It is super cold here today, just like winter actually. The weather is giving me a little push to get the holiday plans laid out for my blog. So, I wanted to let all of you know that I have a lot of exciting things planned for my blog for this upcoming holiday season! A giveaway! Yes you heard correct, a giveaway for a lovely item handmade by me. I will also be continuing my Handmade Holiday series this year and it will feature a couple different sewing patterns that will be available for purchase and one or two free pattern ideas. I will also have some free printable downloads available as Christmas gets closer.

If you are a follower of my blog you may have seen my Advent Activities lists. To check out my previous year’s list of activities you can click these links:

• Advent Activities for 2010 list
• Advent Activities for 2011 list

I would also love it if you would follow me on Facebook, just click the “Like” button over there in the sidebar! There are lots of fun things coming up this November and December and you won’t want to miss any of them.

Also, I will be starting a new sponsor/advertising program for my sidebar area. If you have an interest in advertising on my site just shoot me an email! I would love to have you!

The post Just Getting Warmed Up! appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.

Here is our list of activities for our Advent Countdown this year. Won’t you join us in the fun? You can download a tutorial to make your own Jesse Tree ornaments in my store. I also have other great ideas for Advent Activities and Crafts listed and linked below in our calendar.

To keep it simple we will be reading from The Jesse Tree book each day and creating our handmade ornaments to hang on our special Jesse Tree. On twelve of the days we also have a coordinating Jesse Tree Activity Ornament Kit by Illuminated Ink. If you are interested in following along on our Jesse Tree journey you can find out more details from my previous post here. Your kids will love the memories you create together!

(You can find a detailed tutorial for making your own handmade Jesse Tree ornaments to coordinate with the book The Jesse Tree in my SHOP. Links to The Jesse Tree book, Jesse Tree Activity Ornaments and Wooden Jesse Tree can be found below.)

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ADVENT COUNTDOWN CALENDAR

Nov. 28th

• Light Advent Candle and Recite Advent Prayer
• Make Handprint Advent Wreath using kids handprints

Wed. Dec. 1st – Jesse Tree Symbol Sun and the Moon (Creation)

• Set up Fisher Price Nativity Set
• Make Nativity Peanut Butter Bread Scene
• Read The Nativity Pop-up Book by Francesca Crespi
  
• Kids Get Countdown Advent Calendar with Chocolate
• Read The Jesse Tree book and The Advent Storybook before bed

Thurs. Dec. 2nd – Jesse Tree Symbol Apple w/ Snake (Adam and Eve)

• Hang Stockings and Decorate Mantel
• Do Jesse Tree Activity Ornament by Illuminated Ink
• Read The True Story of Santa Claus by Paul Prokop
  
• Read The Jesse Tree book and The Advent Storybook before bed

Fri. Dec. 3rd – Jesse Tree Symbol Noah’s Ark w/ Rainbow (Noah

• Do Jesse Tree Activity Ornament by Illuminated Ink
• Read The Jesse Tree book and The Advent Storybook before bed

Sat. Dec. 4th – Jesse Tree Symbol Camel (Abraham and Sarah)

• Decorate Our Christmas Tree
• Trim-A-Tree Activity – find download in my SHOP
• Do Jesse Tree Activity Ornament by Illuminated Ink
• Read The Tale of Three Trees retold by Angela Elwell Hunt
  
• Read The Jesse Tree book and The Advent Storybook before bed

Sun. Dec. 5th – Jesse Tree Symbol Sheep (Isaac)

• Light Advent Candle and Recite Prayer
• Do Jesse Tree Activity Ornament by Illuminated Ink
• Read The True Story of Santa Claus by Paul Prokop
  
• Read The Jesse Tree book and The Advent Storybook before bed

Mon. Dec. 6th – Jesse Tree Symbol Ladder (Jacob)

• Movie Monday with popcorn and hot chocolate
• Do Jesse Tree Activity Ornament by Illuminated Ink
• Open stocking gifts from St. Nick
• Read The Jesse Tree book and The Advent Storybook before bed

Tues. Dec. 7th – Jesse Tree Symbol Coat of Many Colors (Jacob)

• Do Jesse Tree Activity Ornament by Illuminated Ink
• Read The Jesse Tree book and The Advent Storybook before bed

Wed. Dec. 8th – Jesse Tree Symbol Silver Chalice (Joseph)

• Make Bird Seed Pine Cones
• Read The Jesse Tree book and The Advent Storybook before bed

Thurs. Dec. 9th – Jesse Tree Symbol Whip (Moses)

• Do Jesse Tree Activity Ornament by Illuminated Ink
• Read The Jesse Tree book and The Advent Storybook before bed

Fri. Dec. 10th – Jesse Tree Symbol Sheaf of Corn/Wheat (Ruth)

• Visit Santa at Mall
• Do Jesse Tree Activity Ornament by Illuminated Ink
• Read The Jesse Tree book and The Advent Storybook before bed

Sat. Dec. 11th – Jesse Tree Symbol Jar of Oil (Samuel)

• Make Christmas Cookies
• Read The Jesse Tree book and The Advent Storybook before bed

Sun. Dec. 12th – Jesse Tree Symbol Slingshot (David)

• Light Advent Candle and Recite Prayer
• Read The Jesse Tree book and The Advent Storybook before bed

Mon. Dec. 13th – Jesse Tree Symbol Crown (David the King)

• Movie Monday with popcorn and hot chocolate
• Do Jesse Tree Activity Ornament by Illuminated Ink
• Read The Jesse Tree book and The Advent Storybook before bed

Tues. Dec. 14th – Jesse Tree Symbol Temple/Pillars (Solomon)

• Do Jesse Tree Activity Ornament by Illuminated Ink
• Read The Jesse Tree book and The Advent Storybook before bed

Wed. Dec. 15th – Jesse Tree Symbol Raven (Elijah)

• Make Magic Reindeer Food – find download in my SHOP
• Make Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Reindeer
• Read The Jesse Tree book and The Advent Storybook before bed

Thurs. Dec. 16th – Jesse Tree Symbol Bear (Elisha)

• Read The Jesse Tree book and The Advent Storybook before bed

Fri. Dec. 17th – Jesse Tree Symbol Candle (Zachariah)

• Make Snowman Poop – find download in my SHOP
• Read The Jesse Tree book and The Advent Storybook before bed

Sat. Dec. 18th – Jesse Tree Symbol Olive Branch (Mary)

• Kids wrap presents for each other
• Read The Jesse Tree book and The Advent Storybook before bed

Sun. Dec. 19th – Jesse Tree Symbol Tablet w/ Stylus (John the Baptist)

• Light Advent Candle and Recite Prayer
• Make Gingerbread House
• Read The Jesse Tree book and The Advent Storybook before bed

Mon. Dec. 20th – Jesse Tree Symbol Baby in Manger

• Movie Monday with popcorn and hot chocolate
• Make Pretzel Hugs

Recipe from Becky Higgins as seen in CK Magazine

Directions:
Put a layer of square pretzels on a cookie sheet and place an unwrapped
Hershey’s Hug over each pretzel. Bake at 200 degrees for eight minutes. Remove
them from the oven and place a red or green milk chocolate M&M in the
center. Let the cookies cool.

• Read The Jesse Tree book and The Advent Storybook before bed

Tues. Dec. 21st – Jesse Tree Symbol Shepard

• Read The Jesse Tree book and The Advent Storybook before bed

Wed. Dec. 22nd – Jesse Tree Symbol Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh

• Make Candy Cane Heart Suckers
• Read The Jesse Tree book and The Advent Storybook before bed

Thurs. Dec. 23rd – Jesse Tree Symbol Angels (Herod)

• Read The Jesse Tree book and The Advent Storybook before bed

Fri. Dec. 24th – Jesse Tree Symbol The Brightest Star

• Put out Magic Reindeer Food – find download in my SHOP
• Read The Jesse Tree book and The Advent Storybook before bed

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