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25 of the Best DIY Advent Calendars

Updated on   |  By Jamie Dorobek  |  14 Comments

It’s almost December! Time to whip out that advent calendar and start the official countdown to Christmas. Here are 25 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!

DIY-advent-calendars

Toilet paper tube advent calendars

Who would have thought an empty tp tube would be the perfect advent calendar material? These 4 toilet paper tube advents will make you a toilet paper tube advent calendar lover in no time.

1. TP tube house

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

2. Simple toilet paper tubes

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

3. TP tubes on a branch

Maya made another genius toilet paper tube advent calendar, but this time she flattened the tubes 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

4. Garland of tp tubes

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

Brown bag Advent Calendars

5. Sack lunches

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 calendar

6. Simple wreath

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. Branch and packages

Lapinblu made another version of her loom advent with a simple branch. Check out the details at Lapinblu. 

branch advent calendar

DIY Advent Calendars

8. Washi tape

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.
Washi tape advent calendar

9. Paper house advent calendar 

My daughter and I used this kraft paper box kit from Amazon and white paint pens to create 24 tiny gingerbread houses for a Christmas countdown. She filled each house with 2 pieces of Halloween candy, one for her and her brother. 

paper gingerbread house diy advent calendar

10. Felt envelopes

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

11. White envelopes

Desire Empire used an old frame and white envelopes to make a simple advent calendar that fit in with her holiday decor. 

DIY advent calendar

12. Rainbow envelopes

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 kids

13. Nutcrackers

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

14. Newspaper envelopes

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

15. Felt Christmas tree

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

16. Paper chain

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

DIY advent calendars

17. Alter a store bought advent

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
 

18. Embroidery hoops

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
 

19. Burlap pockets

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
 
 

20. Empty candy containers

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
 

21. Muffin tin advent calendar

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 

22. Matchbox advent

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

23. Holiday card holder

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. Free printable Santa’s beard

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

25. Cut Santa’s beard

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

What can I fill my kids advent calendar with?

Candy is always a good idea, but I like to mix that in with fun, easy Christmasy things I wanted to do with the kids anyway. Like…

  • Leftover Halloween candy or candy canes
  • Family dance party
  • Christmas tree picnic
  • Snowman hot chocolate
  • Bake cookies for the neighbors
  • Make a gingerbread house
  • Make DIY Christmas ornaments
  • Drive around and look at Christmas lights
  • Write Santa a letter
  • Wrap up a few holiday books
  • Christmas pj’s
  • Christmas pillow cases (I re-use these every year!)
Did you make or use a DIY 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 #14 above, but quilted. I’d love to hear…
I want everyone to feel empowered to be creative with their kids so, I’m sharing what I learned for free in a 5 day e-mail course!

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    Comments & Reviews

  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

  4. Mary says

    You might want to check your spelling of the word “calendar” in your title. 😉

    Reply

    • Jamie Dorobek says

      OH geez… thank you for telling me! I fixed it 🙂 How do I miss that stuff? Want to be my editor 🙂

      Reply

      • Mary says

        You’re welcome. I wouldn’t make a good editor though…I never catch my own mistakes, lol. 🙂

        Reply

        • Mary says

          Your Advent calendars are so cute, by the way!

          Reply

  5. Natasha says

    Love your round up. I also have an advent calendar i made last year from toilet rolls, check it out on my blog @ http://www.serenityyou.com , you’ll find it under the christmas label

    Reply

    • Jamie Dorobek says

      Thanks for sharing 🙂 Checking it out now!

      Reply

  6. Emma Briggs says

    That is a lovely idea…. I am sure your kids will have so much fun… especially the Paper Bag Boxes.

    Reply

  7. Beckie says

    Thanks love for including mine!

    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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