The holiday season is upon us, and that means it’s time to start preparing your advent calendar to count down the days until Christmas. An advent calendar is a fun tradition that builds excitement and anticipation leading up to the big day. There are so many creative ways to make your own DIY advent calendar, whether you want to fill it with small treats and gifts or simply use it as a decorative holiday countdown.
In this step-by-step guide, as a professional custom advent calendar printing manufacturer, I’ll show you exactly how to make a DIY advent calendar in 2024 that looks great and is easy to put together.
Why Make Your Own Advent Calendar?
Part of the magic of the holiday season is enjoying beloved traditions with your family. An advent calendar allows you to create new memories while keeping costs low.
You can personalize a homemade advent calendar with treats and activities that you know your family and friends will love. It’s also a great activity to craft together.
Beyond saving money, making your own advent calendar means you aren’t limited by what’s available to buy in stores. You can let your creativity run wild!
Supplies You’ll Need
The supplies you need will vary slightly depending on the type of DIY advent calendar you decide to make. Here’s a general list to get you started:
- Craft paper or fabric
- Glue (hot glue gun recommended)
- Scissors
- Miscellaneous craft supplies like miniature boxes, jars, cones, mini socks or bags
- Small treats, toys, gifts or notes to place inside
- Decorations like stickers, ribbons, glitter, pom poms
- Marker to number containers or bags
I’ll go into more specific supply details in the project ideas below. But this covers the basics you’ll need for any homemade advent calendar.
10 Creative Ways to Make a DIY Advent Calendar
Here are my top 10 easy ideas for DIY advent calendars to make your holiday season extra fun.
1. Paper Chain Advent Calendar
Supplies:
- Construction paper or scrapbooking paper
- Glue or stapler
- Scissors
- Marker
- 24 small gifts or treats
Start by cutting 24 strips of paper about 8 inches long and 1 inch wide. Write numbers 1 through 24 on them with marker. Form the strips into loops and link into a paper chain, gluing or stapling the ends together.
Hide a little something inside each loop — a piece of chocolate or small toy or note. Hang your paper chain countdown on the wall or mantle and start unclipping links on December 1st!
2. Envelope Advent Calendar
Supplies:
- 24 envelopes
- Craft paper
- Ribbon, stickers, glitter or other embellishments
- Marker
- Mini gifts, candy, notes to tuck inside envelopes
Start with 24 envelopes. Use a marker to number them 1 through 24. Decorate the envelopes with craft paper, ribbon, stickers, glitter, whatever inspires you!
Fill each envelope with a small surprise like a gift card, piece of candy, sticker sheet or handwritten joke or holiday memory. Seal them up then arrange them on a garland, wreath, mantle or inside a basket. Open one each day leading up to Christmas!
3. Drawer Box Advent Calendar
Supplies:
- Small box with dividers, like a tackle box tool box or jewelry box
- Craft paper and ribbon
- Marker
- Mini presents or treats for each compartment
I love this advent calendar idea because the supplies are easy to find. Tackle boxes and jewelry boxes with tiny sections are available year-round.
Start by numbering the compartments 1 through 24 with marker. You can dress up your box by covering it with decorative paper and ribbon. Fill each numbered section with a fun tiny gift or treat. Open one drawer per day as you countdown to Christmas morning!
4. Hanging Fabric Pocket Advent Calendar
Supplies:
- 24 socks or small fabric bags
- Mini clothespins
- Twine or ribbon
- Craft supplies like fabric glue, puff paints or iron-on numbers
- Tiny gifts or candy to tuck inside each sock or bag
Start with 24 mini socks, fabric bags or even the toes cut off larger socks. Use craft glue, iron-on numbers or puff paint to number them 1 through 24.
Fill each sock or bag with something small like candy, earrings, bath bombs or lottery tickets. Clip them onto twine or ribbon with mini clothespins, using your creativity. Hang this whimsical fabric pocket advent calendar as holiday décor!
5. Wooden Block Advent Calendar
Supplies:
- 24 unfinished wood blocks, cubes or cut wood slices
- Acrylic paint
- Paintbrushes
- Sandpaper (optional)
- Marker
- Craft glue
- Treats or tiny gifts
Start by painting your unfinished wood blocks or wood slices. Create Christmas designs, patterns or color block shapes. Add numbers 1 through 24 with marker once the paint dries.
Apply a thin layer of craft glue to the top of each block. Attach a small wrapped candy, Lego figurine, earrings or other tiny treat or gift.
As you open each day leading up to Christmas, your little treasures will be revealed! Display your wooden block advent calendar on a bookshelf, coffee table or kitchen counter.
6. Mini House Advent Calendar Village
Supplies:
- 24 mini craft houses, boxes or jars
- Craft paper, wreaths, mini trees
- Acrylic paint
- Hot glue gun
- Paintbrushes
- Markers
- Assorted tiny gifts and treats
Use a hot glue gun to attach rows of mini houses, stacking them if desired to create height. Paint details on your houses with acrylics and let dry completely. Add doors, windows, wreaths or trees cut from scrapbook paper or craft felt using hot glue.
Use markers to number houses 1 through 24. Fill each house through the roof or chimney with candy, Lego people, earrings, polishes, bath bombs or small toys.
Creating a miniature Christmas village out of tiny houses, filling them with surprises is one of my favorite advent calendar ideas!
7. Clothespin Advent Calendar
Supplies:
- 24 mini craft clothespins
- Acrylic paint pens
- Twine
- Hot glue gun
- Assorted tiny gifts and treats
Start by using acrylic paint pens to decorate and number your clothespins 1 through 24. Tie a length of twine horizontally across a wall, fireplace or blank space.
Use hot glue to attach a small gift or treat inside each clothespin. As you clip them on the twine countdown to Christmas, a daily surprise awaits!
8. Cone Advent Calendar
Supplies:
- 24 paper drink cones
- Scrapbook paper
- Double-sided tape
- Ribbon
- Craft glue
- Marker
- Tiny gifts and treats
Start by enclosing the outside of plain white paper cones with strips of festive scrapbook paper, securing with double-sided tape. Tie them closed with ribbon.
Use a marker to number them 1 through 24. Fill each cone with candy, costume jewelry, bath salts or mystery items. Consider gluing mini gift tags over the openings that can be peeled back daily.
9. Jar or Glass Bottle Advent Calendar
Supplies:
- 24 glass jars or bottles
- Acrylic paint, ribbon, raffia, jute, scrapbook paper
- Hot glue gun
- Paint pens
- Candy, bath bombs, jewelry, Legos or small toys
Raid your pantry for jars in different shapes and sizes. Clean thoroughly and decorate using scrapbook paper, acrylic paints, raffia, jute, ribbons — whatever inspires you. Attach mini gift tags with number stickers.
Fill your eclectic glass jars or bottles with treats and surprises. Consider layering filler items like shredded paper or cranberries between gifts. Arrange together for display, starting with #1.
10. Christmas Tree Advent Calendar
Supplies:
- Foam core or plywood cut-out in shape of tree
- Jars or boxes
- Craft supplies like mini wreaths, bows, felt trees, paint
- Hot glue gun
- Marker
- Assorted tiny gifts and treats
My last advent calendar idea incorporates an actual decorative Christmas tree!
Start with a triangle tree shape cut from plywood, strong cardboard or foam core. Paint if desired then decorate with ribbon garland, felt trees and mini wreaths.
Arrange 24 jars, boxes or ornaments numbered 1 through 24 on your tree board. Fill them with candy, bath bombs, polish, earrings or small toys. What a fun way to countdown to the holidays!
No matter which advent calendar idea you choose, the enjoyment is in the making and giving. I hope you’re inspired to craft your own homemade advent calendar this holiday season!
Remember, the specific supplies and embellishments are up to you. Choose items you already have at home when possible to save money for gifts. The most meaningful advent calendars are personalized and come straight from the ❤️.
Now over to you! Which DIY advent calendar project are you most excited to try in 2024? Let me know in the comments below.
Happy crafting and Merry Christmas!