Welcome to my ABC Holiday Series! I am excited to share some fun holiday projects from A to Z, starting with these Advent boxes.
When my kids were little I always made some type of Advent calendar for the month of December. I would plan a special activity for each day and put a note or clue inside the numbered project. For us, Advent was all about family time, giving, and remembering the reason we celebrate Christmas. I don’t know who enjoyed this tradition more, my children or me!
These advent boxes are quick & easy to make using the pillow boxes from the Paper Pumpkin Layered Leaves Kit and the Large Numbers Framelits. When it comes to purchasing products I am all about versatility! I love the Large Numbers Framelits. These dies are great for milestone birthdays and anniversaries and perfect for numbering advent boxes! (They coordinate with the Number of Years Stamp Set.)
You already know how much I enjoy getting my monthly Paper Pumpkin kits! If you are a Paper Pumpkin subscriber you can order refills of past kits (while supplies last). I ordered 3 refill kits which will make 24 pillow boxes (not to mention 24 cards & envelopes which I plan to use for gift sets). Click on the image below to find out about the upcoming October and November Paper Pumpkin coordinating kits and how you can earn $5 off your next online order!
If you are not a subscriber (I can’t imagine why not!!!) you can make your own pillow boxes (or stockings) using the Trim Your Stocking Thinlits Dies (available separately or as a bundle).
Here’s a size comparison of the pillow boxes side by side.
Here’s my decorated pillow box using the Trim Your Stocking Thinlits Dies. 
You can easily fit notes, gift cards, and small treats in either one. Basically, it all depends on preference and how much time you have to create. You can add the stocking die to the pillow box which would be cute hanging on a tree. (I’ll be sharing more ideas using the stocking dies later.) There are many possibilities for these pillow boxes and just as many ideas for what to put in them…inspirational quotes for a college student during finals, gifts for 8 days of Hanukkah, date night cards numbered for each month, a birthday with their age on top, countdown to a wedding or big day, etc. What would you use them for? I would love to hear your ideas!
Click HERE for printable notes for Advent
Click HERE for Random Acts of Kindness Ideas for Children
You probably already do many of the activities you’d put in the advent boxes but there’s something special and exciting about opening a box to find out the special activity for the day. (FYI…the pillow boxes make it easy to slip the note in the night before or switch them around if something comes up.)
Even if you don’t have young children, you could make a set as a gift to give to grandchildren or a friend. You could even keep for yourself and fill with a random act of kindness to do or give away each day! We can all make a difference by spreading joy to others.
Have a wonderful day!
Just Stampin’
Jeanie
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Scroll down and click on the printables advent notes and acts of kindness for children!
Sent from my iPad
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Yay for another ABC series. What a wonderful start, with these cute advent boxes. Great idea for my granddaughter–and plenty of time to get started. Thanks for the links to the ideas too. Can’t wait for more ABCs!
Cute, cute, cute! and a great alternative for the PP pillow boxes. I’m excited for your new series. Can’t wait to see what is next! B is for….boxes???? branches??? Guess I’ll have to wait and see!
Great post and a HUGE thanks for the ideas for Advent and Children Kindness…..I am a lover of fun things for advent celebrating and this is a super cute idea….I am loooking so forward to your new ABC’s…always a fun batch of posts!
Yay…a new series! Love your ideas for these great boxes….so inspirational and heartwarming. Thanks Jeanie.
Great ideas Jeanie! Love the Advent thoughts and that you are getting me in the mode early!!!
Always exciting when there is another ABC series! Love the idea of using the pillow boxes for an Advent countdown. SU has so many great suites for decorating that you could do several for different families and no one would get the same thing. ( My case for my kid’s, nieces’ & nephews’ families–I try to make each one unique.) Can’t wait to see the next post!
Well, I must have misread yesterday – I thought we were getting fun stuff and the ABC later. Either way this project is very cute. You could string them like a garland and put the numbers on a big tag. When it is the right date you could flip it over as well as get out the goodies and spell out Merry Christmas and use some trees or snowflakes for the extra boxes or spell out a different word(s).
Love this idea!!!! Can we do it as a class?
Hi Jeanie,
I just settled in with a cup of tea. The sun is going down, (much too early for me) and I’m going to catch up on your ABC Holiday Series. (A-F) I adore these series and more that they are from you. You are so easy and fun to follow. Looking forward to RAC for Advent too.
So off to “B”
🙂