Have fun celebrating the Advent season with this fun, FREE Christmas Countdown printable designed to coordinate with Truth in the Tinsel!
Good intentions – I’m full of them. But, actually following through is often a struggle! Believe it or not, for many, many years, we have never “officially” celebrated Advent.
We would do fun, family activities and crafts throughout the month of December. But, I’ve never purposefully had an Advent celebration! I always had good intentions.
But, frankly, I just ran out of time and didn’t get it done year after year!
Well, I vowed that 2011 would be different! Just when it looked like I was going to fall into the same old tradition of “too little…too late,” I discovered the Advent eBook Truth in the Tinsel, which totally saved the day! (Read my Truth in the Tinsel review here.)
I was so inspired by this super cute, super easy-to-implement Advent eBook, that I actually came up with CHRISTmas Countdown {Advent Countdown} cards to go along with it. But don’t be fooled, these are not just numbered cards!
(Scroll to download the FREE CHRISTmas Countdown cards)
The cards actually have riddles on the back that are designed to go along with the Truth in Tinsel clues! This adds a fun spin to an already great idea!
Plus, it got my older kids even more engaged in our activities. They are already thrilled about the idea of doing a simple craft each day!
How to use the FREE Advent Christmas Countdown cards:
1) Set up the countdown calendar. Print the CHRISTmas Countdown cards on cardstock. (Scroll further to download the free printable countdown cards.) I have formatted them so that you can print them back to back such that the riddles appear on the back of each card.
Simply print pages 2 & 4 and pages 3 & 5 back to back. However, you can use the countdown cards however you would like.
I do suggest that you print them onto cardstock and cut them with a 2” circle punch or larger (or cut by hand). Laminate for durability.
Once I printed, laminated, and cut my cards, I slid them into a Classroom Card Scheduler that I found in the dollar section at Target. (When I saw them, I stocked up!) Here is a similar one, though mine measures 21”x14.5’” and has 8 pockets.
I arranged the cards so that they resembled a Christmas tree and hung it with thumbtacks onto the bottom of a peg board.
(Scroll to download the FREE CHRISTmas Countdown cards)
2) Gather and prep supplies. Once the calendar is made, gather your Truth in the Tinsel craft supplies so that you don’t have to frantically search the house for them each day. (Many of the required items can be found around your home!)
3) Prepare to have fun!
Truth in the Tinsel AND our CHRISTmas Countdown In Action:
Here is what we did each day of Advent 2011. The kids went over to our CHRISTmas Countdown board and read the riddle on the back of the appropriate card. The answer is the Truth in Tinsel clue.
For example, the CHRISTmas Countdown card for Day 1 says “I am bright and give off light. What am I?”
After reading the hint, the kids guessed candle, which is the Truth in the Tinsel clue. Then they ran around the house having a scavenger hunt of sorts – looking for the Day 1 Truth in the Tinsel clue card, which was hidden near a candle.
NOTE: Each day before we started, I hid the Truth in the Tinsel clue card in a place related to the clue.
While the kids were searching for the clue card, I pulled out our craft bucket that contained all of the supplies needed for the day’s ornament.
Once they found the clue card, we began our Truth in Tinsel activities, beginning with the ornament!
Next, I read the corresponding scripture to the kids while they worked on the their ornaments. Or my daughter read it to us after we completed the ornaments.
Then we discussed what we read and did the extra activities suggested in the Truth in the Tinsel eBook.
Here is one of our Day 1 candle ornaments, laminated for durability! We hung them from the garland wrapped around our banisters.
After we have completed the activities for the day, we placed the Truth in the Tinsel card on the countdown “tree.” This was great because it gave my little guys another visual of how many days there are until Christmas!
(Scroll to download the FREE CHRISTmas Countdown cards)
We continued this process for all of Advent, leading up to Christmas Day! Here’s what our “tree” looked like on Christmas Eve:
The card for Day 25 says “Merry CHIRSTmas!”
My kids absolutely loved this. If it wasn’t for Truth in the Tinsel, I’m not sure we would have ever had a daily Advent celebration!
Additional Advent resources:
I also used The ADVENTure of Christmas by Lisa Whelchel. I would recommend adding this book to your Christmas collection regardless of how you decide to celebrate Advent!
Not only is it filled with activities, but it provides “Teachable Moments” where you can expound on some of the Christmas traditions and answer questions like… why do we hang ornaments on a tree at Christmastime?
About those good intentions…
We finally celebrated the Advent season and it was lots of fun for the kids and super easy for me! Now, that’s a win-win!
Truth in the Tinsel: Our Advent Experience with Lots of Photos!
More Truth in the Tinsel:
- Buy Truth in the Tinsel eBook
- Read my Truth in the Tinsel review
- Check out the alternative Truth in the Tinsel printable ornaments
- Download my FREE coordinating Advent Countdown printable below!
Download Instructions:
Ready to download the FREE printables? Simply click the gold DOWNLOAD button below and the PDF file will automatically download to your device.
Having Trouble? If you have clicked the gold DOWNLOAD button below and you are still having trouble downloading the file, please contact me so I can help!
Want to say Thank You?
The best way to say thank you for this freebie is to tell others about it! For example: share a photo online of you (or your kids) using it and provide a link back to my website!
However, please do NOT send the PDF file directly to someone. Send them a link to my blog post where they can download the PDF themselves!
This helps keep my freebies FREE! Thank you!
This post was originally published on November 29, 2011.
Truth in the Tinsel: Our Advent Experience with Lots of Photos!
Mama Jenn
You are very welcome Amanda! I hope your kids are enjoying the printables!
Deanna
I am not sure if anyone else had this problem but my printer does not have the option to print double sided pages unless the pages are together. Like for example, page 1,2. I have not been able to figure out a way to print page 2 and 4 front and back. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Mama Jenn
Deanna, you could print the front page, remove it, and then insert it in the printer so that it will print on the back side. For example, print page 2. Take it out the printer, insert it where you blank paper is, such that it will now print on the back side. Then print page 4, which should appear on the backside of page 2. Hopefully that makes sense.
Karen Gouvin
Found these on Pinterest this week. All printed up and ready to go. Thank you!
Mama Jenn
Awh! You are so welcome!!!
Childofgod8
Thanks so much – you did a wonderful job – so appreciated these, my girls are loving them.
Mama Jenn
I TOTALLY know what you mean! 😉
Jensplc
lol…forget about my previous post- I see that it was Mary…just needed to read your clue WITHOUT the pressure of a 4 and 6 year old…sometimes it is so hard to focus 🙂
Mama Jenn
I have always wanted to do Advent activities, but never got around to it either…that is until I discovered Truth in the Tinsel! 🙂 As for today’s clue, it is about Mary. (My riddles/hints follow along with the Truth in the Tinsel clues.) Not to worry, my kids thought it was Jesus at first too. I had to over-exaggerate the “my son” part and then they got it!
Jensplc
Was today’s clue suppose to be about Mary or Jesus? Just wondering 🙂 I am just LOVING these advent activities. Always wanted to do them and everything out there was little more complicated than I wanted it to be 🙂
Mama Jenn
You are most welcome! Hope you enjoy it as much as we are!
Kristina@SchoolTimeSnippets
After reading your review ( and several others) I purchased Truth in the Tinsel and printed off your printables! Thanks so much!
AJ
I just bought Truth in the Tinsel yesterday and then found your additions…love them! Thanks so much for sharing!
Mama Jenn
Thanks for understanding! 🙂
Jenny
Hi! Thank you so much for the separate file for the errors, really appreciate it. Hate wasting ink. 🙂 Thank you so much for all you do! I hate making mistakes so I know how you may feel. Merry CHRISTmas!
Heather
how about the clue: “I could not speak until my son John was born”-for Zechariah
Mama Jenn
You can download just the corrected cards here: http://www.mamajenn.com/files/MamaJenn/Advent_Countdown_CORRECTION.pdf So sorry for the mistake!
Mama Jenn
You can download just the corrected cards here: http://www.mamajenn.com/files/MamaJenn/Advent_Countdown_CORRECTION.pdf So sorry for the mistake!
Mama Jenn
You can download just the corrected cards here: http://www.mamajenn.com/files/MamaJenn/Advent_Countdown_CORRECTION.pdf So sorry for the mistake!
Mama Jenn
You can download just the corrected cards here: http://www.mamajenn.com/files/MamaJenn/Advent_Countdown_CORRECTION.pdf So sorry for the mistake!
Mama Jenn
Yep! I am so sorry! I am trying to think of a new clue now. Any ideas??? Once I get it fixed, I will post a file with the correction.
Mama Jenn
Yes, another mistake…I was thinking of Zacchaeus. So sorry! That’s what I get for making these at the last minute! I am working on a riddle for Zechariah and will update the file and post the corrected card. So sorry!!!
Heather
This is great! I’ve got mine all cut out and getting ready to laminate!! My kids will love this 🙂 Thanks so much! There was one thing I wasn’t quite sure of-Day 3 clue says I climbed a tree in order to see…were you thinking Zacchaeus, instead of Zecahriah?
Childofgod8
I am wondering about the clue for day 3 – where you thinking of Zacchaeus instead of Zachariah?
Mama Jenn
Thanks Angie! I have since made the correction. You can refresh the page and download the corrected version or you can download a single page with just the correct #22 card. Both of the downloads are available on the website. Sorry for the mistake!
Angie
Found your site today. I downloaded the Truth in the Tinsel along with your pdf and am getting it all setup to do with my daughter. Thank you – she is going to love it. One problem, your pdf has two Day 1 circles and hints and no Day 22.
Jdaniel4smom
I just downloaded the Truth in the Tinsel too. I am really looking forward to it.
Mama Jenn
Glad you will be able to use it Alina! I am so excited to start Truth in the Tinsel with my kiddos. I don’t know whose more excited…me or them!
Alina
Thank you! I’ve been struggling with what to do since we will be spending the month at Grandma’s with other family members that aren’t as focused on the Christ part of Christmas, but your Advent countdown and the Truth in Tinsel book seem totally doable for our circumstances! (Without taking up a lot of room in our suitcases, lol).
Julie
Thank you, love them!
Mama Jenn
Thank you so much! I’m glad you like them!!!
Mrscsparks
I just downloaded the Truth In Tinsel book and these are going to be PERFECT! Thank you so much for your hard work!!