How many days til Christmas?
A couple of years ago we made these awesome little matchboxes as a way to count down to Christmas day. We always do our Christmas chain but I wanted to have my kids’ hearts turned to our family also.
In the middle of all of this holiday craziness it’s easy to forget to be kind, patient, sit and cuddle, talk…all of the things that make life feel slower and easier and meaning filled.
What’s inside the boxes?
I originally spent the morning making these little boxes (first saw them on Martha) for my family as a little surprise for them when they got home. As soon as the kids saw them, though, they wanted to make one, too. Now, everyone’s put their signature on each box.
Each matchbox is a little present and inside each one it says something. A little suggestion to do for someone in our family before each person’s head hits the pillow at night.
Things like:
Make Emma’s bed for her today.
Write Emmett a note about something you’re glad he did for you. Hide it in his room.
Do something for someone today with out them finding out.
Give someone a hand with their homework just to be nice.
Read a book with Grace.
Cuddle with Dad on the couch for 5 minutes.
Five times today stop yourself from saying something you know will hurt someone’s feelings.
Tell three family members something you’re thankful to them for.
Write a note to someone giving them a compliment.
Help Miriam with her chore.
Clean something without being asked.
These are little gifts to each other in the place that means the most…our home.
A Happy Christmas Countdown present to our best friends and our favorite people that live right here next to us.
I’m hoping it will feel like a gift for them to open and also be a gift to someone else.
Supplies:
Matchboxes (I just bought packs at walmart and emptied the matches into a ziplock bag)
Scrapbook paper
Hot glue gun and glue
Scissors
Kraft paper
Ribbon
These are so fast and fun to make I almost couldn’t stop myself. I can’t wait to make more. They are an easy project while you watch a It’s a Wonderful Life or Elf (although I’m not a great multi-tasker).
Instructions:
Use one of your matchboxes as a template. Take apart the piece surrounding the sliding box.
Cut all of your main pieces using this template.
Wrap the paper around the box and then roll the box to that a crease is made for each corner. Take the paper off the box and fold each crease so that it is more defined.
Put the scrapbook paper back around the box and run a bead of hot glue along the paper and hold it down so that the glue is on the underside of the box.
Now add your favorite ribbon or cut triangles to make a tree. Cut a small rectangle to put inside the matchbox so that when it’s opened it’s a surprise piece of fun.
Write the acts of kindness for your family on strips of kraft wrapping paper. Roll them into a tiny straw looking thing and seal with a piece of fabric tape. Put it inside the matchbox.
All done! Now repeat as many times as you would like (trust me, it’s addicting! I kept thinking of more combinations of papers and ribbons…)
You could also have these little holiday matchboxes be full of fun activities to do together as a family.
Here’s a little list to get you started:
Decorate the Christmas tree
Hang lights on the house outside
Get your pjs on and pile in the van with hot chocolate, sweet treats, and popcorn and go see the lights
Frost cookies
Decorate the house for Christmas
Go to the Journey to Bethlehem in town (some church’s create a live nativity experience, you may have one in your town)
Shop for or make gifts for each other (a family gift exchange)
Read a Christmas book
Leave a gift on a neighbor’s porch
Wrap presents for kids (in Charlotte there is a night where people can come wrap presents for kids who would usually go without Christmas)
Go caroling with friends then have hot chocolate together
Christmas movie night with treats by the fire and Christmas tree
Read the story of Jesus’s birth
Call Grandparents and sing them a Christmas carol
Write letters to each other (your brother, sister, or parent) and tell them 10 things you are proud of them for this past year
Cut out snowflakes and hang them from the ceiling (Buddy the Elf-style)
Make a Christmas book
Create snow globes
Make gifts for teachers
Make sure to get great photos of your family this holiday! Make sure to get your FREE copy of The Art of Familyness Photography.
Have fun!
Happiness,
Davina
Davina Fear is a Familyness Adventurer. Even though she loves Christmas…there are moments in December when she hides in her closet to escape the craziness. She may be doing that today…at this very moment.
She blogs at davinafear.com. Her workshop, The Familyness Photo Workshop, helps you create awesome family photo stories (and is an awesome Christmas present for you and the people you love).
By day, I photograph families. By night, I build forts the size of elephants with my family. I live in a yellow house. I believe real life is the best getaway ever.
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