Advent Calendar 2024

I've completed my 14th Advent Calendar.  It's always a blessing for me to reflect, draw, and color using seasonal images and words, often taken from scripture, hymns, and prayers.

This year, with Advent starting on December 1, my calendar grid works best with four rows of six, and a center oval for Christmas Day.  So the Sunday spaces (where I draw candles) occur diagonally.  Each drawing space is small, about 1-3/4" high, and it may look a bit fuzzy or faded above.  For a better view, click on the image.

If you'd like to see my calendar drawings from past years, click here.

• Copic markers
• Pen: Copic multiliner 0.3, 0.2, and 0.1 black
• Paper: Neenah
• Words and sources:
• 12/1  We are leaving ordinary time  (My calendar each year starts with these words which point out the wonder of the Advent time, looking forward to Christmas and the birth of Jesus.  And in the church year, our long season of "ordinary time" - the summer and fall weeks after Pentecost - has now ended)
• 12/2  Holy and Mighty (Trisagion hymn, "Holy God, holy and mighty, holy immortal one, have mercy upon us")
• 12/3  Fulfill the promise;  12/4  A righteous Branch;  12/5  Live in safety (Jeremiah 33:14-16)
  
• 12/6  Be alert (Luke 21:36
  
• 12/7  Gloria in Excelsis (Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest ...")
  
• 12/8  Grace 
• 12/9-10  No words
• 12/11  Greet with joy! (Collect for 2nd Sunday in Advent, Book of Common Prayer, "... that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer ...")
  
• 12/12  The desert shall rejoice (Isaiah 35:1)
• 12/13  Love
• 12/14  Lift high your praise! (Advent hymn, "Prepare the way, O Zion")
• 12/15-16  No words
• 12/17  Rejoice in the Lord always - Again I say, Rejoice!  (Philippians 4:4)
• 12/18  Hope 
• 12/19  Angels we have heard on high (Hymn) 
• 12/20  Trust
• 12/21  Dayspring (Advent hymn, "O come, O come Emmanuel") 
• 12/22  Come, Emmanuel (same source as 12/21) 
• 12/23  Bless
• 12/24   Filled with expectation (Luke 3:15)
• 12/25  Christ the Savior is born!  (Hymn, "Silent night, holy night")
  

Advent Calendar 2023

I've finished drawing my Advent calendar, the 13th since I began in 2008.  As always, it's been a meaningful way for me to reflect, draw, and color using seasonal images and words, often taken from scripture, hymns, and prayers. 

Because Advent ended on Sunday 12/24 this year, my calendar grid has double-wide spaces for the Sundays (moving down diagonally from the top left) and for Christmas Day.

Each drawing space is small, about 1-5/8" high, and it may look a bit fuzzy or faded above.  For a better view, click on the image.  If you'd like to see my calendar drawings from past years, click here.

• Copic markers; also some colored pencil for 12/3
  
• Pen: Copic multiliner or Micron
  
• Words and sources:
• 12/3  We are leaving ordinary time  (My calendar each year starts with these words which point out the wonder of the Advent time, looking forward to Christmas and the birth of Jesus.  And in the church year, our long season of "ordinary time" - the summer and fall weeks after Pentecost - has now ended.)
  
• 12/4  Make haste to help us (Psalm 70:1 and Book of Common Prayer, evening prayer liturgy)
• 12/5  O come, thou branch of Jesse's tree (Hymn "O come, O come, Emmanuel")
• 12/6  Joy
• 12/7  Keep awake (Mark 13:35-37)
• 12/8  Grace
• 12/9  Good news - Jesus Christ the Son of God (Mark 1:1) 
• 12/10 Joyful hope is springing (Hymn "Sleepers, wake!") 
• 12/11 Mercy and truth have met together (Psalm 85:10) 
• 12/12 Restore (Psalm 80:3) 
• 12/13 The day is near (Romans 13:12) 
• 12/14 Stir up your strength and come to help us (Psalm 80:2) 
• 12/15 Peace shall be a pathway for his feet (Psalm 85:13) 
• 12/16 God so loves the world ... (John 3:16, with "loves" in place of "loved")
  
• 12/17 Rejoice, rejoice, believers, and let your lights appear!  (Hymn)
  
• 12/18 Listen 
• 12/19 Holy and mighty (Trisagion hymn, "Holy God, holy and mighty, holy immortal one, have mercy upon us")
  
• 12/20 The Lord is not slow about His promise. (2 Peter 3:9) 
• 12/21 Son of God - Savior - Emmanuel - Redeemer - Son of Man
  
• 12/22 Praise
  
• 12/23 Patience
  
• 12/24 May the Word sent from God lead us in the way of love, hope, joy, and peace. (Advent candle-lighting sentence from our church bulletin)
  
• 12/25 Joy to the world!
  

Advent Calendar 2022

I've finished my Advent calendar, the 12th since I began in 2008.  It's always a meaningful way for me to reflect, draw, and color using seasonal images and words, often taken from scripture, hymns, and prayers.  

Each drawing space is small, about 1-5/8" high, and it may look a bit fuzzy or faded above.  For a better view, click on the image.  If you'd like to see my calendar drawings from past years, click here.

• Copic markers
  
• Pen: Copic multiliner
• Words and sources:
• 11/27  We are leaving ordinary time  (My calendar each year starts with these words which point out the wonder of the Advent time, looking forward to Christmas and the birth of Jesus.  And in the church year, our long season of "ordinary time" - the summer and fall weeks after Pentecost - has now ended.)
• 11/28 Hope of all the earth Thou art (hymn - Come Thou Long-expected Jesus)
• 11/29 A light to the nations  (Luke 2:32)
  
• 11/30 Joy
  
• 12/1  Born a child, and yet a King (hymn - Come Thou Long-expected Jesus)
• 12/2  He shall reign forever and ever - Hallelujah!  (Handel's Messiah - Hallelujah chorus)
  
• 12/3  Peace
  
• 12/4  Grace
  
• 12/5  Let each heart prepare a home (hymn "On Jordan's Bank." There are various translations of the lyrics. My hymnal reads, "Let each heart prepare a home where such a mighty Guest may come.")
• 12/6-8 and 13-15  Unto us a child (Isaiah 9:6)
• 12/9 The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him. (Isaiah 11:2)
• 12/10  The wilderness shall be glad. (from Isaiah 35:1)
• 12/11  Happy are they whose hope is in the Lord. (from Psalm 146:4)
• 12/12  Holy and mighty  (Trisagion hymn - "Holy Lord, holy and mighty, holy immortal one, have mercy upon us.")
• 12/16  Love
• 12/17  Stars keep watch (hymn - People, Look East) 
• 12/18  O come, Emmanuel (hymn)
• 12/19  Pour light upon us (hymn - O Heavenly Word - "pour light upon us from above, and fire our hearts with ardent love") 
• 12/20  Mercy
• 12/21  Wait
• 12/22  Awake
• 12/23  The day is near (Romans 13:12)
• 12/24  Anticipate ...
  

Advent Calendar 2021

I'm happy that I've completed another Advent calendar, my 11th since I began in 2008.  As always, I  enjoyed the activity to reflect, draw, and color using seasonal images and words, often taken from scripture, hymns, and prayers.  

 

Each drawing space is small, about 1-5/8" high, and it may look a bit fuzzy or faded above.  For a better view, click on the image.  If you'd like to see my calendar drawings from past years, click here.

• Copic markers
• Pen: Copic multiliner
  
• Paper: Neenah
• Words and sources:
• 11/28  We are leaving ordinary time  (My calendar each year starts with these words which point out the wonder of the Advent time, looking forward to Christmas and the birth of Jesus.  And in the church year, our long season of "ordinary time" - the summer and fall weeks after Pentecost - has now ended.)
• 11/29-12/4  Savior of the nations, come! Virgin's Son, make here your home! Marvel now, both heaven and earth, that the Lord chose such a birth.  (hymn)  (My calendar drawings had a late start this year, and I used the 6-day blank space for a long vine and the first verse of a favorite Advent hymn.)
  
• 12/5  Wait ...
• 12/6  Emmanuel (meaning "God with us")
  
• 12/7  Hope 
• 12/8  From our fears and sins release us (hymn - Come thou long-expected Jesus)
• 12/9  Put on the armor of Light (Romans 13:12)
• 12/10  The Day is at hand (Romans 13:12) 
• 12/11  Rejoice
• 12/12  The Lord will renew you in his love (Zephaniah 3:17) 
• 12/13  At that time, I will bring you home (Zephaniah 3:20)
  
• 12/14  Grace and mercy (from the Book of Common Prayer collect (prayer) for the 3rd Sunday of Advent)
  
• 12/15  Patience
  
• 12/16  Come, thou long expected Jesus (hymn)
  
• 12/17  Sing aloud, O daughter Zion! (Zephaniah 3:14)
  
• 12/18  Therefore, keep awake (Mark 13:24)
  
• 12/19  Love, hope, joy, peace (from an Advent blessing "May the Word sent from God lead us in the way of love, hope, joy, and peace") 
• 12/20  Believe
  
• 12/21  The Lord will fulfill the promise (Jeremiah 33:14)
  
• 12/22  With joy, you will draw water from the springs of salvation (Isaiah 12:3)
  
• 12/23  Blessings
  
• 12/24  Unto us, a Savior (Luke 2:11)
  
• 12/25  Glory to God in the highest (Luke 2:14)
  

Lenten Calendar 2021

My finished calendar for Lent.  A variety of templates and ideas are posted here on Sybil MacBeth's Praying in Color blog.  Her finished calendar is posted here.

Once again, I'm so glad to have done this activity of daily prayer drawings, with words and meditations layered into the lines and colors. 

Note: each drawing space is small, about an inch wide, so you may want to click on the drawing for a better view.  

• Copic markers, Uniball gold gel impact pen, white gel pen, yellow colored pencil
  
• Pen: Copic multiliners, black, sky blue, cobalt, purple
• Paper: Neenah
• Words: 
• Week 1: Ashes, Renew, Hope, Enlighten
• Week 2: Mighty to save, Thaw, Grateful, Turn, Mend/ heal, Thirst, His mercy endures forever
• Week 3: Follow, Presence, Lift up, Pray, Remember, Be still and know, Redeem
• Week 4: Give life, Believe, Grace, Learn, Promise, Connect, Inspire
  
• Week 5: Journey, Faith, Sustain, Bless, Centering, Stir, Loving-kindness
• Week 6: Embrace, Dwell in safety, Lord, Rest, Kyrie eleison, Release, Forgiven
  
• Week 7 (Holy Week): Hosanna, Help us, There/Here, Lay aside every weight (Hebrews 12:1), Given for us, God so loves (adapted from John 3:16).  The last day doesn't have words.
  

Advent Calendar 2019

I've finished drawing my 10th Advent Calendar.  After taking a year off in 2018, I was happy to do one again.  It's been such a blessing for me to reflect, draw, and color using seasonal images and words, often taken from scripture, hymns, and prayers.

This year, with Advent starting on December 1, my calendar grid worked best with four rows of six, and a center oval for Christmas Day.  So the Sunday spaces (where I draw candles) will occur diagonally.  Each drawing space is small, about 1-5/8" high, and it may look a bit fuzzy or faded above.  For a better view, click on the image.

If you'd like to see my calendar drawings from past years, click here.

• Copic markers
• Pen: Copic multiliner 0.3, 0.2, and 0.1 black
• Paper: Neenah
• Words and sources:
• 1. We are leaving ordinary time  (My calendar each year starts with these words which point out the wonder of the Advent time, looking forward to Christmas and the birth of Jesus.  And in the church year, our long season of "ordinary time" - the summer and fall weeks after Pentecost - has now ended)
• 2. Sometimes a light surprises (hymn)
• 3. O come Emmanuel, thou Branch of Jesse's stem (hymn, Veni Emmanuel)
• 4.  I will make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert (Isaiah 43:9)
• 5. Await
• 6. Hope
• 7. Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight (Matthew 3:3)
• 8. Then you shall see and be radiant (Isaiah 60:5)
• 9-10. Peace - be still
• 11. Shine
• 12. Let every heart prepare a throne, and every voice a song (hymn, Hark! a loud voice! the Savior comes)
• 13. Rejoice with joy and singing (Isaiah 35:1)
• 14. Trust in God's promise
• 15-16. Patience 
• 17. Brighten your heart (from an Advent blessing)
• 18. Already - Not yet
• 19. Savior
• 20. Every valley shall be lifted up (Isaiah 40:4)
• 21. Wonder
• 22. Grant us your Light (from an Advent prayer) 
• 23. Glory to God in the highest!
• 24. Grace
• 25. Christmas Day

Lenten Calendar 2019

Since I didn't draw a calendar for this past Advent season, I was very ready to start one for Lent!  I've kept it simple, just a few words from the season's scriptures or prayers, as they connect to my daily events and experiences, with a bit of drawing and coloring.  Note: each drawing space is small, about an inch wide, so you may want to click on the drawing for a better view. 

Added Saturday, April 20, 2019:  This is my finished calendar update, with the drawings complete through today in Holy Week. Though my drawings end with the sorrow and darkness of Holy Saturday, there is joy in our faith of Easter's resurrection.

In the past, I've used a variety of templates (click here for more of my Lent and Easter posts, or here for my Advent calendar posts).  You can find this grid and other templates on my friend Sybil's Praying in Color blog, along with her current Lent calendar drawing. 

• Copic markers; colored pencil for April 1 bench
• Pen: Copic multiliner 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0 black
• Paper: Neenah
• Words:
• Week 1: Ash; Slow; Draw near; Wash
• Week 2: The time is now; Rough; Give me vision; Walk - put one foot in front of the other; Look for truth; Make in us new and contrite hearts; Spare your people, O Lord
• Week 3: Sustain; Gather; Trust; Seek Him; Wait patiently for the Lord; Show me your way, O Lord; Sounds of great gladness
• Week 4: Deeply; Keep me safe; Read and meditate; Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden -
• Week 5: And I will give you rest; Teach me; Mercy; Be reconciled to God; Who gives life to the world
• Week 6: For our sake; Lift up your hearts; He remembers that we are but dust; I will guide you with my eye; Now is the day of salvation; Hide not; Forgive
• Week 7: Hosanna; Oh... hush... ; Gifts of God; Darkness.

Advent Calendar 2017

With the Nativity scene drawing for Christmas Day, I've completed my annual Advent calendar drawings.  As with past years, I've enjoyed taking the time to enjoy the hope, joy, and wonder of the season with my pens and markers. 

Each drawing space is small (about 1-5/8" high) and it may look a bit fuzzy or faded above.  For a better view, click on the image.

If you might like to try something similar, click here for more information, or here (my friend Sybil's blog) for 2017 template formats, including my calendar grid that I'm using.  Or click here for my eight completed calendars from past years.

For a listing of words, sources of words, Copic colors, and other materials used,  see below (or click on "read more" to see it.)

Lenten Calendar 2017

It's been several years since my last Lenten calendar, and it felt very good to create one this year.   I used a cross template drawn by my friend Sybil, adding a few lines and a "Lent 2017" heading.

The drawing spaces are quite small, typically 3/4" - 1" wide, and in my post, the image will look a bit blurry, so please click on it for a better view.  Each day's space is very simple - a word or phrase chosen from the daily scriptures or prayers in a Lenten meditation booklet, with a simple drawing or just a bit of color.  I like the little icon spaces and the overall color and energy that emerged.

If you'd like to consider this for next year's Lent, click here for more info, including several templates.  Sybil posted her completed 2017 calendar here.  For all of my Lent and Easter drawings and calendars, click here.  For my Advent calendars, click here.

• Copic markers
• Pen: Copic multiliner 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0 black
• Paper: Neenah
• In filling in the template, I moved back and forth unevenly from the bottom, saving the spaces in the cross for Ash Wednesday and Holy Week.  So I'll list my words by row (row 1 is at the bottom) instead of by date.
• Cross: (starting from bottom) Ash Wed. We are dust. And God loves us.; you welcomed me; entrusting; (Holy Saturday) no words; (Left to right) Love one another; good; how very good; Hosanna; (Top of cross: Easter Sunday) Risen!
• Row 1: wilderness; connect us; bound by love; all things in common; our hope for healing
• Row 2: mighty to save; fellowship in Jesus; love one another; we are God's field; where 2 or 3 are gathered
• Row 3: humility; no words; if we satisfy others' needs, he will satisfy our needs; embrace and hold fast; he is our peace; revive my soul
• Row 4: we are created in God's image; do not fear; show mercy; no words; keep us; your will be done
• Row 5: in one spirit; serve one another; Christ the true bread; compassion; no words; that we may have life
• Row 6: no words; do not be afraid; varieties of gifts; glorify; grace to love; persevere
• Row 7: peace be with you; encourage one another; break every yoke; no words

Advent Calendar 2016

My 2016 Advent calendar is finished. Always a good experience for me as I draw and color my way through Christmas.

Each drawing space is small (about 1-5/8" high) and it may look a bit fuzzy or faded above.  For a better view, click on the image.

With my daily drawings, I set aside a bit of space and time to reflect on the Advent season, and its message of hope and love.   If you might like to try something similar, click here for more information, including 2016 template links.  Or click here for my seven calendars from past years.

For a listing of words, sources of words, Copic colors, and other materials used,  see below (or click on "read more" to see it.)

Curls of Ribbon

Curving lines that flow like curls of ribbon.  Just a few colors, with narrow white borders.

• Copic marker colors used: FV2, BG32, RV17
• Pen: Copic multiliner 0.2 and 0.1 black
• Paper: Neenah

Daily Drawings - January 2016

Updated through January 23 (Final)

I've completed my four weeks of daily drawings for January 2016.  I tried the idea last January with objects around the house.  This year I wanted to keep it simple with a few lines and colors each day.

Added January 23:  I found it refreshing and relaxing to stay with the simple lines and coloring.   It felt like a "vocabulary review" of lines, shapes, and patterns that I enjoy using.  At the beginning, I made a list: Circles, squiggles, lace-like, v's and u's, landscapey lines, fill patterns, swooping curves, spiral, diamonds, zigzags, wavy lines, angles, dots, and stripes.  Looking back, I see them all except the spiral.  Overall, I really like the drawings (some more than others, of course) and I'm glad I tried this.

I'm using a computer-printed grid like my annual Advent calendars.  Each rectangle is 1-7/16" x 1-5/8".  The drawings can look blurry in the blog post, so please click on the image for a better view. 

• Pen: Copic multiliner 0.5 black
• Copic colors:  If you'd like to know the colors I used, please leave a comment here, and I'll be happy to add them to this post.
• Paper: Neenah

Seven Years of Advent Candles

A friend was wondering how I draw candles for my Advent calendars.  Her question prompted me to think of all the candles together, and so I created this collage in PowerPoint.  It's seven years of Sunday candles, cropped from all my calendars.  I like the variety of shapes, colors, words, and styles -  realistic or abstract, simple or detailed. 

Each drawing space is small (about 1-5/8" high) and it may look a bit fuzzy above.  For a clearer view, click on the image.

The columns are years 2008-2012 and 2014-2015;  I didn't draw a calendar in 2013.  The rows are the four Sundays in Advent, with a candle added each week, somewhat like the traditional Advent wreath. 

For more about my calendars, including the words and the drawing materials, click here and here. 

Advent Calendar 2015

I've finished my 2015 Advent calendar drawings.  As in the other years, it felt like time well spent.

This daily activity helps me reflect on the hope and joy of the season.  If you might like to try something similar, click here for more information, including template links and prior years' calendars.

Each drawing space is small (about 1-5/8" high) and it may look a bit fuzzy above.  For a better view, click on the image.

For a listing of words, sources of words, Copic colors, and other materials used,  see below (or click on "read more" to see it)

Blue Glass Pitcher - Watercolor

A friend asked me to draw her grandmother's blue glass pitcher.  After experimenting with my typical pen and markers, I felt that watercolor would have a better chance to capture the pitcher's lovely mixture of clear and milk glass.  But my post-childhood watercolor experience has been very limited - abstract wash backgrounds for my drawings - and this pitcher made a challenging subject for my first "real life" painting.

Fortunately though, a few months ago, I joined a weekly art group at our area's senior center.  It's led by a very good artist and educator, who was able to get me started and make suggestions along the way.  I'm happy with my finished painting, and even happier that my friend likes it too!

• Dr. Ph. Martin's radiant concentrated watercolor numbers 8A, 9A, 14A.  For more information about the watercolors, including my color chart, see this post.
• Lyra Aquacolor crayon numbers 5610001, 47, 76. For more information about the watercolor crayons, including my color chart, see this post.
• Paper: Canson Aquarelle Arches, cold pressed, cut down to ~ 6 x 8".   The paper looks bluish gray in my image, but it's really a very light cream color.  

Advent Calendar 2014

My Advent calendar is complete for 2014 with today's Nativity drawing.  As with the other five years, I'm very glad that I did this activity.  At each Advent's beginning, I wonder how I'll ever have enough words and images to fill the page.  It's such a joyful discovery as I enter into the process and wind my way through the days.

My daily drawing spaces are small (about 1-5/8" high), so you may want to click on the image for a better view, especially if it looks a bit fuzzy above.

For more information including template links and prior years' calendars, click here.
For a listing of words, sources of words, Copic colors, and other materials used,  see below (or click on "read more" to see it)

Bright Circles and L's

Our friends Andy and Sybil visited for the weekend, and of course Sybil and I needed to draw and color something.  We sat on the sofa after dinner and picked "rosettes with circles and L's" as the starting point for our drawings.

My doodle used the rosette steps, sort of, but my end result doesn't have a rosette shape.  It looks more like a mobile to me.  Sybil called it a molecule.  Simple and bright and a nice reminder of all our drawing times together.

• Paper, pen, and Copic marker colors: all from Sybil's travel bag, and I didn't write them down.
• Paper size: 7 x 7"

Lenten Prayer Calendar (2014) - Final

My completed prayer calendar for Lent.  Updated Easter Sunday, April 20, 2014.  As always, I'm so glad I did the calendar drawings this year.

Click here for more info, including a template link.  Also, each drawing space is small, about 1 inch wide, so you may want to click on the drawing for a better view. 

• Copic markers
• Pen: Copic multiliner 0.3 black; 0.3 cool gray for March 24-28 and April 19; 0.3 cobalt for April 6; 0.3 purple for April 7; 0.3 purple and olive for April 16; 0.3 brown and wine for April 17.
• Paper: Neenah
• Words March 5-8: Ash; Broken; Center, enter in; Peace, be still; 
• Words March 9-15: Prepare with joy; Trust; Renew; In Your mercy; Journey; Fallen; Repent and return
• Words March 16-22: Seek where he is found; Rest; Grace; Healing; Faith; Steadfast; Be born of the spirit
• Words March 23-29: For our sake; Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; Have mercy on us, grant us peace
• Words March 30-April 5: 40 days/nights; Fasting: Live as children of the Light. Ephesians 5; Hope; So shall all be made alive; Refresh us; Gratitude 
• Words April 6-12: Lord, hear our prayer; Wait for the Lord; (no words); Love-Break-Mend-Repeat; Cast your burdens upon the Lord; Out of the depths have I called to you O Lord; For there is forgiveness with you
• Words April 7-19: Hosanna - Palm Sunday; O Savior of the world; Guide us; Amen; Body blood; Goodness and mercy; (no words)

Advent Calendar 2012

My 2012 calendar is now complete. Another year of words and pictures for the Advent season.  Along with drawing and coloring, this year I experimented with some bits of colored paper, as mentioned here.

The drawing spaces are small (about 1-5/8" high), so you may want to click on the image for a better view, especially if it looks a bit fuzzy above.

Click here for my friend Sybil's beautiful and prayerful 2012 Advent calendar, in a very different format from mine.  You can read her thoughts on her first week here and her second week here on her Praying in Color blog.

For my previous Advent calendar drawings, click as follows:

• Here for 2011
• Here for 2010
• Here for 2009
• Here for 2008
• Here for all of my Advent and Christmas-related drawings and posts

For more information about the calendar and the template, click here for my template post.

For a listing of words, sources of words, Copic colors, and other materials used,  see below (or click on "read more" to see it)

Advent Calendar Template 2012

Next Sunday will be the first Sunday of Advent, and once again, time to start my Advent Calendar drawings.  This will be Year 5.  Each year I wonder if I'll do another one.  And then I do.  So here is my 2012 template.

This year, Christmas is on a Tuesday.  Instead of a five-wide drawing space for Christmas Day, I decided to give an extra block to each of the four Sundays, for my Advent wreath and candle drawings.  The weeks progress diagonally down the page, and I deleted the day labels from the top row.

I will post my calendar here throughout Advent, at least weekly, and maybe more often. After my first year's Advent calendar, I wrote a post on what I learned from it, and it does a good job of explaining why I've continued.

For my previous Advent calendar drawings, click as follows:

• Here for 2011
• Here for 2010
• Here for 2009
• Here for 2008
• Here for all of my Advent and Christmas-related drawings and posts

My friend Sybil also has posted her Advent calendars in past years in her prayer-drawing blog, Praying in Color.   Click here for her 2011 calendar, or click here for earlier years. I'll also link to her 2012 calendar as it appears.  Edited Nov. 26, 2012 to add:  Click here for Sybil's candle and tree templates... very different from my grid format.   

If you'd like to try this activity for yourself, you're welcome to use my 2012 template.  It's sized to print on 8-1/2 x 11" paper.  Click here to download the PDF file, or click here to download the Word version.  Both are on Google Docs.