December days can race away from us. However, the joys of an advent calender shouldn’t be forgotten and can add a moment of kindness, reflection and calm into a hectic time.

This advent calendar (featured on our front cover) is quick to put together and it can start on any day in December, if you make a shorter version. It works for all ages, too – rather than gifts, you place a promise in each envelope that the recipient can trade in whenever they like. Whether it’s a trip to see some lights, the first pick from the Christmas chocolates or just a nice hug, it’s a lovely way to create memories.

You will need:

Paper
Scissors
Small envelopes, or you could make paper pockets
Decorations (if you can’t find enough dried flowers and seed heads you could use bits of fir)
Washi tape
Fabric, pins, a stick and string, or cardboard and glue

To make

1 Cut the paper into pieces that are small enough to fit in your envelopes.
2 Write a promise on each piece of paper. You can write things like: watching a film together, making them a special pudding, a snuggle on the sofa, a day out somewhere festive, a winter picnic, hot chocolate tasting.... Customise the promises to the person that you’re making them for.
3 Put each promise in an envelope and seal.
4 Start decorating! We used pieces of dried flowers and foliage and stuck them to the envelopes with washi tape.
5 To finish, either stick the envelopes to a piece of cardboard or, as we did, pin them to a piece of fabric, which can be hung on the wall. Lay the envelopes out first before pinning, to check you’re
happy with the overall look.

Project and photography by Emma Harris

If you like the idea of making an advent calendar with a twist, you might enjoy our feature Calendars of Promise in our December issue.

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