Advent Calendar + decorating with old familiar things
When I first started blogging, I created this very simple idea of an advent calendar based on decorating with old familiar things.
I’m reposting this today because I will recreate it all over again in the next few weeks with the help of my favorite store, Terrain!
While I still love using old things with memories, I love to mix them with new things, too!
What I Used to Create this Chalkboard Advent Calendar
- A 4 x 4 piece of plywood
- Chalkboard paint
- Rope
- Twine
- Paper lunch bags
- Small clothes pins
I started thinking about decorating for the holidays with planning this year’s advent calendar. I decided to stick with things I have around the house, my recent thrift and flea finds, and my usual color palette of natural, black, white, and silver with touches of green. I first painted a 4′ x 4′ piece of 1/4″ plywood with chalkboard paint.
I emptied my candy jars, washed and filled them with holiday treats from Trader Joe’s. I used black and white ticking stripe pillows to wrap around little trees I found at a local nursery for $5 each. Another option would be to use linen napkins or tea towels to wrap around potted trees.
The entire project, including the supplies for the chalkboard, was less than $50.
McCoy Pottery, Vintage Porcelain Angels & Kraft Paper Packages Paper bag, chalkboard advent calendar
I searched my cabinets for anything silver, gold, black and white, and a little green.
Twine in Jars and Silver Bowls
I still love twine! A box or a package wrapped up with twine makes me so happy. I still use this bowl for tags and twine on my wrapping station.
Filled silver Revere bowls with pine cones and silver balls tied with black ribbons. My favorite bowl is one that my husband won in a ski race. I remember seeing it shortly after we met on a shelf in his bookcase…Salt Lake Area Corporate Ski Challenge Series, February 4, 1984, 3rd Place was engraved on the bowl. I said, “You are such a good skier; I would think you would have come in first.”
Jars of Sweets
Using glass jars of any kind is still a great way to add decorations for the holidays. I’m planning something a little different this year, and I can’t wait to share. The overall idea will remain the same, but I plan to make some magical additions using fun decorations and little stargazer lights! Everything is a little more magical with lights.
You are so creative, Annie! I love the advent calendar with the bags and all of your glass jars. Everything is picture perfect! I haven't even started decorating since I've been sick all week. Hoping to drag things out tomorrow and get started!
Hello AnnieI love the ski trophy – I laughed when you said, he married you anyway…ha haThose lights are beautiful and a great way to re-use some good old jarsHelen xx
Okay I'm impressed. Seriously I almost clicked off after the first image because I thought it was just a pinterest image (well, it will be soon!). You are so talented it's crazy. I hope your kids know how lucky they are – how special to get a little gift every day. I LOVE everything you do (did). xo
BEST ADVENT CALENDAR EVER!!!! How in the world did you come up with it? It is so creative and I would NEVER have thought this up!!! LOVE it.Happy Holidays!!
This is truly amazing…I love it! Like a cute little coffee shop! I actually thought at first the baggies were to be used to fill with the goodies you have on the table!
Annie I must exclaim I LOVE your style.Honestly you rock girl!
annie you did this? omg, i thought the top photo was something from a magazine. you are so dang talented. i love it! the color combination is perfect. i have not done one thing for the holidays yet. i better get busy.
you are simply amazing!
I get paid to design and I don't think I do it half as well as you do.Inspiration sistah.xo Jane
This whole post is amazing!! I love that you used things that you already had and managed to come up with all of that. By the way, you pay me such nice compliments but…umm I don't think you need any help in the design department!!xoAshlyn
This is stunning! No REALLY! This is by far the best advent calendar I have seen! You have great style! I have to pin this! I would love if you would share this at our {Home for the Holidays} link party at The Corson Cottage. I just discovered your blog and now I can't wait to look around more. Happy Holidays! Carrie
What a gorgeous display Annie, love the brown paper bags idea!Have a great weekendxo
I am totally gobsmacked! This post is simply amazing and would be right at home in the most beautiful magazine. You are very, very clever Annie!! xx
What a spectacular post!! That is by far the most beautiful advent calendar I have ever seen!! Just perfect in every way. I am sooo impressed. Keeping this handy for my next 'posts to ponder" to include yours…fabulous!
Oh, how pretty! I do like your idea and perhaps next year will do something similar. I've posted about advent calendars today too and linked yours in it, for inspiration!
Beautiful! Love the jars with candy (TJ's = death to my waistline) and the sweet porcelain angels!
Annie this is absolutely enchanting.
Thanks for sharing at Home for the Holidays at The Corson Cottage! Carrie
You have now inspired me to start decking the halls. All looks merry and bright!
OMG I have a chalk wall and this is SUCH a cute IDEA!!!xoxoAareancolorissue.blogspot.com
Lovely as usual. I love the color palette and all the treats look so yummy. Don't even look at the Trader Joe's chocolate mint cookies. EVIL!
Thanks for visiting. Fabulous idea for an advent calendar and I am loving your neutral colour palette. Just gorgeous! x
Absolutely beautiful! At first I thought your photo was taken from a magazine, it's that beautiful. You are extremely talented and you should be a stager or designer, if your not already. I have felt so overwhelmed this week that I haven't even taken out the Christmas decorations yet (well, I did get out one, the advent calendar, but that is it).Can you believe the weather today? It was 82 up here so I am assuming it was just as warm down there. Love days like that! Doesn't feel like Christmas though!
You're like an on-line magazine, a blogazine. Everything looks beautiful and it's beautifully photographed. I think we should open a store.
It's beautiful! My daughter is a teacher and I referred her to your blog, what a great ideas for her classroom! Thanks for sharing.
This is beautiful! I'm dying to know what's in the bags-it's all so enticing! I wish I had kids to make an advent calendar for! Absolutely gorgeous!!!
Love the Advent Calendar…so creative! And all those jars twinkling with candles are beautiful!
Wonderful ideas!! I am mixing it up. Isabella and I wrapped a lot of candles with red ribbon. Also using an assortment of linens. Andrea from the French Basketeer sent me 8 antique French napkin Rings!Please come visit my site for the 12 Days of Holiday Giveaways.Very special gifts!You will love them!xoxoKarenaArt by Karena
Hi Annie!I love your blog:)Your advent is awesome, I'm making mine a mobile this year (I'll have pics up on my blog soon).
Your advent calendar is ingenious and charming. You are such a great mom and decorator. I was happy to pull our stockings that I got for 75% off after Christmas last year at Rogers Gardens…the rest of the decor is old. But I have switched things around to keep it fresh.Your photography is incredible, Annie.
oh my gosh, i love your calendar! such a great idea. next year…next year i'll be on top of it and do one. such a fun idea.
Annie, I love your advent calendar – from the chalkboard wall with brown bags to the little vignettes of jars and goodies. So pretty and fun and that color scheme is lovely!
I have been searching Etsy and kitchen stores for so long for glass canisters. I found your blog on Pinterest and there you have the exact thing I've been looking for. Please tell me you remember where you found them and they are still available? I'd be so appreciative. BTW, I'm an Ina Garten fan and love her kitchen, too.
Hilary – I found my candy jars at Roger's Gardens in Newport Beach, CA. I'm not sure if they still have them, but I do see them around from time to time. I think I saw a few different ones at Micheal's the other day. Send me your email address…If i see them I'll pass the info along.annie
i like your blog very very much! i follow you now! xoxo
Annie,Simply brilliant!Visions of your post will be dancing in my mind as I decorate 34th Street this week! ~Lynne [w/L]
It is so simple but just beautiful! Thanks for sharing and now you have my mind spinning about how else to use those lunch bags, thanks for the inspiration!
Annie you're amazing. What a great advent calendar and your decor is so, so pretty. Very inspiring:)
Annie! This is so beautiful and simplicity at its best! I love it all. I want to move right in.
how beautiful!
Wow! What an fabulous vignette with such meaning and tradition. I love it! Way to go…how fun it must be to be little kiddies in your home!
I saw this on pinterest yesterday and had no idea it was yours! How creative you are! I love every detail. Love the ticking and have used it for the holidays as well.
Such a gorgeous vignette! I love all your choices, the paper, chalkboard, silver, candles, ticking and natural elements. Lovely!
Love, love, LOVE it all! So simple and yet so elegant. I love how the candlelight bounces off all the glass and that advent calendar is such a creative idea! Beautiful!
I love your blog! I am your latest follower.Thank you for you kind comment over at Tina's yesterday!Teresaxoxo
I love this so rustic and homely !Such a gorgeous idea, lovely images.Abigail x
Annie, I keep coming back to this! L-O-V-E your darling advent calendar!
If I were a magazine editor I would surely come knocking at your door…this post is perfect in every way…so happy to have discovered your blog…adore your calm and beautiful style. Jermaine
Annie I love this so much I'm planning to feature tonight at our Home for the Holidays party at The Corson Cottage. Thanks again for linking up last week!
This is stunning…seriously. It has such a warmth. It feels so fresh, yet vintage too.
Love your blog! This post was amazing. Your advent tradition and gorgeous jars have really inspired me! Beautiful!
Hi there, I am stopping by from Mod Vintage Life!This is simply beautiful, it looks like it could have come out of a magazine. Great ideas and stunning!Theresa
Annie, everything is so very pretty! The natural textures and colors are perfect. And you are so very smart to use pillow cases for the little trees. Perfect.
absolutely beautiful, especially the candles in the jars. I want to do that! donna
I adore this!! Thank you so much for sharing!! would LOVE to see pictures of your dining room and the chalkboard wall!!!
I realize that this is an old post, but I love this so much and I’m wondering: 1) how did you attach the string to the chalkboard, and 2) how did you hang the plywood on the wall?
your blog is a recent find for me – love it!!
Hi Annie! Your photos are terrific!
I was wondering if you would mind if I shared some of your wonderful world on my blog http://www.fairiesandco.com/cat/fairy-blog/ (obviously with the links and due credit!) and on facebook page. In any case, thank you for inspiration!
Vira
Hello Vira,
Well that would be lovely! Thank you!
annie