black friday thing this year at 3am and got Jolly Holiday, Four Legged Friends and Twinkle Toes. Luv'em.

As for traditions, We have several, but my favorite is one that we always did as kids and I have carried on with it thru the years. I buy these great big Christmas coloring books and we all sit down after the tree is trimmed and lit and kids and adults color one page per year, sign and date it while admiring our beautiful tree. We may just add a new tradition after this hop. These advent calendars look like great fun. Thanks for a chance at a wonderful giveaway. Boy could I use the help!!!!!
Marcie

Jessica Kubit said...

WOW!! this is so cool and so much detail! Great job. I am a follower of both blogs;-)
Jessica
creativestamperspot@ gmail dot come

ginner said...

Very cute...I might have to scraplift this to make for my grandson...but probably not until next year...he is just turning 1 in a couple of weeks. :)

365 Days of Cricut said...

WOW great job I love it!! I really love every single one of those adorble cuts!

Anonymous said...

I love your calendar! Oh, I'm already jotting down the carts you used, because I definitely want them all! :)

Cheryl Gaffney said...

I love the calender!!!!Great job and thanks for sharing!!!

Cheryl @ CardsbyCG.blogspot.com
cplamond@hotmail.com

Jennifer said...

Theresa,

Your advent calendar is adorable and I loved reading about the calendar's origin!!! :)

Considering I'm too computer illiterate to even start a blog, I would love, love, LOVE to win a blog makeover!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That would certainly motivate me to start one.

Thank you so much for sharing and for the chance to win,

Jennifer
partridgelu at yahoo dot com

Oh! I almost forgot: my favorite family tradition is decorating the tree on Thanksgiving weekend! :) We play Christmas music and drink hot chocolate (& usually eat my husband's homemade noodle soup, too)!

Meagan said...

I love your Advent Calendar!! So cute and fun!

My favorite family tradition is all of us putting on our new pajamas on Christmas Eve and going out for a drive to look at the Christmas lights!

I would love a blog makeover! I am just starting the blogging thing and am hoping for it to progress!! I have no clue where to start!

Thanks so much!

Wendy (aka Roo) said...

Sooo cute and I love the idea of the different things to do with your grandson!! Love your project!
Wowzers that's some awesomely generous candy...Wow!!!! I could sure use that.

wendy dot roos2boys at gmail dot com

GabyCreates.com said...

This is so cool to do with grandchildren!!!! and nice prize to win!! I am your follower already on my way to shabby vanity!
and favorite tradition~ Xmas eve, my parents let us drink a sip of Kalhua with milk or rompope a spiked version of nutmeg?
Gaby

Anonymous said...

Hi Theresa! Your calendar is super cute! I love the images, they are just adorable. Thanks for the Advent history. Wonderful job!!! -Nicole

Yolanda69 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Yolanda69 said...

Wow! What a wonderful tradition to start with your grandson. Your calendar is wonderful.Thank you so much for the chance to win.

Yolanda

janene said...

I love having family get togethers durng the holiday season!

janenepearce(at)gmail(dot)com

Janis Lewis said...

I know this was last year, but I LOVE these envelopes and tags. What a great idea!!

Mrs. Pancakes said...

love this idea..awesome!

MJ said...

Loved the calendar! But girls, check out this cute Mobile Advent Calendar in the countdown for chrismtas: ONLY ACCESS VIA MOBILE! Great for family, friends or yourself to recieve a cute surprise gift from 1st-24th December, really good price! I've already brought one for myself and my nieces, follow the link http://tinyurl.com/JeegoAdvent