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DIY Advent Calendars

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December first is almost here! Time to whip out that advent calendar and start the official countdown to Christmas. Here are 29 DIY advent calendars that will absolutely inspire you to make your own. Best part? These countdown calendars are made out of things you likely have on hand right now. I’m talking about things like envelopes, match boxes, brown paper grocery bags, bottle caps, muffin tins, and even toilet paper rolls!

29 DIY advent calendars

27 DIY Advent Calendars

1. All you need for this sweet and simple advent calendar is brown bags from the grocery store. I love that the brown bags could easily be spruced up to fit your holiday decor. See the complete brown bag Christmas countdown tutorial at Whatever Dee Dee Wants.

Advent for kids

 
2. All you need for this simple advent calendar is washi tape and paper! Best of all it takes less than 30 minutes to put together. See all fo the washi tape advent calendar details on C.R.A.F.T.
 
DIY Advent Calendars
 3. Who knew brown bags that are typically used for sack punches could look so chic as an advent calendar for Christmas? The entire advent calendar project including building  the giant chalkboard cost less than $50. See all of the details as Most Lovely Things.

brown bag advent calendar4. How adorable are these hand sewn felt envelopes? See the complete tutorial at Jenny Allsorts. 
Advent for kids

5. I love that these colorful envelopes add the perfect amount of whimsy. You can make the envelopes yourself or even hand decorate simple store bought white envelopes. Photograph via ziggiau.

DIY advent calendar for kidsDIY advent calendar for kidsDIY advent calendar for kids
6. How beautiful is this simple loom with tree branches and hanging gifts all tied with bakers twine? I love it! See lots more details at lapinblu. 
DIY Advent Calendars
7. This is the cutest and simplest DIY advent calendar I’ve seen yet! All you need are wooden nutcrackers, a little paint, and 24 Chrsitmas books! See the complete tutorial and where to buy nutcrackers on Cloudy Day Gray.
DIY advent calendars
 
 
8. I’m a sucker for a good up-cycle project, and this newspaper turned adorable envelope advent fits the bill. (Image via here.) 
Newspaper advent calendar

9. This adorable Christmas tree advent calendar is entirely made out of felt. I also love that is was made by mother and daughter. See more details at Stitch Craft Creations. 

felt advent

 

11. A modern Christmas update on the ol’ paper chain. I love it! See the complete tutorial at Make and Takes.

DIY advent calendars
 
 
 
12. Who knew tp rolls  could be so cute? Use spent toilet paper tubes to craft up this creative advent calendar complete with a chimney! Tutorial originally from Morning Creativity. 

DIY advent calendar

 
13. Lapinblu made another version of her loom advent with a simple branch. Check out the details at Lapinblu. 
 
branch advent calendar
 
 
 
 
14. I love that Jenn turned a store bought kit into an advent calendar she could use again and again! See all of the details at Clean and Scentsible.
 
Advent for kids
 
15. Here’s another way to turn embroidery hoops into colorful holiday decor that doubles as a Christmas countdown! Check out the tutorial at The Crafty Crow.
DIY Advent calendars for kids
 
 
16. This DIY burlap advent does not hold candy or toys, but simple holiday themed activities and crafts to do at home. She sewed tiny burlap pockets onto peice of fabric and hint it with clothespins. Adorable. For more details and a list of holiday themed activities check out Cozy Homemaking.
DIY advent calendar
 
 
17. Gail turned 24 empty candy boxes and a peice of corrugated cardboard into an incredible DIY advent calendar.
DIY advent calendar made with candy boxes
 
 

18. Allie turned a mini muffin tin into an adorable advent calendar that can filled with small candies or treats. For more details, check out Allie Makes.

DIY advent calendar made out of a muffin tin 

19. Ashly wrapped 24 matchboxes in paper and glued them together in the shape of a Christmas tree. For more details and pictures, check out Cute as a Fox.

DIY advent calendar made out of matchboxes
 
20. Maya turned toilet paper tubes into a gorgeous advent calendar with a sewing machine and a stamp. If sewing is not your thing, you can easily staple or glue the brown paper tubes together on one end. For the complete tutorial, check out Maya Made.
 
DIY advent calendar made out of tp tubes
 
 
 
 
21. Chelsea made this DIY candy advent calendar out of a poster board and Christmas scenes printed from the internet. For the complete tutorial, check out Sew Simple Home.
 
Advent for kids
 
22. Beckie turned white mini buckets, a peice of ply wood, and spray paint into a cute advent calendar that can hold all kinds of goodies. For the complete tutorial, check out Infarrantly Creative.

Advent for kids

 
 
 
23. Melissa turned this simple holiday card holder into an advent calendar envelopes. Each envelope contains a holiday themed activity to do together as a family. To see her list of advent activities, check out Purely From the Heart.
Advent for kids
 
 
24. Maya made an advent using toilet paper rolls and a bakers twine. Best part? It doubled as Christmas tree decor! Check out Maya Made for the full tutorial. 
toilet paper tube advent calendar
 
 
 
25. Maya made another genius toilet paper tube advent calendar, but this time she flattened the tubed to create 24 houses each with a door. Behind each door is a time ticket to complete an activity with specific family members. Read more about how she made the advent calendar using toilet rolls at Maya Made.
 
DIY advent calendar for kids
 
26. Inviting Printables created this adorable free printable Santa’s Beard. The idea is each day kiddos add a cotton ball to the beard, and by December 24th, Santa has a full beard! Get the free printable Santa’s Beard here.
advent for kids
 
27. I love this sweet and simple Santa beard advent where the beard gets shorter and shorter each day until December 24th. This is perfect for preschool age kids working on their scissor skills. Check out the complete tutorial at La classe della maestra Valentina.
Advents for kids
 
 
 
Did you do an advent calendar as a child? Did you make them each year or use the same one? My grandma made us one that we used year after year when we were kids. It was similar to #9 above, but quilted. I’d love to hear…

 

Comments

  1. Brenda says

    All of these are so adorable!
    Sadly, I can never seem to stick to an advent calendar since I moved out of my parents place :/ .
    They make a great double for a decoration as well as a fun activity though!
    Thanks for the post!

    Reply

  3. Karen says

    What a great round up! Thank you for posting these ideas. I’ve been trying to decide what kind of advent calendar to use now that I’ve got a little one. These ideas are so cute it may be just as hard to decide now as before!

    Reply

  9. Laura Keller says

    I've seen so many great new advent calendar ideas this season! I love how most of these involve some form of paper craft but are all completely unique! I think my favorite is the Hobby Craft Cute Envelopes though – I love the plaid deer cut out. Great finds!

    Reply

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