Last Minute Advent Ideas

I have an entire pintrest board full of super cute advent calendar or Christmas countdown ideas. But since it is November 30 and I haven't made any of those, I am looking for alternatives that do not require any of the following:
A sillohette or circut machine
A pile of cute Christmas paper
A string of Christmas socks
A stack tiny matchboxes, magnet boxes, or the like
An expensive toy-a-day calendar
Hand sewn tiny felt envelopes on a string
A selection of hand-stamped colored by hand, layered and distressed cute Christmas tags
Anything expensive, made in advance, or requiring intensive prep work
Access to Christmas decorations or supplies still tucked away in storage for at least another week (so we can't start decorating the tree or anything yet)

In you find yourself in a similar situation, here are some links I have rounded up that can be used at the last minute and my non-to-do how-to.

First, grab a container. Any container. A large envelope, an empty jar, a mitten with no mate, a cereal bowl, whatever. Kids aren't nearly as picky as we adults think they are. Or you can do small containers and number them- envelopes, plastic bags, a stack of index cards, baby food jars, plastic cups even. I used a pile of empty m&ms minis that my toddler had been hoarding. I found 15 of them.
If you are doing small containers, number them 1-25, or do 1-12 if you are getting a late start and go for hte 12 days of Christmas. You can stamp numbers, write on stickers, draw them on with sharpie, etc. I found a stray page of gift labels from last year (the To:/From: things) and stuck those on. Because I only had 15, I had to double up on a few. I will just save #1-10 after we use it and refill for days 15-25.

Now display it in some way. Hang on a clothesline, stack on the piano, hang them on a bulletin board, hide it until its time to use it like I have to do, or whatever. Tie a bow on the container and put it under the tree?

Now, make a countdown. Type up a list of activities on your computer and cut it in to strips, or hand write them on cards or tags, or find a ready made list and print it off. Stick the strips in your container or in the corresponding numbered container and you are good to go. Another last minute hint- only fill the first two or three. Add the next ones a few at a time as you go along. That way you can change your mind, change activities, etc based on your schedule, how crazy the weekend was, or find a quiet activitiy for when the toddler gets sick and everyone has to stay home from the Christmas party.

I am going to fold mine into little stars before I put them in the tubes.

OK, all done! Ready for some ideas on what to put on those strips, tags, cards, or papers? Here are some links:

A scripture a day- names of Christ- they use it as a tree decorating game but it woudl work for 12 days of Christmas

A scripture and activity a day- LDS- for older kids and adults

Christ-centered Activity Advent

A book and craft a day Advent

A Story, song, scripture advent book to download

A list of 100 advent activities all ready for you to print and cut


A few more ideas-

look at all the cute little food and treat ideas on pintrest and make one a day (this will take some planning, and a few trips to the store)

pick your age range (toddler, preschooler, school age, or adult) and goggle/pintrest crafts for that age. Again will take some trips to the store, but there are way more than 24 ideas that you will love.

A service advent- 24 things to do to help other people. Small (make your sisters bed) to large (adopt a family from the local shelter) just list all the things you can think of and try to do a random or deliberate act of kindness a day.

And finally, my list from last year that you can't see unless you are a member so here is the cut and paste:

Activity Advent List of Ideas

Watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional
Watch the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Special on PBS
Go to the county tree lighting ceremony
Visit Lights of the South (a local walk and drive through light display)
Decorate the Christmas tree
Leave shoes by the door for Saint Nicholas
Set up Nativity scenes
Go to pajama story time at the bookstore
Go breakfast with Santa at the school
Visit Santa at the Mall
Make and deliver treats for friends
Make a gift for your teachers
Watch a favorite Christmas movie and eat red and green popcorn balls
Visit Lights Before Christmas at the Zoo
Write a letter to Santa Claus
Drive through the neighborhood and look at lights while eating popcorn and hot chocolate
Make Saint Lucia Day rolls for breakfast
Watch Christmas specials on TV
Do a secret act of service
Earn some money and donate it to the Angel Tree at school
Buy a toy for Toys 4 Tots
Decorate the outside of the house
Make something yummy and invite a family over to share it with
Go to the church Christmas party
Visit the gingerbread house village at the museum
Make a gingerbread house
Watch the Christmas parade
Go to the school Christmas concert
Have a sleepover under the Christmas tree
Make cookies for Santa
Watch the Nativity on DVD
Read the Christmas story from the Bible and act it out
Make a birthday cake for Jesus
Write thank you notes for gifts
Take down the Christmas tree
Donate three items of clothing or toys to Goodwill
Write down five things you learned to do in 2010
Make a New Year's Resolution
Call out of town relatives at midnight to shout Happy New Year

And if you are still stuck, here is my list for this year.
Write a letter to Santa and mail it


Build a Christmas Tree and decorate it

Go see lights at the city park, drive around to see neighborhood lights

Leave out Shoes for Saint Nicholaus

Watch the First Presidency Christmas Special and set up Nativities

Do a Secret Service act today

Read your favorite Christmas book to an Elf

Make a Sock Snowman

Make a graham cracker nativity scene or house

Make Christmas cookies

Read a list of the names of Jesus, which is your favorite?

Rock around the Christmas tree- put on music and have a dance party!

Get a toy for toys for tots and bring it to the Art Gala

Read the pop up Christmas book and make a pop up card for someone special

Make candy cane play dough

Tell Christmas Jokes. Call a relative and tell them your favorites

Make a yummy gift for your teacher. Write a letter telling them something you have learned this year or thanking them for their hard work

Read the words of your favorite Christmas song like a poem. Sing together around the tree

Make snow for the window while watching a Christmas show.

Go to the ward Christmas party and bring something yummy to eat.

Have a hot chocolate tasting party. What is your favorite flavor: marshmallow, peanut butter, candy cane, super chocolate, or?

Play the lost sheep game. What does this game teach us about Jesus?

Mail Christmas cards and packages, bring a treat for the postal worker

Have a Christmas workshop- make gifts for cousins, siblings, and grandparents. Make treats to give away to church teachers. Wrap presents.

Watch your favorite Christmas movie in a blanket tent