Magnetic Christmas Countdown Advent Calendar

I sit here wishing that I could turn back the hands of time and relive the early days of my life as a young mother. It is not the hectic pace that I miss, but the opportunity to make more memories during the height of my son's childhood.

Each time that I create something that I know my son would have enjoyed as a young child, deep seated feelings emerge from within me. How I wish I could have substituted this handmade advent calendar in place of the store bought ones that I'd purchase at the local drugstore with it's cardboard doors and waxy chocolate Santa's, simply because I didn't have the time it took to make one myself. Don't get me wrong. We still managed to create a zillion memories, waxy chocolate and all. But as I look back, I know it could have been better. Much better. Maybe I'm just thinking in hindsight. Realization is much clearer after the events have occurred and you have had sufficient time to think about it.

At the age of 22, my son isn't going to get a charge out of this glittery refrigerator advent calendar like he would have had at the age of 5. Of course, it is simply because he is a young adult now and the wonderment of childhood has diminished. He's still supportive when I show him what I've made but it's not the same. Sadly, this is what life is like at this stage of the game.

Let's build a memorable tradition with a Christmas Countdown Advent Calendar. Set this up on your refrigerator each year for the little ones to enjoy. Just think of the pleasure that they will have when you bring this out year after year.

To begin, you will need twenty-four, 7/8" x 12" strips of cardstock. The glittered card stock that I have chosen is very thick due to the coating of glue that was used to secure the glitter to the cardstock during manufacturing. The outcome is a very hard and durable rosette.

Fold each strip into 1/4" accordion pleats. Glue the ends together to form a continuous circle.

With needle and thread, take a running stitch close to the edge of one side of the accordion pleated circle, gathering the thread tightly to form a rosette.


Punch 24 circles from a 1" circle punch.
Punch 24 circles from a 1-1/2" circle punch.


Punch out numbers 1 through 24 with a 7/8" number punch. You can purchase ready made numbers in the scrapbooking section of your favorite store if you do not own number punches.


Glue the 1-1/2" circles to the backs of each of the rosettes.
Glue the numbers onto the front of the 1" circles.
Glue the 1" circles onto the face of the rosettes.


Glue a magnet onto a mini clothespin.


Glue the clothespin to the back of the rosette.


A glittery, sparkly, countdown to Christmas.


If you own a stainless steel refrigerator, you know that magnets will not stick to it. In this case, you will have to get yourself a magnetic board or cookie sheet to make this work.




Use the clothespins to hold a treat, a bible verse, or a Christmas memory to count down the days 'til Christmas.


As sad as this may sound, I can picture my then 5 year old sitting in front of the refrigerator arranging and rearranging these little magnetic rosettes every day until the arrival of Christmas. The sweet smile on his face. The excitement in his voice. The joy of early childhood.

A clear reminder to myself of the importance of making memories and of the reality of how quickly time passes.

Aloha!