What can you get with some muffin tins, old magnets, $1 worth of Target scrapbook paper, and some ribbon? An adorable Halloween Advent Calendar, that’s what! I saw these calendars floating around the blogosphere last year, but at that point I was too late to join on the advent-wagon. This year, I am fully prepared to make it look like Halloween threw up in my house. And I have to admit, it is starting to look that way. Don’t worry hubby. I have one more Halloween project to do after this one, and then I’m done. No more. I promise. I’ll just move onto Thanksgiving :).
To make this calendar, I simply traced circles slightly larger than the mini-muffin tin holes. I did the same on the old magnets. (Tip: Ask your friends for their magnets in order to have enough to complete this project.) I found that rubber cement worked the best to adhere the magnet to the paper, and true to its advertising there were no wrinkles.
For the larger muffin tin, I found that my ribbon was the perfect size to trace around.
I painted on the numbers, some by hand and some with a stencil, added some ribbon and called it done.
Under each number, I plan to put the day’s ration of candy corns for myself boys as well as some choice of activity (i.e. go on a nature walk and count the pumpkins on porches, read a favorite story, throw rocks in the river, do a Halloween craft, etc.) Total time to make this project was probably two hours total. As most of you mommies understand, that 2 hours was of course interrupted by cleaning up spilled milk, changing a diaper, answering the phone, running an errand, feeding a family, and hosting out of town guests. So the two hours translates into a day. Yeah. It took me today to do it. But isn’t it cute? 
If you like anything you see, I’d love it if you officially followed me. Also, leave me a comment and let me know you stopped by. I love to hear from you! For other Halloween Advent inspiration check out here, here, and here.
With four kids, I don’t think a muffin tin could hold a day’s ration of candy! But that’s okay–I think I’ll just do the activity idea, or maybe include clues to something hidden elsewhere. Thanks for such a cute project!
Hey! Just wanted to let you know I gave you a shout out! Pop over and grab a button! 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing your creativity! And thanks for your sweet comments. 😉
Roeshel
Oh my adorable!
Seriously – great idea!
That is adorable! I love it!
I love it!!
What a cute idea, Beth ! Great way to use that cute paper !
Kammy
How creative! Love this idea!
OMG! What a super cute project!
Hi Beth…What a cute idea…so adorable… You did a really great job…
xoxo
Julie
This is super cute project! Would be neat for Christmas, too! 🙂 ~Rhonda
Those are really cute!
Brenda
Good idea… kids love those!
Love your Advent Calendar! Stop by for a visit sometime!
Michelle
Hi Beth…
What a cute idea…I love this! So fun, festive, and creative!!! Looks like it would be sooo much fun to make! Great project!!!
Warmest wishes and Happy Fall!
Chari
That is such a CUTE idea! And it looks like so much fun!
Thanks so much for adding your inspirational and fun project to the Fall Festival!
Roeshel
this is just adorable!!
Debbie
How clever!
Oh my word, so precious! I'll be following you!
I have a linky party going on over at my place, check it out! http://theshadesofpink.blogspot.com/2009/09/room-month-shade-tutorial.html
Oh Beth I love this. You are so creative. Good job girl.
Cheri
Cute idea! Can you still reuse the muffin tins?
Well, I DO love what I see and I AM offically following you. Hope you'll come over for a visit soon!
UBBER UBBER CUTE! Thnx for sharing, I need to make me one. Halloween has officially thrown up in my house too. Ha!
Does the circle scrap tag stick all the way into the muffin tin? if so how does it sit flush with the top?
Oh my gosh – way TOO cute. I don't love Halloween, but my family does. This will be such a great treat for them. Thank you for the fantastic idea. I can not wait to try it out!!!
So cute! I love that it would be easy to reuse for Christmas too! I also love that it is reusable for next year… unlike most advent calendars that you have to throw away!
You are TOO clever!
You either need to get this insomnia under control, or you need to start watching some major tv (Really? Not even Grey's Anatomy?). You are running circles around everyone with your creativity! I just LOVE how this turned out!!
This is so cute and I know my son would love it!
I made myself a template circle slightly larger than the muffin tin holes. I traced the circle onto the paper, and then traced a circle onto the flexible flat magnet sheet. Cut both of these circles out. Use rubber cement to glue the paper to the magnet. That's it!
Hi, I'm just not sure how the circle gets attached to the magnet and the muffin tin? thanks.
We don't 'do' Halloween here but when I see this it makes me want to join in the fun.
Have fun emptying out those tins!
What a great idea! And I love that I'm not the only mom who has that time issue, isn't it amazing how a simple (quick) project can take an eternity with a busy household?!
What a great idea! I would love to get one of these made but not sure I could get it all done in time…maybe I should make one for Christmas and start right now!
I love it! My favorite part is that you can change what's in each compartment. I've seen advent calendars that are so complex that once you put something inside the slot/box you're pretty much stuck with it. But with yours, if the weather says it's gonna rain, then you simply change what's inside a spot before the boys open it! Or if you're just having one of those days where you're not in the mood for a nature walk, you can get out of it before there's a disappointed toddler melt-down. Another winner, Beth! Simply wonderful!
Awww, so adorable! You did a really great job!
Enjoy a wonderful weekend 🙂
~Michelle 🙂
Oh this is so cute Beth!
I bought a felt one from Kirklands last year but this looks so easy I can do it…I am going to try this over the weekend!
I love the idea that you added other tutorials and holiday ideas to share for us…I love being at one place and just surfing from that page all the wonderful things.
very cute, now i just wish i had a mini muffin tin. way cute
Beth…
I found your blog today and LOVE IT! I am totally taking your Halloween advent calendar idea and "tweaking" it for my daughter. I am going to make the circles and then attach them to a ribbon in our kitchen window with a paper clip! How cute… thank you for inspiring me and I look forward to "following" you! Have a great day.
Dawn
Adorable! Love it!
That is so cute, Beth! I'll bet your boys are going to love seeking out their candy corn for the day.
How cute! I'm going to have to do that.
L. O. V. E. love it! Too cute! I can't wait to make one, especially since I have an unheard of amount of muffin tins! I don't know where they all came from, I guess theres a muffin fairy out there somewhere dropping of tins! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
seriously? that's adorable!