Count down the days to Christmas with a DIY advent calendar

by John Griffith
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It is official! Holiday season has begun. Although it is still the beginning of November, shops and supermarkets have already started with the Christmas decorations and products. That is exactly why, we should start preparing, too. So, after you figure out your Thanksgiving menu and gather your Christmas decorations, all that’s left to do is start counting down the days to the best holiday of the year. And, is there a better way to do that than with a DIY advent calendar. So, keep reading to find a few tutorials for awesome advent calendars you can totally recreate at home.

Create an advent calendar to count down the days to Christmas

advent calendar in pink purple white and gold diy advent calendar ideas placed next to small faux golden christmas tree and baubles

How to make an advent calendar?

Supplies:

  • 1 wood 25 drawer cabinet
  • a selection of paint
  • self adhesive numbers
  • washi tape for decoration
  • pack of adhesive rhinestones
  • other adhesive decorations such as snowflake sequins and vinyl
  • a selection of candy
  • gold wrapping tissue paper

This DIY tutorial is very easy to recreate

diy advent calendar ideas pink wooden box with smaller boxes paint step by step diy tutorial

Start by painting the small drawers in the desired colors

small wooden boxes painted in pink white and purple christmas tree advent calendar step by step diy tutorial

Decorate a few with self adhesive vinyl or washi tape

small wooden boxes covered with black and white marble washi tape christmas tree advent calendar step by step diy tutorial

Decorate the others with adhesive rhinestones

small wood boxes painted in pink christmas tree advent calendar decorated with silver rhinestones

Add the number to each drawer

hand pulling out small box labeled with four painted in pink diy advent calendar ideas filled with candy and gold paper

Fill each drawer with candy and put gold tissue paper on top

small wooden box painted in gold decorated with rhinestones filled with candy and gold paper christmas tree advent calendar

Enjoy your advent calendar

calendar in rose gold diy advent calendar ideas with small wooden boxes filled with candy and gold paper

Source: Swoon Worthy

Fun, colorful DIY advent calendar

faux pink christmas tree next to unique advent calendars with paper bags filled with candy leaning on white wall

DIY advent calendar

Supplies:

  • a selection of paper bags in different colors
  • a selection of ribbons in different colors
  • washi tape
  • self adhesive numbers
  • wood board
  • a selection of candy or small toys and treats you can fit inside the bags

Fill the bags with all kinds of candy and treats

paper bags in pink and red filled with candy unique advent calendars tied with green ribbons placed on white surface

Instructions:

  1. Fill the bags with different candy, toys and treats.
  2. Fold the bags in a variety of ways and tape them down with washi tape.
  3. Wrap the bags with different ribbons and once again in a variety of ways.
  4. Add the numbers to the bags.
  5. Arrange the gifts onto the wood board and once you decide on the way they are going to be arranged, tape them down.

step by step diy tutorial unique advent calendars small paper bags filled with candy labelled with numbers

Source: Tell Love and Party

Super stylish rose gold advent calendar

christmas tree advent calendar small boxes labeled with numbers hanging with white and gold string from wood branch

Christmas countdown calendar

Supplies:

  • star-shaped paper mache boxes
  • small match boxes
  • paper envelopes
  • small pegs
  • scissors
  • craft knife
  • colored cardstock
  • glue and 3D foam stickers
  • cord
  • wooden pegs
  • self adhesive numbers
  • hole puncher
  • ornaments of your choice
  • tree branch

photo collage of step by step tutorial homemade advent calendar decorated with glitter stars small labeled boxes

Instructions:

  1. Cut a tree branch and hang it on your wall.
  2. Decorate all the boxes with cardstock and 3D foam stickers.
  3. Using the hole puncher to create a hole on the top part of each of the boxes. Thread the cord through it and tie a knot on the inside to hold it.
  4. Fill the boxes with different candy and treats.
  5. To decorate the envelopes use cardstock and add the numbers. You can also decorate with 3D foam stickers.
  6. Secure the top with a peg and tie them with the cord.
  7. Finally tie the boxes and envelopes to the tree branch in various orders and heights. You can also add additional ornaments and baubles.

close up photo of homemade advent calendar boxes hanging with white and gold strings from small wooden branch

Source: Birds Party

Probably the easiest DIY tutorial out there

diy tutorial step by step diy advent calendar ideas with take out boxes in different colors labeled with numbers filled with candy

Fun advent calendars with take out boxes

Supplies:

  • 25 mini take out boxes in colors of your choice
  • number stickers
  • candy and treats

how to make an advent calendar with take out boxes in different colors step by step diy tutorial

Instructions:

  1. Stick the numbers to the boxes.
  2. Fill them with various candy and treats.
  3. Arrange them to resemble a Christmas tree.

take out boxes in different colors arranged as christmas tree how to make an advent calendar labeled with numbers

Source: Studio DIY

Christmas tree advent calendar

wooden boards in the shape of christmas tree how to make an advent calendar small metal buckets attached to it filled with candy

DIY advent calendar ideas

Supplies:

  • wooden triangle board
  • 25 small galvanized buckets
  • 25 roofing nails
  • wood stain or paint, if desired
  • number stickers
  • candy, toys or treats

step by step tutorial how to make an advent calendar wooden christmas tree painted in white

Instructions:

  1. Start by painting the wood board in a color of your choice, or leave it as it is.
  2. Arrange the buckets on the board and mark each spot with a pencil.
  3. Hammer the nails in place.
  4. Decorate the buckets as you wish and add the number stickers.
  5. Finally, hang the buckets to the board and fill them with various treats.

small metal buckets attached to wooden boards how to make an advent calendar filled with different items and candy

Source: Sugar and Charm

Yet another super easy DIY step by step tutorial

close up photo of paper cups white with black dots and red and white stripes homemade advent calendar labeled with numbers

Homemade advent calendar with paper cups

Supplies:

  • 24 paper cups
  • tissue paper
  • elastic bands
  • bakers twine
  • number stickers
  • a selection of sweets and treats
  • needle and scissors

homemade advent calendar with paper cups photo collage of step by step diy tutorial labeled with gold numbers

Instructions:

  1. Trace circle in the tissue paper slightly larger than the diameter of the cups and cut out the circles.
  2. Use the needle to thread the bakers twine through each cup.
  3. Add the treats and sweets to the cups. Cover the top of each of the cups with the tissue paper and secure with an elastic band.
  4. Stick the numbers to the cups and hang them to your wall.

red white and black paper cups labeled with numbers hanging from red and white strings hanging on white wall homemade advent calendar

Source: Pretty Little Party Shop

Unique advent calendar

The good news is that because of how crazy 2020 has been, we have plenty of time on our hands. That time can easily be spent taking up a new hobby such as crafting. And what better way to start your crafting journey by creating your very own advent calendar. Because, despite everything, we are all still looking forward to Christmas. So, if you are like us and can’t wait for this holiday to come, an advent calendar is the best way to start counting down the days to December 25th.

Some of these advent calendars are genious

advent calendar ideas wooden ladder red and white ribbons tied from one end to the other small bags hanging from them advent calendar small paper bags hanging on black metal rails hanging on white wall decorated with different ribbons

Advent calendar, but make it fun – pop a balloon each day to start it off in the most fun way possible

balloon advent calendar tree hanging on white wall advent calendar balloons in different colors attached to wood logs

blue and gold carton boxes decorated with numbers unique advent calendars candy inside them

blue wall green wreathhanging on it advent calendar ideas small bags with paper tags hanging from the wreath with small transparent baubles

Another festive DIY idea with take out boxes

calendar made with red and white take out boxes with golden numbers on them placed on white surface diy advent calendar christmas countdown calendar small stockings and bags in red and green hanging from a red string with numbers on them

Make Christmas come early with these cute mini stockings filled with treats

christmas stockings hanging from white wooden boards arranged in the shape of christmas tree advent calendar ideas

Or use your own socks for an original and creative advent calendar

couch in pink next to wood side table advent calendar ideas white wall with two strings hanging on it with pink socks with treats inside days until christmas written on wooden board hanging on white wall advent calendar small bags hanging decorated with numbers from one to twenty five diy advent calendar red string hanging on white wall lots of bags attached to it with numbers from one to twenty four fun advent calendars blue string hanging on white wall with small bags with different decorations and numbers

gray wall christmas countdown calendar made of fabric with small pockets in different colors filled with candy

Minimalistic idea with small bags of goodies

lots of bags in gray and white hanging on a string on white wall diy advent calendar decorated with ribbons and mistletoe paper in the shape of christmas tree in different colors white gray blue mint green placed on white surface advent calendar red and white garlans with tree branches christmas countdown calendar small metal buckets hanging from it with numbers on them small boxes decorated with different paper diy advent calendar different candy inside each placed on wooden surface small carton boxes decorated with different christmas themed wrapping paper fun advent calendars candy in each box small cartons with different christmas themed decorations and numbers hanging on white wall fun advent calendars

You can fill your calendar with inspirational quotes written on small pieces of paper for a motivational start of the day

small wood christmas countdown calendar with little boxes with numbers decorated in different colors small white faux trees around them small wood christmas countdown calendar with little boxes with numbers decorated in different colors small white faux trees around them red baubles stockings hanging on ribbons on white wall diy advent calendar different colors red and white gray and red

And this fairy lights Christmas tree advent calendar is just so original and beautiful

the ginger home toy train with three wooden carriages with small boxes with candy inside fun advent calendars decorated in green and red two wood christmas trees placed on white side table advent calendar little boxes attached to them decorated in different colors unique advent calendars stockings in different colors hanging from wooden rack hanging on white wall white wooden shelves mounted on white wall advent calendar ideas small boxes with numbers arranged on them with mini faux christmas trees

John Griffith
John Griffith

John Griffith is a young, passionate journalist. Writing has been John’s hobby ever since he was a boy. He has worked in some of the UK’s most successful news portals over the course of his professional career but found his forever home at Archzine.

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