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  • 25 April, 2018

Recycling Your Socks for Christmas

20 October, 2009 by Magz 43 Comments

christmas-stocking-adventI know it’s not even Halloween yet, but I like to plan ahead. (I try, anyway!) I originally came across this wonderful idea on the Family Fun website. The idea is to take various colourful socks that your kids have and string them up as an Advent Countdown calendar. I thought that was great, but I’ve put an even better twist on it and best of all, in today’s credit-crunch society, it’s THRIFTY.

How about using all of those stray socks you have? You know, the ones the dryer ate, or have somehow magically disappeared? You could do just about anything you like to decorate them. You could dye them to make them colourful like the picture above, you could embroider them, decorate them with ribbons and buttons, or even paint them. Let your imagination run wild! You don’t have to have kids to do this, it’s a great idea for the ‘big kids’ out there too!

Here’s what you need:

  • 25 socks
  • A marker or paint
  • 25 mini clothespins (available at craft supply stores, but if you want, you could use (recycle) regular clothespins too)
  • Stocking hangers, painter’s tape, or pushpins
  • 6-foot length of cord, string, or ribbon

How to do it:

  1. Use the marker or paint to number the clothespins with 1 through 25.
  2. Use stocking hangers, painter’s tape, or pushpins to temporarily hang a 6-foot length of cord, string, or ribbon.
  3. Clip the treat-filled socks to the cord in numerical order, then each day have kids remove one to discover their surprises.

Ideas for Fillers:

  • Get Out of Chores Free” or “Pick a Movie Rental” cards — each good for one use!
  • A puzzle distributed in pieces among the socks; kids can put it together over the course of the month.
  • Trading or sports cards
  • Special coins such as foreign currency or a silver dollar — chocolate coins are always a hit too!
  • Music or other gift cards
  • Jokes or riddle
  • A game (a Mad Libs or Sudoku a day)
  • Art supplies, such as a mini paint kit and pad
  • A special ornament to add to the tree
  • Write or print out an encouraging thought for each day or a Christmas fact to focus on what Christmas is really about.

I hope you enjoy this idea and if you end up making it yourself, please post pictures. I’d love to see your finished project!

photo courtesy of familyfun.go.com

Filed Under: Create Tagged With: advent calendar, Crafts, recycled, thrifty crafts

Comments

  1. Andi says

    4 December, 2011 at 12:13 am

    Daqy 3 found Christmas stockings

    Reply
  2. Victoria Boland says

    3 December, 2011 at 10:12 pm

    I have found Day 3 of the advent calendar

    Reply
  3. Rachel King says

    3 December, 2011 at 10:00 pm

    I’ve (hopefully) found day 3 of the advent competition

    Reply
    • Magz says

      3 December, 2011 at 10:01 pm

      Yes you have! Good luck πŸ™‚

      Reply
  4. Suzanne Cooke says

    3 December, 2011 at 9:59 pm

    What a great idea!

    Reply
    • Magz says

      3 December, 2011 at 10:03 pm

      One of these days I’ll actually do this too! LOL… Thanks for stopping by the blog.

      Reply
  5. svetlana says

    3 December, 2011 at 9:19 pm

    I have found Day 3 of the advent calendar

    Reply
    • Magz says

      3 December, 2011 at 9:29 pm

      Good luck with the competition!

      Reply
  6. Amy Beeton says

    3 December, 2011 at 9:03 pm

    I love the idea, such a cute photo too! A good way for all the odd socks to go to use πŸ™‚

    Please enter me in the advent comp to! Thanks, Amy

    Reply
    • Magz says

      3 December, 2011 at 9:14 pm

      Thanks! Good luck!

      Reply
  7. Teresa says

    3 December, 2011 at 8:13 pm

    found day 3 (hopefully)…love your site btw

    Reply
    • Magz says

      3 December, 2011 at 8:15 pm

      You found it πŸ™‚ And thank you so much, I hope to see you around here in the future!

      Reply
  8. Alice Beaumont says

    3 December, 2011 at 6:47 pm

    How inventive! definitely beats the boring old chocolates

    Reply
    • Magz says

      3 December, 2011 at 6:51 pm

      Thanks, I thought so too!

      Reply
  9. Nina C says

    3 December, 2011 at 6:05 pm

    That’s a really cool idea. Especially as my son seems to lose half his socks every wash!

    Reply
    • Magz says

      3 December, 2011 at 6:08 pm

      Thanks πŸ™‚ What I still want to know is…WHERE DO ALL THOSE SOCKS GO???

      Reply
  10. Clementina says

    3 December, 2011 at 6:01 pm

    Oddly, my kids always have one sock with a hole in lol πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Magz says

      3 December, 2011 at 6:07 pm

      LOL…finally, a way to use the leftovers… πŸ˜‰
      Thanks for entering the competition.

      Reply
  11. FionaLynne Edwards says

    3 December, 2011 at 4:52 pm

    I haven’t tried this but what a fab idea! Thanks.

    Reply
    • Magz says

      3 December, 2011 at 5:01 pm

      You know, I haven’t actually either, because we always get boring socks! I think I definitely see some colourful socks in our stockings this year…
      If you try it, please pop back and let me know. I’d love to hear how you get on.

      Reply
  12. Ruth Tesdale says

    3 December, 2011 at 4:40 pm

    This reminds me of my childhood. Will definately look out some oud socks and stuff and make puppets with my grandson at Christmas

    Reply
    • Magz says

      3 December, 2011 at 5:00 pm

      Have a wonderful time making memories πŸ™‚

      Reply
  13. Andy says

    3 December, 2011 at 3:46 pm

    The dogs eat my socks πŸ™ I’d be happy if I won the comp though πŸ˜€

    Reply
    • Magz says

      3 December, 2011 at 4:46 pm

      Aww…naughty dogs! πŸ˜‰ Good luck with the competition.

      Reply
  14. emma cella says

    3 December, 2011 at 3:10 pm

    Good idea for day 3. bring on Christmas

    Reply
    • Magz says

      3 December, 2011 at 4:45 pm

      Happy Christmas and Good Luck πŸ™‚

      Reply
  15. Luci says

    3 December, 2011 at 2:51 pm

    My daughter has just made a sock rabbit at school out of one of her dad’s old socks. Just got to find something to do with the 10,000 odd socks at the bottom of the ironing pile.

    Reply
    • Magz says

      3 December, 2011 at 4:45 pm

      You could probably use this idea for all sorts of countdowns! If you do, let me know, I’d love to see.

      Reply
  16. Helen says

    3 December, 2011 at 12:37 pm

    Great idea for socks and I’ve found Day 3

    Reply
    • Magz says

      3 December, 2011 at 4:43 pm

      Thanks, and good luck!

      Reply
  17. KELLY H says

    3 December, 2011 at 12:02 pm

    What a great idea – We have a sock monster in our house, which often leaves us with just 1 sock….now I can do something with these!

    Reply
    • Magz says

      3 December, 2011 at 12:06 pm

      I know, we all seem to have that sock monster. I was so excited when I saw this idea πŸ™‚

      Reply
  18. Christine S says

    3 December, 2011 at 11:55 am

    Great idea….just make sure the socks have been washed first! (wouldn’t want smelly ones hung up by the fire!)

    Reply
    • Magz says

      3 December, 2011 at 12:04 pm

      LOL! That would be baaaaad!

      Reply
  19. SqueezieOuisie says

    3 December, 2011 at 11:36 am

    Note to self: in future, only buy festive-coloured socks!

    Reply
    • Magz says

      3 December, 2011 at 12:03 pm

      I know…mine are all totally boring! Maybe I’ll put some on my Christmas list πŸ˜‰

      Reply
  20. Sandy Hill says

    3 December, 2011 at 11:30 am

    I have found Day 3 of the advent calendar. Great idea too LOL.

    Reply
    • Magz says

      3 December, 2011 at 12:03 pm

      Thanks! Well done and Good luck πŸ™‚

      Reply
  21. toni austin says

    3 December, 2011 at 11:11 am

    Good idea for day 3. Roll on Christmas

    Reply
    • Magz says

      3 December, 2011 at 12:02 pm

      Thanks! Happy Christmas!

      Reply
  22. Liz Heiser says

    3 December, 2011 at 11:10 am

    Ok- So now that I know this is where the question to the 12 days of Christmas Day 3 goes.

    Reply
    • Magz says

      3 December, 2011 at 12:02 pm

      Thanks for entering. Good luck! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  23. Stacy says

    24 October, 2009 at 3:42 pm

    What a great idea! I don't have any odd socks on hand– since I literally cleaned out my sock drawer at the beginning of the school year. πŸ™ I think I'll put a basket by the dryer to catch them throughout this year, and see what happens. I don't have kids, as you know, but I am certainly a kid at heart– and I wear a LOT of fun socks. Don't know for sure that I'll follow through, but at the moment, it has my attention!

    Reply

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