Dashing through the snow: Reindeer advent calendar DIY

Each year in November I make an advent calendar for you and especially for my daughter Anya.  The countdown to Christmas is such an exciting tradition, perhaps even more exciting than the actual day.

This years advent calendar DIY is all about ‘dashing through the snow’ to get gifts to you and your kids on time!  These little reindeer are pulling little packets through all the snow and past all the trees in the forests, to bring them to you each day.

This time I decided to switch things up and instead of gifts, I’ve put notes in each packet.  Each day has an activity or a surprise playdate or something else fun – I’ve listed some of the things further down the post. If you wanted, you can easily slip small gifts or treats in to these little packets – just make the packets a bit bigger than mine.  I’m really pleased with how this reindeer advent calendar DIY turned out so be prepared for LOTS of photos!

This ‘dashing through the snow’ reindeer advent calendar DIY is easy to make, it almost doesn’t need any instructions.  But I’ve included a few lines, just in case.

Materials:
24 mini reindeers (they’re ones used for decorating cakes)
brown kraft paper
mini number stickers
natural coloured yarn
clear scotch tape
hole punch
scissors, pencil and ruler
fake snow (optional)
brush trees (optional)
(supplies linked to at the end of the post)

Start by making your mini packets. Measure and cut 24 pieces of kraft paper in to small rectangles – making them as small or as large as you need for your gifts.  I used tiny packets as I have filled mine with notes.  I cut each piece in to 5cms high by 6.5cms wide.  Fold the rectangle to form a packet and tape down. Fold the top end and then punch a hole.  Once made, fill each packet with whatever you like.

Next tie a piece of yarn around the middle of each reindeer.  Tie the other end of the yarn to the mini kraft paper packets.  Number the packets with the mini number stickers and your reindeer DIY advent calendar is ready.  If you want to make a snowy scene, sprinkle some snow on to a board, dot some trees around and add your reindeer to the snowy forest!

Some activity ideas for your advent calendar:
Choose a story and I’ll read it to you
Decorate the tree
Bake some Christmas cookies
Family dance to Christmas music
Carpet picnic tonight
Surprise playdate
Make some popcorn and watch a Christmas film
Decorate/make Christmas ornaments
Family game night
Eat a chocolate
Go to a carol singing evening

In case you’re wondering where I got the reindeers, my UK readers can find them here.  This is a UK brand so isn’t available in the US but US readers can use any mini reindeer that are for Christmas cake decorations or get them from Amazon UK.
Fake snow – UK readers can find the one I used here and US readers can find similar here.
Brush trees are widely available at this time of year but I got mine at Tiger – available both in UK and US.

Do you think you’ll make this reindeer advent calendar DIY? What will you put in it?

P.S. If you want some more ideas, here’s my 2014 DIY advent calendar and here’s my advent from 2015.