Advent Calendar (part 1)

I've been wanting to make an Advent Calendar for the holiday season.  My plan was for each day to have a note with a Christmas activity written on it to do that day (look at lights, make cookies, watch a movie, etc).  We used to have a similar Advent calendar growing up and we loved opening a little door every morning.  In fact, we had a rotating schedule so that each of us three kids got to open a door every third day.  There was a quarter in some of the doors...so there was a lot at stake!

I searched for what I was looking for online after the holidays last year and found only a couple I really liked...

However, Pottery Barn items have never fit my budget (why must their stuff be so cute yet so expensive!).  So, it was back to the drawing board.

I found these stockings from Oriental Trading.  They were $20 for 24 stockings in four different patterns.  I took a chance knowing that they may not be high quality, but they are actually really cute!

Next, I bought a stencil and some paint and stenciled a date on each one (1-24).

I used some ribbon and hung the stockings along the banister.  

My next post will be about the various things that go in each little stockings!