Advent Count Down and Art Activity

This is how my family counts down the days to Christmas. On Dec. 1 our image of Mary and Joseph starts to travel to Bethlehem. It moves along the numbers which are taped to the wall. They are traveling toward the stable. On Christmas Eve they are just above the stable.

I put ours up high out of little kids’ reach, but you wouldn’t need to have it so high for older kids.

This idea can be simple and easy. You could simply print off the numbers and star I have created along with this lovely coloring page found on SuperColoring.com.

Then, color the picture or just cut it out and use it to move along the numbers.

Move it down by one number each day.

That simple!

The Art Project:

OR if you like a bit more of a challenge, here’s how I made mine:

I say “challenge” but it’s not really as hard as you may think!

You will need:

• Glue

• scissors

• the Mary and Joseph coloring sheet

• light blue paper

• dark blue paper

• purple paper

• black paper

• sandpaper or brown paper

• stars (can be hole-punched, sequins, stickers, or drawn)

• The numbers to tape to the wall

• Painters tape to add the numbers to the wall 

• Picture putty works well for the Mary and Joseph image so it stays sticky each day as you move it.

Cut out hill shapes from the sandpaper.

Layer them on the bottom of the light blue paper.

Add a half-circle sun on the horizon. 

Layer the different colored paper, using wide strips. 

Make the black area the biggest, and dark blue area bigger than purple and light blue. 

Add a few dark blue strips to the top of the light blue area.

Add a few light blue strips to the dark blue area.

Add a few purple strips to the top of the dark blue area.

Add a few dark blue strips to the purple area, and purple strips to the black area,

Now cut the whole picture into a half-circle shape.

Trim all the edges. Then add the stars.

Cut out the Mary/Joseph picture and glue it on.

Note: You may need to put a large book on top of it till it dries so the sandpaper stays down.

It’s so much fun watching Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem!

Have a blessed Advent, ~Jen-Marie