Monthly Archives: November 2025

‘Christmas in Camelot’ Advent Calendar Idea

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After the end of Magic Tree House, Merlin Missions: Christmas in Camelot, there is a section for “Christmas Craftwork.” The publisher chose to describe making an Advent Calendar that you can reuse. As someone who loves Advent Calendars, I found this concept intriguing, especially since it is an easy way to practice being creative. (This website uses affiliate links. If a link takes you to Amazon and you buy something, we earn a commission, but it doesn’t cost you any extra.)

The Basics

You’ll need 24 Velcro squares, a large piece of poster board preferably green, and supplies, like paper, crayons, colored pencils or pens, to make the countdown decorations. Draw a tree on the poster board attach ½ of each of the 24 Velcro squares. Create your ornaments from the other supplies and attach the second half of the Velcro. Be sure to number your ornaments 1 to 24, so you know which day each represents. Of course, the instructions are more detailed and kid friendly in Christmas in Camelot.

Disappointing Advent Calendar

One year I got a cheap chocolate Advent Calendar. I knew what it was: a cheap chocolate, cheap Advent Calendar. You open the door and get a small square of not great chocolate with some Christmas item printed on it. The square could have an elf, Santa, stocking, tree, or anything else related to Christmas. I wasn’t expecting anything grand, just something fun that I could afford. What I really looked forward to was the double doors labeled 24. That would be the largest piece of chocolate.

It wasn’t. I opened the doors on the appointed date to find a piece of chocolate the same size as the rest of the chocolates. Why did it have double doors when a single one would’ve been just fine?

My Solution

I spent the next year making Advent Calendars for friends and family. I sewed them from discount cloth I found after that Christmas. These were three feet wide by five feet tall, and they had 24 pockets that could hide items large or small. I put names on them with fabric paint and put them on dowels with string so they could be hung up. I then went to the dollar store and filled the Advent Calendars and sent them out.

I don’t know how long people used them. I do know at least one sold at a garage sale for $5. I was there for the garage sale and thought about retrieving it, but I had given it to the person, so I just let it go.

Avoiding Disappointment

You don’t have to go through all the work I did to create a fun reusable Advent Calendar. Christmas in Camelot has one suggestion that is guaranteed not to disappoint. And if you do it with your spouse or children, you’ll create memories that will last far into Christmas future.

Join us on Patreon if you’d like to countdown Christmas with us.

Sophie Scarfs from Jenya on Etsy

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Jenya has knit several Sophie scarfs and put them on Etsy. These scarfs are extremely popular, she’s already sold more than a half dozen of them. That may not seem like a lot, but when you consider that she knits them by hand, you might begin to see why that number is amazing. Secondarily, it’s pretty cool that she’s been able to garner orders from across the United States for her warm creations. It’s incredible how this item has taken off for us.

What are Sophie Scarfs?

Sophie scarfs are smaller scarfs that wrap around the neck once or twice. The ends are thinner than the middle, which makes them easier to wrap together. This fashionable accessory is soft to touch and just right for the Winter season. Jenya uses yarn that she likes to knit with, so you know it’s soft to touch. She also knits in different colors. Blue has been the most popular.

Scarfs or Scarves?

For my English-speaking nerd friends, I looked it up. Either plural is valid according to Grammarly. Merriam-Webster agrees.

Discussing the Plural

Regardless of which plural you think is correct or which one you use most, you can’t use either unless you order two or more Sophie scarfs (-ves), preferably from Jenya on Etsy. While you’re there, you can look at some other great creations she’s made.

‘Tis the Season

If you’re planning your holiday season gift-giving, we’d love to be a part of that plan. You can rest assured that your Sophie scarfs will be made with care and love. We also have stuffed penguins for your favorite plushie and/or penguin lover, Roly-Poly penguins for those who need a little help with stress relief, and some teddy bears that will bring vintage back to Christmas. Visit the Penguinate shop on Etsy and order now. Quantities are limited, and shipping times are increasing.

Top 31 Ghosts at Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion on Patreon

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I have posted the top 31 ghost at Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion on Patreon. It’s all in one place if you want to see the list on one web page (but, like, seven real pages). That particular post is for paid members only, but you can still scroll through our October posts on penguinate.com to see how everything shook out.

Thanks for being here for our countdown. Let us know what you thought with a comment below and tell us who your top ghost is at Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion.

If you want more Haunted Mansion and creativity, get my book “The Haunted Mansion Is Creativity.” If you want a different kind of Haunting fun, check out “When Hauntings Collide,” the story where you are the star.