Friday, November 5, 2010

The holidays are coming!

I know, most people would think that it is a little early to start thinking about Christmas, but I have realized if I don't start thinking about it now, I will be rushing around like a CRAZY woman, trying to get everything done, and thus killing the spirit of Christmas. Today I am a guest blogger on Creating Keepsakes Blog. Check out the other fun projects I have there by clicking here!

I went to an Enrichment night at my church. (A night when women in our congregation get together and learn about homemaking, and spiritual topics to better enrich our lives). They talked about having a Merry Little Christmas this year, and talked about the things we could do to bring the Savior into our Christmas. It was AWESOME and just got me so excited!

One of the ideas we talked about was a Christmas Countdown ... I was SO thrilled when I found this darling idea from Stampin' up!
The second I opened the box of goodies they sent to me, I started putting this together. I got SO very excited!

When deciding what to put into your boxes, don't get too overwhelmed. December is busy, so first, take out your Calendar. Look at what evenings you will be going to Piano recitals, Christmas concerts, school activities, and place those things in the boxes. Hey the kids will think it is even more fun to attend these events during Christmas, because they got to pick it out of the box!!! Next, calendar in some of the activities you WANT to do ... drive around and look at Christmas lights, go Christmas Caroling, go serve at a food bank, and place those in the boxes. Then, if there are some left over, here are a few ideas of what to place inside the empty ones:
Small gifts (Chapstick, treats, etc) Go to the dollar store!
Scriptures for each day
A Christmas Story
A piece of paper with a Christmas song to listen to
A service idea
A treat to make (Sugar Cookies)
A beginning to a Christmas Scavenger Hunt

Those are just a few off the top of my head, so if you have any other ideas, Be sure to comment!

Last but not least, Stampin' up was SO kind to send me an extra Box kit. I will be giving this away to a LUCKY winner. Be sure to comment if you would like a chance to win. ALSO, if you become a follower of my blog, be sure to let me know, and I will give ya a second chance to win!

Good luck ... and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
(I will be picking a lucky winner on Monday, Nov 8th!)

** If you're too impatient to wait for the prize and want to order one anyway just follow the link below, oh and ... you can get preferred pricing!!!
Click here
Then click on "SHOP NOW" (on lower right hand corner
Put in quotations "Candy Countdown" in the search box
You should have it come up. Email me if you have any problems (skierdouglass@gmail.com)

43 comments:

Laura T. said...

What a really cute idea ... love Stampin' Up.

Pam said...

Love this project! It is so cute. Thanks for a chance at winning it.

Holly said...

my kids would love this and I would love to do it! Thanks for the chance to win!

Lillian said...

I'd love a kit! Maybe it will help me stay focused on the fun of the holidays instead of the current morning sickness :)

Wendy Sue said...

Such a fun idea Mandy...my oldest son asked me last night if we could make a count-down and start it now. He's super excited for Christmas this year! :o)

Lisa said...

I have been on the search for the perfect count down calendar. This would be great.

amyp said...

Love it! So cute and our boys would LOVE this!! Good ideas!
Congrats on being one of the contributing writers for CK!!

Kimberly said...

Such a cute idea. My daughter would love this. Thanks for the chance to win.

Jennifer Slaugh said...

I would Love to win the countdown!
I am also a follower!

Jennie in MO said...

This looks like a really fun projec!

Janelle Perry said...

I just got your blog yesterday! i really love it :) your projects and thoughts are inspiring - thanks :)

kelsey said...

Oh, I LOVE it!

kelsey said...

And I'm also a follower.

Anonymous said...

I wanted to get these boxes but the budget wouldn't allow! Thanks for the opportunity to win them!!! Love this idea! Barb M.

Anonymous said...

I wanted to get these boxes but the budget wouldn't allow! Thanks for the opportunity to win them!!! Love this idea! Barb M.

Cindy deRosier said...

I would love to win this! I am already a follower.

Mrs. Davison said...

I love advent calendars and this one is too cute!

Classical Mom 1 said...

What a cute idea! I love the boxes and adding the spiritual element is perfect! I would love the opportunity to win!

Classical Mom 1 said...

I am now a follower! I am so excited!

Julie said...

This looks super cute and fun! I'd love to win!

MELODY said...

What a great idea to have different items than just the piece of candy! I would love to win one!! Stampin up is so great! Hope I win!!!

MELODY said...

I totally follow your blog all the time. You have great links and I absolutely love your layouts. So simple bu look very embellished and I love them.

Wendy said...

Cute & clever project! Remember...it was a RS "meeting" you went to...hee, hee (not Enrichment).

Wendy said...

I'm now a follower...can't believe I hadn't signed up until now!

AmieeAya said...

love this idea!! and congrats :)

Heather B said...

Darling! I would love to win!

Heather B said...

and p.s. just became a follower!

connie said...

Im racking my brain trying to fill a couple of these for "open early chirstimas presents"
One idea is to put a few puzzle pieces in a few of the containers. Then the family can do a part of the puzzle on a few different days. I love your ideas!

wendy said...

This is super cute :) I was thinking about making some sort of Advent countdown for my sister's kids. This would be perfect!

Carly said...

What a cute idea!!! Love it!

Carly said...

Oh & I became a follower too =)

LouAnn said...

I've been looking for something new this year for Christmas. This is really cute.

LouAnn said...

I'm a follower.

Chelsea said...

Such a fun idea, are those boxes from Stampin Up? They are super cute!!!

Becky said...

Oh I love this idea! With three kids under 5, the older two would love to do this. Would love to win!

Becky said...

became a follower, the girls are hoping we win!

Hee Jin R. said...

Too cute and my little one would enjoy opening the boxes. Thanks for a chance to win!

Andrea said...

I am a follower! :) I LOVE advent calendars, but even more my kids love them, too. It makes Christmas time that much more exciting when they have that to look forward to each day. Thanks for the chance to win and for all the fun stuff you share.

Andrea
purseshopper@aol.com

Shannon said...

How fun!! What a cute idea!! Thanks for sharing!

Shannon
onescrappymom@msn.com

PS - I am now a follower! :)

Tami said...

What a great idea! I love all the possibilities for these boxes! Thank you so much for sharing this great idea!

Heather DG said...

I just found your blog today - love it and have subscribed!

First, the Enrichment night at your church is a fantastic idea! Would love to have something like that available to me!

Second - I start counting down to Christmas in June...ok, really the day after Christmas. I drive my family and friends bonkers with it - in a good way :) This is such a fun idea, I have to do it!! Thanks for the great tip!!

Anonymous said...

This would be pretty cool

Nicky from Canada

Mary S. said...

Such a cute idea!!!