How To's-Day: Frugal Advent Calendar {Guest Post from Jodi @JodiMichelle }

I'm getting ready to travel to the west coast for 5 days, so today's How To's-Day comes to you from my friend and fellow West Michigan blogger, Jodi. She's a lot of fun and likes to tell stories.......

I'm Jodi from jodimichelle.com and so excited to share an easy, frugal and fun craft with you today on Sarah's Deals.

Christmas is coming!! Now is a great time to start to think about your homemade gifts, gathering the items you might need if you don't already have them on hand. For this fun tutorial you'll need 25 empty toilet paper rolls, tissue paper and 25 small candies, little toys or fun personal items.

I don't quite have 25 empty rolls yet but I'm getting started. I've compiled some fun little things from the Dollar Store in order to fill each tube. Candy, watches, trucks, beads, bubbles ... etc.

Ideas for an older audience: Lottery tickets, notes or fortunes, "coupons", candies, dollar bills etc.

I spent less than $12 on this and you can spend ZERO if you fill your tubes with small trinkets you already have lying around the house. Kids are surprised by the sweetest things - so have fun compiling your items.

Now let's get started.

Grab a tube.

Choose your filler. I'm putting 2 small things in each tube because I have 2 kids. I thought a lot about this actually - do I make them so that they take turns opening one every morning? Then I have to referee the "BUT I WANT THAT!" and "IT'S MY TURN!!!". (Maybe that's just my house though ;) ) Christmas is a happy time and the dollar store made it an easy decision for me. They each get a little something every day.

Except for Bubbles. Only one fit in a tube.

When your tube's are stuffed (or you can do this step by step, rinse repeat and until you're done) you take One Sheet of tissue paper, fold in half and then wrap your tube and twist the ends. You can secure the ends with twist ties or leave them.

Since I'm not quite done with the project I just put all my extra's and the rest of my tissue paper in a box top to keep in my closet so I can pick it up again when I have a few more tubes to work with.

You're done!

I'm not sure how I'm going to set it up to display it. I could just arrange them in a pile to look like a Tree. I might fasten them altogether in a garland of some kind with yarn. I might just fill an old (huge) jar with them and let the kids pick them out every morning.

If you liked this tutorial consider checking me out on Facebook or over at my site, jodimichelle.com, as I share more How To's and Tutorials often.

Thanks so much!!!
XOXO