24/12

Tonight its Christmas eve and we have reached our last day of the countdown

hope you enjoyed it as much as we did - and to leave this advents countdown on a

crafty note, we thought the lovely work from jello07 would be a nice way to finish it up.

Thanks Erica!

23/12

One day left so befor its all over here is some general Christmas knowledge in case you didnt know.....

Christmas is an annual Christian holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.

It is celebrated onDecember 25, but this date is not known to be Jesus' actual birthday, and may have initially been chosen to correspond with either the day exactly nine months after some early Christians believed Jesus had been conceived, a historical Roman festival, or the date of the northern hemisphere's winter solstice. Christmas is central to the Christmas and holiday season, and in Christianity marks the beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days.

Although traditionally a Christian holiday, Christmas is also widely celebrated by many non-Christians, and some of its popular celebratory customs have pre-Christian or secular themes and origins. Popular modern customs of the holiday include gift-giving, music, an exchange of greeting cards, church celebrations, a special meal, and the display of various decorations; including Christmas trees,lights, garlands, mistletoe, nativity scenes, and holly. In addition, Father Christmas (known as Santa Claus in some areas, includingNorth America, Australia and Ireland) is a popular mythological figure in many countries, associated with the bringing of gifts for children.

22/12

How about some Christmas cocktails?

21/12

Dont know what to wear yet this Christmas?

How about knitting your own sweater?

Here you can do it quickly

20/12

We have arrived at the fourth advents (last Sunday before Christmas!!)

So while you sit enjoying all your candles lit and wrap up your last presents

Here are some lovely ideas

from oh hello friend's :) exchange

19/12

beautiful image of a vintage christmas card

just to remind you all that

after the holidays you dont have to throw them all away

keep them and re-use them next year

as ornaments, or a new card!!

There are even organizations who recycle the and sell them for a good cause ;)

18/12

Another lovely advents countdown with guest blogs and all

at Stephanie Levy

17/12

Lovely pop up project for the last minute xmas cards :)

16/12

Since we are in Catalunya, an hommage to caga tio could not be more fitting.

via mi bulin a collection of artists shows their versions.

image via flickr

15/12

still not in the christmas mood?

here are some great omages to get you going

living etc. Christmas gallery

14/12

This Christmas do your cookies in a different way :)

how about geographically?

Start of with Berlin ....

at Back dir deine Welt

13/12

Today it is the third advent,

we have played some christmas games, made some ryhmes and even opened up one of our presents.

I grew up singing this song on Sundays

thought you could join in :)

Advent, Advent, ein Lichtlein brennt.
Erst eins, dann zwei, dann drei, dann vier -
dann steht das Christkind vor der Tür.

Advent advent a light is burning

First one, then two, then three, then four

soon Father Christmas will be at our door.

12/12

recycles christmas ornaments

make them yourself or buy them online

11/12

this time its a classic

enjoy

10/12

Ever wander why do we decorate Christmas trees?

The evergreen tree, because it is perpetually green, has been
used as a symbol of eternal life since the ancient Egyptians and Hebrews.

The Scandinavians believed that the evergreen could even scare away the devil. Decorating an evergreen tree in honor of Xmas became popular in the Middle Ages. The decorations then consisted of candles and wafers, to symbolize Christ and the Host.

The tree became popular in Europe and America in the 18th century and the Victorians started decorating them with candies and cakes hung with ribbon. Woolworth began selling manufactured Xmas ornaments in 1880.

The first electronically lighted Xmas tree appeared in 1882.

09/12

great christmas project for the home

by chez larsson

08/12

build your own ginger house

with a little twist

its a moomin ginger house

07/12

Still dont know what to give as a present....

we know how you feel.

How about some nice art print?

This one is for those of you with out a snowy Christmas!

or browse thru many other talented artists and choose something that suits your collection :)

at 20x200

06/12

Today is the second advent :)

Enjoy Hanna's illustrations as she also counts down to christmas.

p.s. and happy Nicholas day

05/12

Today children in Holland are looking forward to the arrival of St. Nicholas - Sinterklaas.

Children are told that St. Nicholas is very busy and has many helpers who dress like him and Zwarte Piet so that no child is left out.

Children place straw or carrots in their shoes for Schimmel and St. Nicholas replaces these with gifts and treats.

Adults will also exchange gifts and usually attach a funny poem or verse

If you want to know more details here is a good site.

I would reccomend geting your shoes out tonight and joining in the Dutch celebration

04/12

Have I ever mentioned how much I adore sweet paul?

Well, apart from always enjoying the beautful styling work he does, great recipes and craft ideas...

this year he is also counting down to christmas

Just go look at this minimal christmas tree solution.

For those of you with little space (even for you with loads of space!!)

Paper plates here we come....

03/12

The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season!
Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason...

for some more dr. seuss christmas reading follow this link or buy the book

and enjoy the famous book that criticized the commercialization of Christmas

first published in 1957 by random house

02/12

Do you have any Christmas tradition?

For us it was always the advents countdown that made it all so fun,

Fond memories...

GUess thats why we started the "vonblum advent blog tradition"

how about you?

the picture above is from the very talented duo

at pickles

01/12

You still have time to make a lovely brown paper advent calendar as seen on

this great post at whip up with many more ideas for your own calendar at home