Christmas Advent Paper-Chain

I don't know about you, but December brings with it quite a bit of busyness. With said busyness (which I don't think a bad thing), I really try to make a point of being intentional.  Intentional with cards.  Intentional with gifts.  Intentional with my kids.

Intentionality is where the idea for an advent paper-chain came in.  I figured it was the type of craft I could do in a short time, and it would check several things off my Christmas wish list; It is a visual way to count down to Christmas (for a 4 and 2 year old this is KEY), we can work on number recognition, and most importantly we take a moment each day to sit and reflect on the reason for the season.  So....here it goes.  My quick-as-a-wink paper-chain.

It started with my computer...

I started with a star.  I used colored paper to avoid doing the coloring myself.  I printed out the names of God, to keep things in perspective.

 Then I added construction paper (that I found a variety ream of at IKEA on clearance for 99 cents)...

I used four sheets of construction paper: 1 red, 1 green and 2 white (to save money...Mrs. Cheapskate, that's me!).  I then stacked them in the order I wanted them, and snipped the stack into six strips.  Easy peasy.  I wan't looking for perfection.  These kids don't care, why should I?!  I numbered the strips from 1 to 24.  (You could also write out bible verses, daily challenges, etc.)

And now for the finished product.....

And voila!  The number 1 is at the bottom and once 24 is torn we'll be celebrating Christmas Eve / Christmas day!  What a great lead up!  (Sidenote: I am showing this product on our pantry door, but I actually made two chains for each of the boys' rooms.  They were sleeping, I wasn't going to fuss with taking a pic around them.)

And so that is that.  My mom sent a care package of Christmas books all wrapped up to also work as an advent tool.  We will pull a paper off the chain and pick a book each night to read.  I just LOVE this.

Happy decorating / baking / visiting / wrapping / caroling / crafting / DIYing / shopping / dropping!