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40 DIY Advent Calendar Ideas to Ring in the Season

The countdown is on!

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advent calendar ideaspinterest
Jean Allsopp

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The countdown to Christmas has officially started! The suspense accompanying the holiday season is partially why it is one of our favorite holidays in the first place. Each passing day is filled with the promise of fun, friends, and presents from Santa—what’s not to like? One of our favorite ways to savor the season is with Advent calendars, which is why we’ve rounded up the best DIY examples to help you and yours countdown to the 25th in style. These homemade calendars are perfect for tracking the days until Rudolph, and his pals, come galloping across your roof, and their ability to fit in any holiday decor scheme makes them even cuter.

We have rounded up enough ideas to ensure everyone in your family has an advent calendar to fit their style. Favor something more traditional? Try crafting our calendar made from the ornaments of Christmas long, long ago. We’ve got everything from a homemade Christmas cookie advent calendar to a fun gumball machine method to keep the kiddos entertained all season. No matter the skill set, or the style of your home, you’re guaranteed to find an Advent calendar you’ll love. And, if you’re not feeling super crafty this holiday season, we have rounded up some of our favorite kids' advent calendars you can buy.

1

Advent Cookies

advent cookies next to domino and juliette 1 2 3 find and fit puzzle, whose silicone numbers were used to create indentations
Domino & Juliette

The secret to perfect numbers? Stamp warm cookies with food-grade silicone numbers. It creates an indentation that’s easy to fill with piped warm chocolate or candy melts.

Get the tutorial at Domino & Juliette.

2

Star Garland Advent Calendar

advent calendar ideas star garland
Mandi Johnson

Stars aren't just for tree toppers! This symbol of Christmas also makes the perfect advent calendar. Boxes of various sizes can hold all kinds of gifts and surprises.

Get the tutorial at A Beautiful Mess.

SHOP STAR BOXES

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3

Christmas Lights Advent Calendar

advent calendar ideas lights
The House That Lars Built

Brighten up your house before you even put up your Christmas lights. Each colorful "bulb" comes with a sweet surprise!

Get the tutorial at The House That Lars Built.

SHOP CONSTRUCTION PAPER

4

Felt Truck Advent Calendar

advent calendar ideas felt truck
Studio DIY

Your kids will love their advent calendar regardless, but we think they'll take to this cute felt version even more. The truck is packed with goodies, just like Santa's sleigh!

Get the tutorial at Studio DIY.

SHOP FELT

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5

Mini Boxes Advent Calendar

advent calendar ideas mini box
Alice & Lois

Sometimes the simplest projects turn out the prettiest. All this DIY calendar requires? Mini boxes, pom-poms, and number stickers for an easy, yet colorful, countdown.

Get the tutorial at Alice & Lois.

SHOP POM-POMS

6

DIY Fabric Advent Calendar

black and gray fabric advent calendar hanging on a wall above a small bench with a pine tree on it, candles and a nutcracker
The Merrythought

If you're handy with a needle and thread, you can craft this ultra-contemporary Advent calendar. Looking for a more traditional feel? Swap out the black and gray for red and green or other holiday colors.

Get the tutorial at The Merrythought.

SHOP UPHOLSTERY FABRIC

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7

Colorful Paper Bag Advent Calendar

diy advent calendar paper bag
Courtesy of Tell Love and Party

This showstopper features an array of bold colors, but if that's not your style, feel free to swap 'em out for neutrals, soft pastels, or classic black-and-white.

Get the tutorial at Tell Love and Party.

8

Christmas Tree Advent Calendar

advent calendar made out of small paper evergreen tree cut outs stuck in numbered wood slices there is a hand placing a tree numbered 3 among them
Tried and True Creative

You can use scrapbook paper to make the evergreens in this homey Advent calendar, and then for extra fun write Christmas activities inside the trees!

Get the tutorial at Tried and True Creative.

SHOP GREEN SCRAPBOOK PAPER

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9

Hanging Bags Advent Calendar

diy advent calendar 
Courtesy of

Kids will get a kick out of this playful piece featuring paper bags covered in penguin-printed paper and other fun designs. It's just the thing to hang in their playroom come December!

Get the tutorial at A Subtle Revelry.

10

Paper Christmas Village Advent Calendar

diy advent calendar 
Courtesy of

Unlike most Christmas village sets, which will set you back a few hundred dollars, this handcrafted series costs next to nothing to make and still packs plenty of Christmas cheer.

Get the tutorial at Delia Creates.

SHOP BROWN CARDSTOCK

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11

Mason Jar Advent Calendar

mason jars in a box, numbered with red glitter numbers 1, 2, 5 and 6
The Country Chic Cottage

Is just isn't Christmas without at least one Mason jar craft, is it? And this one even helps the kiddos count down to Christmas with sweet treats inside inside the jars.

Get the tutorial at The Country Chic Cottage.

12

Wood Pallet Advent Calendar

diy advent calendar wood
Courtesy of Average But Inspired

Opt for rustic, reclaimed wood for the base of this piece (think discarded pallets, leftover timber, or a set of planks) to make it fit in with the rest of your country chic decor.

Get the tutorial at Average But Inspired.

SHOP WOOD PALLETS

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13

Rustic Chalkboard Advent Calendar

chalkboard advent calendar
Courtesy of Houseful of Handmade

Thanks to this blogger's free template, you can easily fold and craft these cute advent boxes. While painting them silver makes them look like galvanized metal, we think gold, red, or white would match, too.

Get the tutorial at Houseful of Handmade.

SHOP CARDSTOCK PAPER

14

Tin Can Advent Calendar

tin can advent calendar
Courtesy of Look What I Made

Repurpose empty containers (coffee and tea canisters, cans, etc.) to make this eye-catching arrangement on the cheap. This blogger filled hers with coffees, though you can stuff yours with cookies, candy, or other treats.

Get the tutorial at Look What I Made.

SHOP CRAFT PAPER

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15

Customizable Christmas Advent Calendar

customizable christmas advent calendar
Courtesy of Sarah Hearts

This colorful advent calendar forgoes traditional Christmas hues in favor of a more modern palette.

Get the tutorial at Sarah Hearts.

SHOP GOLD CLIPS

16

Galvanized Garland Advent Calendar

christmas house tour advent calendar garland
Annie Schlechter, styling by Matthew Gleason

You can assemble and display this easy-to-make arrangement just about anywhere. Tie teeny metal pails to colorful ribbon and then hang alongside your favorite garland.

SHOP MINI BUCKETS

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17

Yesteryear Trinkets

yesteryear trinkets advent calendar
Jean Allsopp

Hung inside an old hotel key cabinet, numbered gift tags adorned with tiny ornaments make for a homespun Christmas countdown.

SHOP MINI ORNAMENTS

18

Fireplace Advent Calendar

handcrafted advent calendar hung on a garland above a stone fireplace in a cabin living room
Max Kim-Bee

Let guests play Santa for a day! Instead of candy, fill advent calendar pouches with guests' names, then let that day's Saint Nick choose the activity, from caroling to cookie making.

SHOP BURLAP BAGS

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19

Envelope Advent Calendar

paper envelope advent calendar
Miki Duisterhof

Count down the days until Christmas with little paper envelopes, sized to hold all sorts of surprises: candy, tickets, tiny toys. Use rubber stamps to ink the dates, and other motifs, on the envelopes. You can also embellish them by adding tags, string, washi tape, and clip art. Then, simply pin the envelopes on a pretty corkboard.

SHOP MINI ENVELOPES

20

Advent Blessings Jar

clear jar with stripes of white and green patterned washi tape around it, with popsicle sticks with washi tape around them in it
Thirty Handmade Days

Not only do your kids count down to Christmas with this ingenious Advent calendar, every craft stick also reminds them of their blessings. Even better, they drop coins in the jar each day, which go to their favorite charity when all the sticks all gone.

Get the tutorial at Thirty Handmade Days.

SHOP CRAFT STICKS

Headshot of Jessica Leigh Mattern
Jessica Leigh Mattern is a web editor and writer who covers home, holiday, DIY, crafts, travel, and more lifestyle topics. Prior to working for Country Living, she wrote for several lifestyle and women’s magazines including Woman’s Day, Cosmopolitan, and Redbook
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