Count Down to Christmas with Fun Kid-Friendly Style

It's beginning to look a lot like… well… Christmas. Are you counting down in style? We've got some fabulous ideas today that are fiscally savvy, fun, family friendly and oh-so-stylish. Not Martha Stewart's protege? Don't worry. Anyone can whip up these projects. No magical whisk needed!

Our friends at Classic Play have a fabulous idea for celebrating the countdown to Christmas: a homemade advent "pull" calendar filled with family activities rather than trinkets, toys or chocolate. Jen has compiled a handy little list of fun family togetherness, including things like 'deliver stolen to a neighbor' and 'write our christmas lists.'

Could the mod magnetic calendar from Twig and Thistle be any cuter? Love it. Don't have a magnetic surface big enough? Use a cheap cookie sheet and hang it on the wall. Mod-u-lous.

Is your inner Martha begging to be let out? Make a custom advent shadow box! Kami at No Biggie created an adorable red and green box calendar that will have her kids do everything from decorating a gingerbread house to taking a bath with Christmas confetti.

The cone-iferous advent calendar from Disney Family Fun doubles as a fun kid-friendly tablescape in your dining room. How adorable. Your kids will love helping you make this one, too.

Stacking jars or even covered toilet paper roles is another fun and funky way to count down to St. Nick. Love that this stacking calendar from Room Envy includes hidden ornaments, that then dressed up some plain branches. Lots of fun!

The paper card calendar I found on A Peak Inside the Fishbowl is an oldie (2007 idea) but a good, especially for the craft challenged. A thought, simple gesture, activity handwritten on the inside of a folded paper card. Simple. And makes a gorgeous garland for your mantel, too!

Have another idea for making the next 24 days special? We'd love to hear them!