Top 10 Free Advent Activity Card Printables

(Note: I don't normally do round-up posts, but these Free Advent Activity Card Printables were too good not to share!)

I found the most adorable advent calendar at JoAnn's the other day. I loved everything about it. It was wooden, with tiny hinged doors, and it fit our decorating style perfectly. I had to have it.

The only problem was, I had no idea what to place inside. There are a ton of great countdown to Christmas ideas online - candy, activity cards, mini ornaments, small toys, pieces to complete a puzzle, etc. - but one idea stood out above the rest. Knowing that my three year old would most enjoy doing daily holiday activities, I decided to fill our countdown to Christmas with advent activity cards.

Because I don't have the time or talent to create my own activity cards - at least, not before the December 1st start date - I began searching online for free printables.

My search turned up so many adorably designed advent cards. And such clever activity ideas. It always amazes me how talented and generous my fellow bloggers are. If you use any of the following printables, be sure to thank the blogger who provided them. Here is a round up of my favorite free advent activity cards.

Top 10 Free Advent Activity Card Printables. 

{Pinterest users, please follow the links provided and pin from original sources}

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My all time favorite. Not only are the graphics adorable, but these printables from Wendolonia also include the most creative activities such as, "Create a snowscape with shaving cream and action figures."

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Let's Lasso the Moon offers three different series of activity cards each with eye catching typography. The three styles include Must-See Holiday Movies, Advent Activities, and Fill in the Blank Holiday Clue Cards.

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This classic red and white look from Add a Pinch coordinates well with any calendar theme

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The best part about this version from The Painted Hive is that the downloadable file also includes a printable to make the cute little faux chalkboard envelopes. (Plus a great tutorial with detailed photos on how to build your own advent calendar.)

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Loving the variety of graphics on this set of cards by A Little Delightful.

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For the scrapbook lover in all of us, The Petit Cadeau provides activity card printables with space on each card for you to add embellishments.

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No roundup would be complete without the inclusion of washi tape. These cute square printables can be found at Noodle Head

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Design Dazzle really impresses with printables for over 100+ different advent activities.

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These festive snowflake cards can be found at I Heart Organizing.  Check out her unique way to display a countdown calendar without a lot of space.

Or if you want to write all of your own personal activities, try Creativity Prompt's December daily free download. Each card has a different design, the date, and a blank area for you to write your own message.

 

 

Happy Countdown to Christmas!!!

I Found My Man, But I Still Need My Girls -- Bridesmaid Bottles

My newly engaged sister and her graphic designer fiance came up with the most clever way to ask their friends and family to be bridesmaids in the upcoming wedding. They presented each girl with a bottle of wine wrapped in a custom label reading, "I found my man, but I still need my girls. Will you be a bridesmaid / matron of honor?"

The back side of each wine bottle showcased a photo of my sister with the bottle's recipient. (My bottle was actually Italian Soda, since I'm preggers.)

Blog Parties I visit listed HERE

Pinterest Poses (Photos) and our little BIG Announcement

Ahh.... Pinterest. The internet's best free teacher of all things creative. Seriously. I've learned so many things from various pins I've seen. Everything from craft techniques, cleaning tricks. 

The secret to getting the most out of Pinterest, however, is all about which pinners (and boards) you follow. Hate to cook? Then unfollow your best friend's "Yummy Delicious" board with its 1,000+ pins. You can still follow her remaining seven boards, just eliminate the boards of no interest to you. This will free up your news feed for pins that actually inspire you.

Personally, I follow a lot of craft and DIY bloggers who provide a daily source of creative inspiration to nourish my brain's left hemisphere. Here's a link to my pinterest page, if you want to see who I follow.

Here are a few photography poses I've experimented with over the summer that were "pin-spired." 

(Sorry for the obnoxiously large watermarks - cautious mommy instincts on overboard today)

 Little Girl in Mother's Wedding Dress- I dug out my wedding dress this summer on my anniversary and both me and my daughter had fun trying it on. This photo of her wearing my bridal gown is just so sweet. Maybe someday (in the far, very far future) I'll display this photo at HER wedding.

Annual Birthday Collage- Make your own custom collages at Picmonkey.com to capture the many expressions of your little ones. 

First Day of Preschool- I loved using this free printable found HERE as a photo prop.

And finally, our little BIG announcement is that we are expecting baby #2 this April!!

Framed Wedding Gifts- Making Art With Picmonkey and Photoshop Elements

A recent wedding in our family provided the perfect opportunity for me to practice designing print art using PicMonkey and Photoshop Elements. I wanted to include something thoughtful and homemade in addition to the couple's traditional wedding gift and decided to try my hand at wedding date print art.

I used Picmonkey to create this first version featuring an ampersand on a slate blue background. (In case you've never heard of it, Picmonkey is a free online photo editing site.) Here is what I came up with.

The only problem with Picmonkey is that you can't save the layers individually, so should you ever want to go back in and edit the design (say to update it for another couple) you would need to start all over. Not that this is a huge deal, but seeing that I actually own a copy of Photoshop Elements (which does allow layers to be saved individually) I decided to switch over to PSE for this second version featuring the large monogram.

Should I ever want to use this design again for a wedding gift, I can now easily update it with a new couple's demographics.

What do you think? Would you display a piece of personalized print art in your home?

Blog Parties I visit listed HERE

The BEST Picnic, Camping, Couch Cuddling Denim Quilt Ever

As many of you know, I have long since wanted to make a denim quilt. Old blue jeans were collected and saved, squares were cut arranged by row, and then I developed a massive case of craft fright.

For two years a box of neatly organized denim patches sat tucked away in a basement closet. For two years I struggled to find the courage to actually assemble the quilt. I realize that sounds silly, but I was so afraid of disappointing myself and the expectations I had set for this blue jean blanket.

Then one day over the summer, I just decided to go for it.

And I couldn't be happier with the results. This fleece lined denim quilt has been the best picnic, camping, and couch cuddling blanket ever.

I intentionally staggered the rows using rectangle blocks to avoid the seam thickness created by four square corners of denim. The quilt backing is an old cream colored fleece blanket which we were no longer using. (Sewn right sides together, flipped, and then topstitched.) To keep the two layers from separating, I placed a few "quilting" stitches around some of the squares.

The best part of all was discovering that perhaps I am not that much of a perfectionist after all. Yes, there are uneven stitches and the edges are slightly wonky, but you know what? In the end, those imperfections I was so worried about, really don't bother me at all. And the family memories we've made and are yet to make with this blanket are absolutely perfect :)

Happy Sewing!

Blog Parties I visit listed HERE