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Tuesday, December 1, 2009

And the countdown begins

December 1st is a HUGE day in the Bruckler household. That's the day that we start our annual countdown to Christmas. Each year I make some sort of chart for the kids to flip over every day, where there's an activity listed for us to do as a family. I make sure to include lots of activities that don't cost money and that don't require us to leave the house.

If you're a fan of Kelly Lunceford, then you'll notice that her blog banner inspired my design this year.

I decided to make a giant banner that hangs in the kitchen over looking the downstairs living room. The letters were cut out on my Cricut using the largest setting with the "George" font. I used my Round Tab Punch to create a hinge on the back of each accordion folded flower. Each day one lucky munchkin will get to flip over the number and read what the daily activity will be.

Some activities that have been on our chart in the past include:
Decorate our Christmas tree
Go to the movies
Drive around and look at Christmas lights
Make hot cocoa
Make S'mores

Bring fudge to the neighbors
Mail our Christmas cards
Go ice skating
Leave a note under someones pillow tonight

Bake cookies for Santa
Call Grandma & Grandpa
Go out for dinner
Watch "A Christmas Story " (a family favorite!)

Make a card for Santa & Mrs. Claus
Look through our 2009 scrapbook
Have pancakes for dinner
Here's a close up of one the tags.
They measure 4 x 6 and then I marked 2" up from the bottom and cut up from each corner. Or, if you're really lucky like me, a friend will cut them all out for you while you're folding accordion flowers. Thanks Wanda! For the accordion flowers, I cut patterned paper 1 1/2" by 12" and scored every half inch. Then I attached a 1 3/8" circle to both sides to hold it securely, and added a number to the front.

All of the patterned papers for this project are from the new Christmas collection called "Eskimo Kisses" by BasicGrey. Once all the tags were done, I attached them to some beautiful cranberry velvet ribbon. To finish it off, I stitched buttons in between each tag.

Well that's it for me today. I finally finished the 2nd Twilight book and I'm off to see the movie!
Until tomorrow....

5 comments:

Monica Hunter said...

What a great idea MacKenzie -- and your banner came out PERFECTLY! I'm sure the kids are thrilled.

My kids started their own countdown this morning with a treasure hunt. I know this is going to be a fun tradition, like yours. :)

Wanda G said...

OMG - It came out great!!! Love it! What a great mommy you are.
:-)

Riet said...

Ohh wowww,what beautiful.

Hugs Riet.x

Kathy W said...

what a fabulous idea, I might have to steal for next year.

Alyssa S said...

Fabulous! You always amaze me with the perfection in everything you do. I'm sure your family is and will have tons of fun with this creation ;o)