Jill A. Chafin
If you’re feeling uninspired by the store-bought, chocolate-filled advent calendars, why not make your own? We’ve got some easy, creative options to get you started—several that use everyday items you have at home.
Counting down to Christmas is a great way to spread out the joy all month long. It helps give your children an outlet for directing their anticipation and excitement since waiting for Christmas Day can be tough. You can fill your advent calendar with whatever you like—stickers, poems, little treats, crafts, books, and so on.
Felt Advent Calendar
This is a sweet calendar that you’ll be able to use for many years to come. It has a small pocket to slip in a poem, a coupon for a prize (such as “ice cream night”), or a small piece of candy.
Here’s what you need:
- Felt: Whatever colors you like, cut into triangles.
- Duck canvas: Cut into a 24×23 inch square—used to display the felt triangles.
- Embroidery floss: Contrasting colors to the felt pieces.
- Wood dowel: This is the hang the canvas on for display.
- Pom poms: To hang from the dowel (these are optional).
- Hot glue gun
Read the full tutorial at Tell Love and Party
Christmas Bulb Advent Calendar
A festive option, allowing you to string up your calendar wherever you need a splash of color in your home. Each bulb opens up with a hidden treat, poem, or gift tucked inside.
Here’s what you need:
- Templates: You can download the templates for the bulb and numbered flags for $3 (or try to wing it on your own)
- Scissors
- Craft knife
- Glue
- Paper: Use something thick, like card stock.
- Twine
- Ruler
- Hole punch
Read the full tutorial at The House That Lars Built
Mini Box Advent Calendar
This is a super easy project most kids can make with a little guidance. Depending on the size of the boxes, you can stuff them with candy, toys, or sweet poems.
Here’s what you need:
- Mini boxes: You can reuse take-out boxes, or order some boxes in fun colors.
- Pom poms: To glue on top of each box.
- Numbers: You can get number stickers, or download this free printable for the numbers.
- Glue: A hot glue gun is best, but a regular glue stick will also work.
Read the full tutorial at Fun365
Paper Bags Advent Calendar
Not feeling super crafty? This project is by far one of the easiest DIY advent calendars out there!
All you need are small paper bags—in any color (even brown). You can hang them with twine and close pins, place them in a basket, scatter them on a shelf, or hide them under the Christmas tree.
Fill them with goodies, a new book, candy, or a warm pair of wool socks. Decorate it however you like—with paint, stickers, markers, crayons, etc.
Creating an advent calendar doesn’t get much easier than this!
Read the full tutorial at Most Lovely Things
Toilet Paper Tube Advent Calendar
It’s always good to reuse and recycle, especially during the holidays when money is flying out the window. Well, you don’t get more resourceful than reusing old toilet paper rolls! So dig them out of the recycle bin and have some fun with this project.
Here’s what you need:
- 25 toilet paper rolls
- Paper: Scrapbook paper works best for this project.
- Glue stick
- Scissors
- Twine
- Numbers: Either stamps with ink, advent stickers, or circular tags to write numbers on.
- Glue dots: To hold up each roll.
- White foam board
- Old picture frame: Or a bulletin board will work too!
Read the full tutorial at Smashed Peas and Carrots
Coffee Tin Advent Calendar
Here’s another great project that reuses stuff that’s headed towards the trash or recycling bin. The original project was made using coffee tins, but you can use anything—such as tea boxes, spice tins, mason jars, whatever can hide goodies.
Once you’ve put in the time and effort to decorate your containers, you’ll be able to use them for years to come. Who doesn’t love a craft project that brings joy for multiple holidays?
Here’s what you need:
- Empty containers: 24 in total. Old coffee tins, spice jars, whatever you have lying around.
- Paper: Thick white paper is best.
- Tissue paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- An X-Acto knife
- A cutting board
- Tape: Try to get installation tape since it’s thicker and will give a cool 3D effect.
- Numbers: Print out numbers, or try these wood ornament numbers for a rustic look.
Read the full tutorial at Look What I Made
Shoe Organizer Advent Calendar
If you have an old shoe organizer lying around, then consider repurposing it for this project. Otherwise, you can order a new shoe organizer for less than $10! Hang it over the door, or use hooks to hang it on a wall.
You can get all fancy by stenciling in the numbers, or just add stick-on numbers. It’s up to you.
Here’s what you need:
- Shoe organizer: Make sure it has 24 pockets and can hang from the door or has holes to hang on hooks.
- Red wool
- Gold paint
- Pouncer sponge
- Number stencils
- Scissors
- Glue gun
Read the full tutorial at Elizabeth Joan Designs
Envelope Advent Calendar
If you’ve left this project to the last minute, don’t stress! We’ve got just the project that you can whip up in a jiffy. All you need are some envelopes—basic white ones will work.
Fill each envelope with pieces of candy, hair ties, jewelry, stickers, or whatever will put a smile on your child’s face.
Here’s what you need:
- 24 Envelopes: Really, this is all you need! You can get festive with these red envelopes.
- Numbers: You can write the numbers, or seal the envelope with advent stickers.
- A board to display: This is optional since you can stick the enveloped to the wall, or stack them on the shelf. If you want to display them, glue or tape the envelopes to a whiteboard, an old picture frame, or a bulletin board.
Read the full tutorial at A Few Things From My Life
Go forth and get all crafty this holiday season. Remember, an advent calendar doesn’t need to be fancy to be meaningful. The simplest ones can still warm your child’s heart. It’s what’s inside that counts, right?
