You will need:
- 1 ½ - 2 yards of twine
- 25 - 27 small envelopes
- 25 - 27 mini clothespins (purchase at a craft store or online)
- Numbered stamps (or stickers)
- Inkpad or paint
- Scrap pieces of patterned paper
- Glue stick or double stick tape<
- Scissors or craft knife
- Printed Scripture or Advent reflections (can be found online)
Decorate and number each envelope using patterned paper, stamps (or stickers). Be creative! If you plan to reuse this calendar, you may want to create a few extra envelopes with additional dates, since the Advent season begins on a different date every year. Fill each envelope with printed Scripture or reflections (which correlate with that day). There are plenty of great online Catholic sources for this, or you can grab one of those Little Blue Books for Advent from your parish. Attach each numbered envelope on the piece of twine with the mini-clothespins. Tie a loop at each end of twine and hang finished Advent calendar on a fireplace mantle or a wall.
ANOTHER IDEA: Leave the envelopes empty so that a special prayer or petition can be written on each day of Advent and placed into the envelope as that day’s special intention.