How to Make an Advent Calendar

What You'll Need

• Bulletin board that's at least 22"x26"
• 48 small white paper cups ($3 for 20; shopsweetlulu.com)
• Pushpins
• 1 package white tissue paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Number rubber stamps and ink pads
• Paper towel
• Glue stick
• 24 assorted treats (such as candies and small toys)
• 4.5" star box lid ($2; etsy.com)
• Sponge brush
• Ribbon

Make it:

1. Lay out 24 cups face-up in tree shape. Pin center of each cup to board. Leave about 5? of space at top of board.
2. Cut tissue paper into 3?-wide strips for easier handling. Lightly trace the top of a cup 24 times on tissue paper.
3. Lay a paper towel under tissue-paper strips. Lightly stamp numbers 1 to 24 in the center of circles. Cut out circles.
4. Apply the glue stick to the rim of a loose cup. Place a treat on top of a face-down numbered circle, then press the glued edge of cup onto the circle; let dry. Repeat for all 24 loose cups.
5. Insert numbered cups in a random order into cups attached to the board.
6. Press sponge brush onto ink pad and dab ink onto star box lid. Let dry; hang on a pushpin above the tree.
7. Optional: Line edges of board with ribbon. Pin ends to back of the board.

Originally published in the December 2012 issue of Parents magazine

• By Helen Quinn