Advent Calendar. Do-It-Yourself.

Happy Sunday friends of Tessiland,

today I woke up slowly, I can't deny that the desire for a beautiful Christmas breakfast is starting to be felt, but I'm not yet in the mood to fully embrace it. However, I like the idea of talking to you about a tradition I've respected for years, that of creating a ADVENT CALENDAR, handmade.

This year I would like to make one for my family, dedicating a day to each of them, so I will divide the days and gifts in relation to my parents and sisters.

If you, like me, love to surprise the people you love, get comfortable on the couch, prepare a steaming coffee, if you have it, light a candle that smells like cinnamon and immerse yourself in this enchanted and creative world that awaits only you.

ADVENT CALENDAR IDEAS: DO-IT-YOURSELF

One of the simplest materials to use and sew for calendars is undoubtedly pannolenci, available in many colors.

• Pannolenci red Pannolenci moss Pannolenci sun yellow

Another item I often buy, for easy and quick projects, is felt.

• felt green wood felt red felt white

So let's start with calendars made from these two materials, my advice is to create on a felt base, many pockets, for all 24 days of Advent, which you can sew or if you're not handy, glue with hot glue.

Inside you can insert themed candies or sweets.

Cao, from Crochet Maniak has created a wonderful hand-made advent calendar.

• babykey cream babykey red babykey military

Another idea I loved, given to me by my parents, with the help of two pins, they fixed to the wall a jute string with 24 little Befana stockings, tiny in size with many accessories inside such as:

hair elastics, candies, chocolates, beauty routine products, essential items to carry in your bag, stationery items, you could fill it according to the passions of the person who is to receive it, remember that the calendar does not require expensive or luxury items, it is a gesture to remember the love you feel for the recipient.

There's another creative idea to try, the advent calendar with hand-decorated cards, in this case, I suggest you list activities that you'll share with your partner, or your family, here are 24 ideas:

• Write the letter to Santa Claus,
• Make a door decoration,
• Read a Christmas story,
• Watch: ''HOME ALONE'',
• Create a gingerbread man to hang on the tree, (BLOG LINK)
• Take a family photo,
• Decorate the Christmas tree,
• Prepare the Nativity scene,
• Make Christmas cookies,
• Listen to a Christmas playlist,
• Read traditional stories,
• Prepare a mug cake,
• Make a gift for the needy,
• Create a Christmas card,
• Create a Christmas garland,
• Watch: ''A CHRISTMAS CAROL'',
• Prepare hot chocolate,
• Sing ''Jingle Bells'', 
• Photo under the tree,
• Wear a Christmas sweater,
• Make paper snowflakes, 
• Bring cookies to neighbors,
• Prepare gift packages,
• Go to mass.

In this way, you will create fantastic memories that I recommend you capture with a beautiful photo each day, to enclose the memories of a magical wait.

A jar with little notes inside, where you can write actions to fully experience the magic of Advent, such as:

calling someone you haven't heard from in a while, going to the movies with a friend, sharing a themed breakfast with an important person, taking time for yourself, etc...

You can buy rolls of wrapping paper or little cardboard houses, you find them at tiger or in some gift shops, be content like me with packing paper, I like to draw on it and color everything.

Then you can start with packages and wrappings, here are more ideas I've selected:

• handmade tree hanger
• DIY garland
• candycane
• glittery stars
• cinnamon
• scented candle
• package closure 
• ball

IDEAS FOR HIM:

• Christmas socks,
• Face mask,
• A newspaper/daily,
• Cinema voucher,
• Christmas shopping,
• Car air freshener,
• 1€ scratch card,
• Motivational note,
• Car wipes,
• Tissues.

IDEAS FOR HER:

• Labello,
• Crochet scrunchies,
• Crochet hairband,
• Lip balm, 
• Hair clips,
• Pocket mirror,
• Christmas pen, 
• Post-it notes,
• Skin-care headband,
• Keychain.

IDEAS FOR CHILDREN:

• Gloves,
• Colors, 
• Coloring book,
• Non-slip socks,
• Christmas erasers,
• Kinder egg,
• Christmas underwear,
• Christmas confetti,
• A packet of ciobar,
• Christmas pencil.

The idea I proposed at the office is to collect 24 motivational thoughts, each of us writes a few and then we'll open a note each day, to make our workdays even more enjoyable.

I thought of a frame, which will serve as a support, 2 openable ring clasps and cards where we will write the chosen thoughts.

Another idea, perhaps the most economical of all, is to get our hands dirty and create delicious spiced cookies, my favorites, I leave you the recipe that I prepare with my mother, for the packaging then, you can tie them to the tree or package them in food bags.

Spiced Cookies for Christmas.

To make these classic Christmas cookies as gifts we use our favorite Christmas-themed molds: reindeer, snowmen, bows, Christmas balls, stars, little trees, and Befana stockings, but let's not forget to also make some ginger and cinnamon cookies in the shape of “little cookie men”, because gingerbread cookies are a must-have!

Let's have fun making and decorating the ginger and cinnamon cookies in a cute and unique way, involving children too. Moreover, we can use them as delicious and fun decorations for the Christmas tree, just make a small hole with the help of a straw to pass through the colored ribbon to tie to the tree.

Now let's see together how to prepare these simple, but really delicious treats!

PROCEDURE:

• In a large bowl, pour in the soft butter at room temperature, honey, and brown sugar. Work these ingredients until you get a smooth cream.
• In the bowl, we also pour in flour, cinnamon, ginger, a pinch of salt, and a pinch of baking powder. Work the dry ingredients together with the butter cream, first using a spoon, then kneading by hand.

Remember that: 

Like all doughs for shortcrust pastry or cookies, this one should also be worked as little as possible to achieve crispy and crumbly cookies.

• Once a homogeneous dough is obtained, wrap it in parchment paper or food wrap and transfer it to the refrigerator to rest for 30 minutes.
• We prepare the royal icing by whisking the egg white together with the lemon flavor vial and a few drops of fresh lemon juice. It's not necessary to whip the egg white, just make it “frothy”. Gradually add all the icing sugar, mixing it with the egg white. Pour the sugar "as rain" making it fall through a sieve.
• At the end, we will obtain a very white, firm, and smooth icing, perfect for use with a pastry bag! Keep it covered with food wrap “in contact” until it's used, or transfer it immediately into the pastry bag. Be careful because this icing tends to dry out quickly!
• Let's form the cookies. Take the dough and, with a pinch of flour for support, roll it out with a rolling pin. Use our favorite Christmas-themed molds or simply the edge of a glass to form the cookies.
• Transfer the cookies onto a baking tray and, if we want to turn them into decorations for the tree, don't forget to make a hole with the help of a straw. Bake the cookies in a preheated ventilated oven at 180 °C for 10-12 minutes.
• Once the cookies are baked, let them cool completely and then decorate them according to our tastes with the sugar icing. I suggest, for more precision in decorating, to use a pastry bag with a very small nozzle! To turn the cookies into tree decorations, just pass a colored lace through the hole made previously with the straw.

Here are the gingerbread cookies decorated with icing!

The last idea I propose is a GOOD DEEDS advent calendar, to be put into practice both with children and adults:

• Today I am careful with the planet: when I brush my teeth, I don't let the water run.
• I call someone I haven't heard from in a long time.
• I help set the table.
• I give away something of mine.
• I prepare drawings to gift to a care home.
• I make Christmas decorations.
• I prepare a Christmas aperitif for the family.
• We watch a Christmas movie together.
• I leave a surprise in the coat pocket of someone I know.
• We tidy up the house, all together.
• Today I smile at everyone I meet.
• Today I will remember to say ''PLEASE''.
• Today I will remember to ''THANK''.
• I won't waste food.
• I won't make hasty judgments.
• I will help those in need.
• I will donate food to a food bank.
• I will plant seeds.
• I prepare little gifts for children in the hospital.
• I organize a board game night.
• I hug someone I haven't hugged in a long time.
• I say a prayer.
• I deliver gifts.
• I wish a MERRY CHRISTMAS to the people I meet.

Well, I think I've suggested a few ideas and these listed are not only economical but also very sentimental, remember that the Advent calendar is a gift, to remind your loved ones that they are loved.

Make the wait magical... light up with love throughout Advent.

Happy waiting.

Rosaria Tessiland®