(This is part 3 of Thrive’s DECORATE series. Click here for the previous posts of our Christmas tree – Gangnam Style and tree skirt from a girls dress.)

Kids Christmas Refrigerator Advent - choose-to-thrive.com

How many of you grew up with Christmas advent calendars?

I did. This was mine.

Refrigerator Advent.9

My mom made this when I was little and it is such a special part of my Christmas memories. After 30+ years it’s starting to show it’s age, though, so my sister has started extensive felt renovations. 🙂 When my kids saw the pictures of her progress, my kids immediately wanted one of their own. Sewing something like this isn’t hard—in fact my dear friend Becky just made the cutest one for her kiddos here.

But I’m waist deep in other sewing projects … and I already had the Silhouette out … and I just happened to have some scrap vinyl laying around … so we compromised.

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It only took a few minutes to cut out a mix of designs from the Silhouette store and tracings from my mom’s calendar.

(I love that my Silhouette can trace any shape! And no, this isn’t a sponsored post.)

And then my kids went nuts putting up “stickers” all over the frig marking out the way to Bethlehem.

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All the shapes were applied straight to the frig, but I wanted Mary and Joseph to be moveable.

I ended up cutting two different shapes: one for the journey and one for the manger.

Kids Christmas Refrigerator Advent - choose-to-thrive.com

I applied them to some white craft foam, but cardstock would work fine, too.

Add some dollar store magnetic strips and voila! …

Kids Christmas Refrigerator Advent - choose-to-thrive.com

… Mary, Joseph and the donkey to move along the path each day …

Kids Christmas Refrigerator Advent - choose-to-thrive.com

… and the holy family for the manger.

Kids Christmas Refrigerator Advent - choose-to-thrive.com

No Silhouette machine?

No problem!

You could easily make something like this using contact paper, cardstock, whatever. Just add some magnets and go to town. Rock what ya got!

So …

Give it a shot – you’re kids will love this!

And if you make one, I’d love to see it! Shoot me an email, leave a comment below, tag me on Facebook or share it on twitter.

We’re off to move our Mary & Joseph out of Nazareth and on the road to Bethlehem … good night!

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3 Comments

  1. DressUpNotDown

    How fun and clever! Makes me wish I could use magnets on the front of my stainless steel fridge…
    I wonder if I could find some cling plastic to cut the shapes from?

  2. Creatively Content

    This was clever I agree…quick thinking! I have to admit the one of your moms is wonderful…I love it!!! Anyway mine is now up and has pockets…just missing the scripture cards. thanks for the fun encouragement, I am sooo proud of myself for finally doing it. 😉 much care to you and your little, medium and big ones.

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