The holiday season is upon us, and one of my favorite ways to count down the days until Christmas is with an advent calendar. Over the years, I’ve tested different methods and materials to create homemade advent calendars – from paper bags to shipping tubes. Through trial-and-error, I’ve learned how to make high-quality DIY advent calendars that can be reused year after year.
In this step-by-step guide, as a professional custom advent calendar printing manufacturer, I’ll share everything you need to know to create your own advent calendar boxes for the 2024 holiday season.
Why Make Your Own Advent Calendar?
Before we dive in, let’s look at why it can be worth investing the time into your own handmade advent calendar:
- Cost savings – Store-bought advent calendars can range from $10 to well over $100. Making your own is very economical.
- Customize to suit your style – Only you know what will make it special and meaningful for your family. Create an advent calendar that fits your home’s décor and holiday traditions.
- Use year after year – With a homemade advent calendar made of sturdy materials, you can continue using it for years to come. Simply refill it with new surprises each Christmas season.
- Interactive family activity – Get the kids involved in decorating and preparing the advent calendar, building excitement for the holiday season.
So how exactly do you make an advent calendar at home? Let’s find out!
Materials Needed to Make Advent Calendar Boxes
The supplies needed to create homemade advent calendar boxes include:
- Container – This will be the base for your advent calendar. Ideal containers include:
- Cardboard boxes
- Shipping tubes or cardboard mailing tubes
- Paper bags
- Wooden box or crate
- Craft supplies – To decorate the container and boxes, you’ll want:
- Construction paper
- Markers, coloring pencils
- Glitter, sequins
- Glue and tape
- Fillers – Little surprises to tuck inside each box or tube:
- Candy
- Mini toys and trinkets
- Stickers
- DIY coupons for family activities
- Numbers – To label each box with the day:
- Number stickers
- Printed or handwritten numbers
- Stencils and paint
The specific container and craft supplies will vary slightly depending on which advent calendar design you want to create. Next, let’s look at different methods for making advent calendar boxes at home.
How to Make Cardboard Box Advent Calendar
One of the easiest ways to create an advent calendar is using cardboard boxes. Here’s a simple walkthrough:
Step 1: Gather Supplies
You’ll need:
- Cardboard boxes
- Construction paper
- Glue and tape
- Decorative supplies like glitter, stickers
- Fillers for each box
- Number stickers or handwritten numbers
Tip: Cereal and cracker boxes are perfectly sized to use.
Step 2: Wrap Boxes
Cut out pieces of construction paper to cover each box. Glue the paper around the sides of the boxes. Kids will have fun adding extra decorative touches like glitter.
Step 3: Fill Boxes
Add small candies, toys, or homemade coupons to each wrapped box. Feel free to get creative with the box fillers!
Step 4: Label Boxes
Finally, number each box 1-24 (or 1-25 if your calendar includes Christmas day). Use number stickers, handwritten numbers on strips of paper, or paint the numbers directly onto the wrapped boxes.
Step 5: Display Calendar
Now simply arrange all the numbered boxes in order and display your DIY advent calendar! Lean it against a wall, lay it out on the mantel, or line up the boxes on shelves.
With just a few supplies and no fancy tools or skills required, cardboard boxes make advent calendars that are easy to DIY! Next, let’s look at an advent calendar project made from mailing tubes…
How to Make Advent Calendar from Shipping Tubes
Another unique option is to create a seamless advent calendar using shipping tubes or sturdy cardboard mailing tubes.
Step 1: Gather Tubes
You’ll need 25 empty shipping tubes or mailing tubes of the same width. Make sure they are sturdy, not flimsy.
Step 2: Trim and Join Tubes
Use a craft knife to carefully score across each tube where it will join together. Cut only partially through, so the tubes remain connected on one side.
Carefully bend the tubes so they form an accordion shape with a tube flap connected between each segment.
Step 3: Decorate Tubes
Now comes the fun part! Let kids go wild decorating the tubes however they wish using construction paper, markers, stickers, glitter, etc.
Step 4: Add Calendar Numbers
Label each tube from 1 to 24 (or 1 to 25 with Christmas day). You can use number stickers, permanent marker, or cut paper numbers glued on.
Step 5: Fill Tubes
Carefully open each tube flap and fill the compartments with advent prizes like candy, tiny toys, and more.
Step 6: Display Calendar
Finally, stand up your homemade advent calendar and watch the excitement build as kids count down to Christmas!
The great thing about this tube advent calendar is it looks cohesive while allowing kids to customize their own segment. A calendar made from mailing tubes offers a sleek yet playful way to countdown until the holidays.
If you prefer using bags over boxes, keep reading for our next advent calendar idea…
How to Make Advent Calendar from Paper Bags
For a colorful advent calendar that doubles as wall art, look no further than simple brown paper bags! Here’s how:
Step 1: Gather Bags
You’ll need 25 standard brown paper lunch bags. Alternatively, collect a combination of bags in different sizes and shades for visual interest.
Step 2: Decorate Bags
Have kids decorate the bags however they wish! Some ideas:
- Paint numbers with acrylic or tempera paint
- Add patterns using markers or stamps
- Embellish with stickers, ribbon, pom poms
- Color coordinate with different shades
Let those creative juices flow!
Step 3: Arrange Bags into Calendar
Once the bags are decorated, arrange them in numerical order and hang them in rows from clips or pegs on the wall.
Tip: For easy hanging, you can hole punch the tops and string them along dowels or string.
Step 4: Fill Bags
Help kids carefully fold over the tops of each bag to fill them with little toys, candy canes, and other tiny Christmas surprises!
This paper bag advent calendar doubles as wall decor and makes for easy cleaning up since ornaments aren’t permanently adhered. The best part? The kids take center stage by customizing each bag!
Advent Calendar Ideas to Inspire You
Now that you know the basic methods for creating homemade advent calendars, let’s look at more examples to spark ideas:
Mini drawer calendar – Build or buy a wooden box with small drawers to open each day. Kids will love pulling out the drawers to retrieve surprises inside.
Holiday books calendar – Use vintage books in festive colors like red and green. Let kids open a “book” flap each day hiding a special treat or note with an activity to do together as a family.
Tree advent – Craft a small artificial Christmas tree with clips. Kids can pick a new ornament with their goodie bag attached every day for the countdown excitement.
Sock calendar – Line up Christmas-themed socks along the mantle and tuck fun fillers down into the toes! Not only is it an interactive advent calendar, but the socks get put to use afterwards.
With a little creativity, you can create a homemade advent calendar perfect for your family’s traditions! The DIY options are truly endless.
Top Tips for Making Your Own Advent Calendar
Based on years developing my own homemade advent calendars for the holiday season, here are my top tips:
Pick durable materials – Whatever base container and crafting supplies you use, make sure they’ll hold up well over the years you plan to reuse and refill your advent calendar.
Involve the kids – Get your children engaged in preparing the advent calendar so they feel invested in the countdown. Making it will build the sense of wonder and anticipation!
Fill with care – It’s easy to overload the tiny boxes and bags, making them hard to open and close repeatedly. Keep your advent surprises small and lightweight.
Display strategically – Place your advent calendar front and center where your family gathers so everyone stays caught up. Set a daily reminder on your calendar to unveil the next surprise!
Start brainstorming now – Don’t leave it until December! Need inspiration? Just search for “DIY advent calendars” on Pinterest or YouTube any time of the year.
With a thoughtful, well-built advent calendar filled with goodies and activities leading up to Christmas morning, you’re sure to have a December full of smiles, laughter, and togetherness!
In Summary
The weeks counting down to the holidays goes by faster with a family advent calendar! Simply choose containers like cardboard boxes, mailing tubes, paper bags or a wooden crate. Let kids decorate and personalize. Then fill numbered spaces with candy, toys or DIY coupons for activities.
With an assortment of containers, craft supplies and fillers, you can create a homemade advent calendar perfectly tailored to your family traditions and style. Establish a new ritual this season, and build excitement leading up to Christmas 2024!