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If you're anything like us, you already started shopping for the best Christmas decorations, are brainstorming festive recipes and hunting for the most popular holiday presents this year. But, it isn't until December 1st rolls around that the Christmas countdown truly begins — and that's where a Christmas advent calendar comes into play. Whether it's for your little ones, your boyfriend or yourself, these DIY advent calendars make every day of December feel a bit more special.
When you make your own advent calendar, you can fill the boxes, pockets or bags with anything your heart desires: tasty treats, adorable trinkets, inspirational messages or bucket-list activities. We've included advent calendar filler ideas that reveal trendy pins, miniature liquor bottles and small bones for your favorite doggo. Plus, there's one idea that helps you slowly decorate a Christmas tree, and another that encourages kids to read a new book every day.
Of course, there's nothing wrong with buying a Christmas advent calendar (like one filled with classic chocolates or kid's toys), but these easy DIY ideas can be tailored to your family. Whether you're a beginner or expert DIYer, you'll find a craft project that fits your skill level. We've included tutorials for how to make advent calendars from paper, cardboard boxes, felt, wood and more. The best part? These adorable reusable advent calendars make beautiful holiday decorations.
1
Stocking Advent Calendar
Cut out and sew 24 small stockings from felt, then hang the stockings on a hanging structure made from wooden rods, yarn and wooden beads. Layer in pretty details, like wooden stars to note the countdown to Christmas.
2
Personalized Notes Advent Calendar
Try a twist on a traditional advent calendar, like designer Ginger Curtis of Urbanology Designs does here. To make this customizable version, stamp the 24 days onto craft bags and fill them with treats and personalized notes, then seal them with red dot stickers and hang them from wooden dowels with string.
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3
Rainbow Ombré Advent Calendar
Create an ombré effect with diluted acrylic paint to give these small muslin drawstring bags a makeover. When all is said and done, hang these colorful bags on a board or wall.
4
Tiny Cards Advent Calendar
Once you've painted your Christmas tree and allowed it to dry, arrange 25 tiny cards and secure them with small bulldog clips. Fill each card with a daily adventure to share with the family, like take a bike ride or go out for breakfast.
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5
Colorful Felt Calendar
Constructed mostly from felt, this vibrant advent calendar has enough space to store small treats, figurines or notes. Go for a bright color palette, including pink, purple, blue and yellow, or settle for something more neutral.
6
Gift Bag Advent Calendar
Turn your advent calendar into a beautiful wall display by stringing envelopes and small gift bags from a large branch. Add greenery and a pom pom garland, plus a ton of festive stickers.
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7
Winter Village Advent Calendar
For a whimsical display, hang 25 cardboard houses from a large evergreen sprig. Layer in fairy lights to make the entire structure illuminate.
8
Ornament Advent Calendar
For this creative idea, you'll remove an ornament from your advent calendar each day and add it to the Christmas tree — by the 25th, the tree will be fully decorated. For the display, start with basic bulb ornaments, adding spray paint, glitter and scrapbook stickers as you please.
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9
Dog Bone Advent Calendar
Don't leave your dog out of the fun festivities this season! Hang 24 small bones onto the wall using string and a small Command hook, then attach a tiny card or number to each one.
10
Punch Out Advent Calendar
Kids will go crazy for this playful take on the traditional advent calendar. Fill paper cups with treats or toys, cover them with green and red tissue paper, and arrange them in the shape of a Christmas tree. Allow your kids to punch through the paper to reveal their daily prize.
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11
Treat-Filled Advent Calendar
For the month of December, swap throw blankets for numbered muslin bags on your leaning ladder. Fill them with an assortment of treats — edible or otherwise.
12
Sticker and Pin Advent Calendar
Start with a painted bulletin board — this blogger chose pink, but you could keep it traditional, too. Pin your countdown numbers to the board, tucking away small rewards like stickers and pins.
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13
Felt Diamond Advent Calendar
You need minimal supplies to craft this pretty advent calendar. Gather up squares of felt, duck canvas, embroidery gloss, a wood dowel and poms poms for decoration.
14
Gift Tag Advent Calendar
To recreate this stylish advent calendar, use hot glue to secure fabric to a foam board. Hang store-bought manila tags (six per row) on straight pins. Use wood craft circles to mark each date by stamping on the numbers and punching a hole in each one. Finally, add your own ornament or trinket to each date.
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15
Paper Mâché Advent Calendar
If you've got more than one kid, build two different advent calendars catered to their unique personalties and preferences. These paper mâché advent calendars have small boxes to store treats and small gifts.
16
Wreath Advent Calendar
Arrange 24 small houses, like these galvanized metal ones, onto a large metal ring to recreate this simple wreath advent calendar. Jot down activities on paper, roll them up and slip them inside each house.
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17
Star Garland Advent Calendar
Pick up some different size paper mâché boxes, as well as twine or ribbon to string all of the boxes together. Fill the boxes with small treats or presents, and then drape the garland around your fireplace mantel, from a blanket ladder or anywhere you choose.
18
Window Advent Calendar
Don't have a lot of space? Build your advent calendar in the window. Adjust two or three spring tension curtain rods to fit the width of your window (don't forget to cover them in some sort of pretty ribbon first). Then, hang decorated burlap bags from the rods.
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19
Holiday Activity Advent Calendar
Write a different holiday activity on the back of each circle and clip them to a pegboard. Each morning, flip the circle around to reveal what's on your family's agenda — ice skating, baking, watching Elf for the zillionth time, you name it.
RELATED: Christmas Crafts That You Can Easily DIY
20
Take-Out Box Advent Calendar
If you find a set of these colorful takeout boxes, simply fill them with goodies and create an organized stack. Blogger Kelly Mindell used basic number stickers to create the countdown.
Amanda Garrity
Amanda Garrity is a lifestyle writer and editor with over seven years of experience, including five years on staff at Good Housekeeping, where she covered all things home and holiday, including the latest interior design trends, inspiring DIY ideas and gift guides for any (and every) occasion. She also has a soft spot for feel-good TV, so you can catch her writing about popular shows like Virgin River, Sweet Magnolias, Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart and more.
Alyssa Gautieri
Associate Lifestyle Editor
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.
