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A French-Inspired Garden and Home by Judith Stringham

Advent Calendar Christmas Boxes

Tuesday, December 11, 2018


Advent calendars using Christmas boxes are a fun way to lead up to Christmas Day, beginning early or late in a countdown. 

In the hustle and bustle of preparations for Christmas, time sometimes runs out to get everything done you want to do. If you are thinking, "Oops, missed setting up an Advent Calendar this year," think again. 



Advent calendar Christmas boxes in a French Country urn

A D V E N T   C A L E N D A R   C H R I S T M A S   B O X E S  


Here is a fast, easy Advent Calendar that can begin whenever you want it to begin and countdown however many days you want to count. 

This calendar can begin on Dec. 1, Dec. 11, Dec. 15 or . . .  The containers are not uniform in size which makes it super easy to include a variety of surprises, from small slips of paper to larger special treats. 



Advent calendar Christmas boxes can start a countdown early or late

S U P P L I E S   N E E D E D  

Boxes, in all shapes and sizes 
❷ Large container to hold the boxes 
❸ Numbers for however many days you want to countdown 


Advent calendar Christmas boxes in a French Country urn
❶ Gather a collection of Christmas boxes from previous years. You will need as many boxes as you plan to countdown. If you begin your Advent Calendar on Dec. 1, you will need 24 boxes. If you begin your Advent Calendar today on Dec. 11, you will need 14 boxes. 



Advent calendar uses old Christmas card boxes
Old decorated Christmas card boxes are perfect. They hold larger items like gloves, cosmetics, toys . . . 



Advent calendar uses old Christmas card boxes
You could use the design on the box to give a clue as to its contents. Maybe a Santa ornament or a small teddy bear is in this box. 



Advent calendar uses old Christmas candle boxes
Christmas candle boxes are another great Advent Calendar box for large items, including a small votive, a matchbox car, or a Christmas ball ornament. 

My late brother gave me the original candle that came in this box for Christmas a couple of years ago. When I look at the box, I remember his love for Christmas, his generosity, and how much he loved finding just the right gift for people on his list. This is our first Christmas without him. 



Display Advent calendar Christmas boxes in a French Country urn
❷ Choose a large container in which to display the Advent Calendar Christmas boxes. If you have more boxes than will fit in the container, just place some of them outside around the container. 

A large French Country garden urn fits right in with my house. Other possible containers are olive buckets, wooden crates, vintage dough bowls, baskets . . . 



Advent calendar Christmas boxes number tags
❸ Write large numbers on LONG slips of paper to correspond with the dates you are counting down. If you begin on Dec. 1, you need numbers 1 through 24. If you begin on Dec. 11, you need numbers 11 through 24. 



Advent calendar Christmas boxes number tags
You can either handwrite the numbers or print them using your computer. I added a large fleur de lis to the numbers. Other ideas are to print the numbers in red or green and to add a traditional Christmas symbol such as a star, angel, tree, snowflake . . .  



Advent calendar Christmas boxes number tags
Slide the slips of paper inside the box, and close the lid with a long tail of paper sticking out of the box. 



Advent calendar Christmas boxes with larger number tags in the bottom of the urn
Place the boxes with the larger numbers in the bottom of the container ending with the first numbers on the top in the container or outside around the container. 



Place Advent calendar Christmas boxes in a large urn on the dining table
Place the Advent Calendar on a dining table, buffet, kitchen island, coffee table . . .  Add other seasonal decor like the boxwood tree and white ceramic stars around the Advent Calendar. 



Not too late for Advent calendar Christmas boxes in a large urn on the dining table
An Advent Calendar using old Christmas boxes is an easy way to create an Advent Calendar either early or late. You can still have an Advent Calendar this year . . . it is not too late.


l e t   t h e   m e r r y   m a k i n g   b e g i n  



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Not too late for Advent calendar Christmas boxes in a large urn on the dining table
In a few days I will share ideas for how to refresh a boxwood wreath and to change a green boxwood wreath to match the colors in your house. 

I love the white frosted look of this preserved boxwood wreath. 

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You can also find beautiful Christmas ideas on Botanic Bleu 

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