Truth in the Tinsel Treat

Well I'm trying to not let the holidays sneak up on me but I'm not sure I'm doing a very good job at it!

Still don't have next week plans ironed out and nor do I have how I want to use Truth in the Tinsel with Lil' Hunkie for Advent.  Here's a brief recap of how we've used it so far..

Advent Book

Ornaments

If you're new here, Truth in the Tinsel is a ebook written by Amanda White that guides you taking your children through Advent....learning about Jesus. Last year she incorporated the printable ornaments and so Lil' Hunkie and I just colored them, cut and put them on the tree that was in his room.  And then I still have that book I made the first year! Included in the story of Jesus is a daily craft which I'm thinking about doing or I was thinking about making a coloring book...I can't decide and time is running out!  Lil' Hunkie loves to paint so I know he would love the crafts. 

What I have decided on, is offering you a discount code for the ebook!!

Just use code VINTAGEGWEN at check out to get 20% of the ebook.

Purchase Now.

How do you plan on going through Advent?

Happy Friday!

{DIY} Advent Calendar

I finally got my Advent Calendar finished! Have I mentioned how full my Christmas plate is this year? Well it is! Our church's Christmas program is the 16th....I am singing in the choir and playing Michael the Arch Angel in the play so I've been practicing and practicing and practicing....

It's all going to be so worth it though so I'm not complaining!

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned using Truth in the Tinsel again this year and made an Advent Calendar to go along with it. I had started out wanting to make the calendar vintagey because some of my decor is vintagey but then decided to try and keep it a general red/green.  Because of course I'll be reusing it! ☺

DIY Advent Calendar

Supplies

paper Advent Calendar box {from Hobby Lobby}

scrapbook paper

stickers

Mod Podge/brush/scissors

I didn't use the confetti or much of the music paper either.  And the box is more of a cardboard than paper to me. I don't have any fancy machines or cutters so that's why I went with stickers and you know I still didn't buy enough! I could have use one more package of red! (I bought 2 green and 3 red.) And I discovered that in order to get numbers you have to buy letters.  That just seems crazy to me since crafting seems so popular right now!

I made a template of the shape of each box and then cut away! Applied my stickers and then mod podged away! 

Incorporating Truth in the Tinsel

I punched out 25 squares and wrote Day 1-25, the scripture of the day and if there were any special events for a certain day and placed those squares in each box.

I've filled a bucket with supplies and the new ornaments so that after reading the scripture/short reading Lil' Hunkie and I can color the ornaments and then hang them on the tree he has in his room. 

And that is how we'll be celebrating Advent! 

There's still time to get Truth in the Tinsel with 20% off! 

Just used code VINTAGEGWEN when checking out!

Click HERE.

And check out my Chapel post from last year that briefly explains Advent. 

Wishing you a Happy and Blessed Advent!

{See my Link Parties Page for the shares.}

{Christmas} Prepping For Advent & A Treat!

What's this you say? A Christmas post before Thanksgiving is over? Yep!! 

Because it's about Advent!!

Basically Advent is a countdown to Christ's birth. And there's all kinds of ways to do so! Last year I came across Truth In The Tinsel and loved it and used it in my own way. 

Remember my book?

Well it's been on my mind lately because I need to decide how to do it this time and I wanted to make sure and let you know that there's a new feature to Truth In The Tinsel.
Printable Ornaments are now available!
If you go through the ebook there's crafts and activities to do with your kids, well now you have the option to make simple ornaments. Great for toddlers and if you'll be doing a lot of traveling this Christmas!

Bingo Advent Calendar by Smallgood Hearth

By PaperCrave via Pinterest

The bingo card and the popular Advent box from Silhouette were my 2 favorite ideas from last year.  I was excited to find something similar to the box at Hobby Lobby a couple weeks ago and snatched it up since it was 1/2 off! And back in the summer I found a bingo card at an antique shop so I have both options! I'll be saving one for next year I do believe! Don't worry I'll show you which one I do this time and how I use Truth  In The Tinsel with it. ☺

Now for a treat!! 
How about a discount on purchasing Truth In The Tinsel?
I'm excited to offer you 20% off! Just use code VINTAGEGWEN when checking out!

 You can click on the button on my side bar or HERE.
UPDATE:
Black Friday Sale!! 
Recieve the Printable Ornaments for free when you purchase the ebook on Black Friday!
{Note: do not add the ornaments to your cart.  When you purchase the ebook then you will get a thank you email with a link to the ornaments.  Discount codes do not apply to this sale and will resume after Black Friday.}

Happy Monday!

Advent Book

I have a short list of some Christmas crafts I want to do and I finally got one done!  I had mentioned that I was thinking about making a magnetic advent calendar to go with the clues in the Truth in the Tinsel ebook. Instead, I used supplies I had and made a chipboard book and it turned out pretty cute!

Supplies:

Chipboard book (I've had it for awhile...it was on clearance at Hobby Lobby, bought it thinking I'd use it for Lil' Hunkie's 1st birthday somehow!)

Scrapbook papers

Double sided tape

Scissors/Xacto knife

Glittered foam scraps

Punches (flower punch not pictured)

I traced one of the boards and cut 6 red and 4 green and taped them on starting with the red on the outside....the last board I did red on both sides.

Front cover...the words and star are from the front of the ebook.

Opposite side of the front...these are the clues we've done already...

Front of the second board....  

This I made for day 25...Happy Birthday Jesus!

All done...front...

....inside.  Since I don't know how to count I have extra space to add photos of Lil' Hunkie and his first advent experience!

Hung it with the stockings by the tree!

It turned out to be a longer project then I would have liked but that's ok....it's done!
{The fanciest cutting tool I have is my hand!}

At least it was free to make! Can't beat free!

Don't forget about our Special Christmas Soiree going on!

This Monday we'll  be revealing our Christmas trees!!  

Until then you can link up your Christmas crafts, Holiday recipes and Christmas capturing photos!

Go HERE!

See my Link Parties Page for where I'll be linking to as well!

Happy day!

Vintage Gwen Chapel-The True Meaning of Advent

via

It's December 3rd and I've already slightly felt the 'hustle and bustle' of the Christmas season.  Have you?

Christmas is my favorite holiday.  Not only is it the birth our Savior but it's a time to focus on family and making memories.  To me anyways.  And now that Lil' Hunkie is starting to understand things I've started some new traditions to make our Christmas experience ours. 

One of those is doing an Advent.  We just did a countdown while growing up but a true Advent is more than just counting days. At first I wasn't going to do one thinking Lil Hunkie wouldn't understand but God wouldn't leave me alone about it and I truly believe He lead me to find Truth in the Tinsel.  It's an Advent geared towards younger kids and I'm loving it. I don't quite have everything prepared for it (that's me feeling the 'hustle and bustle'!) like I want yet but we've been reading and talking (as much as you can with a 2 year old) and after reading the scripture last night I said "Amen!?" to Lil' Hunkie and he said "Amen!" right back to me!

That was awesome I must say!

Here's the true meaning of Advent from Got Questions.org:

"The word 'Advent' has a Latin origin meaning 'the coming,' or more accurately, 'coming toward.' For Christian believers, Christmas is one of the greatest events in the yearly cycle, being the celebration of the greatest gift ever given by God to mankind. "

Believers a long time ago would do more than just mark off the days of December with chalk on their doors.  They would use the time before Christmas day as a time of mediation on God's greatest gift and reflect on advent or "the coming".  Then in the 19th century in Germany a mother made her son an Advent calendar that was 24 small sweets stuck in cardboard.  That boy enjoyed that tradition so much that as an adult he and his printing business partner made the first ever printed Advent Calendar.  And things went from there. 

I'm glad I found the true meaning of Advent.  And however you and your family celebrate Advent just don't forget Christ's coming as a babe.

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6 TNIV

Merry Christmas and Happy Advent!

Truth In The Tinsel~An Advent Experience For Little Hands

I mentioned in yesterday's post that I haven't been able to get doing an Advent with Lil' Hunkie out of my mind.  I'm thinking God has a little something to do with that!!  Just this week I came upon Truth In The Tinsel via Summit Street Joy...thanks Lauren!!

It's an awesome ebook geared towards younger kids.  The author, Amanda White, has done a fantastic job!!

You read a bible verse and craft an ornament and there's even little activities to make the Advent experience more fun. She even gives 'clues'...square pictures to put in an advent calendar or there's a printable paper chain if you don't have a calendar.  I love the versatility to this project!  Because I just found this I'll be improvising...I'm thinking about making the square clues magnets and making a simple magnetic calendar for the fridge.  I'll be sure and show ya!

I felt Truth In The Tinsel to be so awesome that I became an affiliate! How cool is that? 

So I'm excited!! And I think Lil' Hunkie will like it!

To find out more, click the book at the top of the side bar!

Happy Advent!!