Looking for a fun way to count down to Christmas? Here are 25 of the cutest homemade Advent calendar ideas to make. From fabric and felt to wooden and paper calendars, there are so many fun advent calendar ideas in this post.
I love a good Advent calendar. It is such a fun way to mark the progression of time and build up the anticipation for Christmas.
Oh, and there are gifts involved. Who doesn’t like to receive a little gift every day?
There are many ways to make an Advent calendar that suits your style, family, and home decor. Some calendars are mostly decorative, while others are more interactive and an integral part of Christmas activities.
Let’s check them all out. I am sure you’ll find the perfect homemade Advent calendar that can be ready and waiting to be hung on December 1st.
DIY Advent Calendar Ideas
Since an Advent calendar is used to count down the days of December until Christmas, they consist of the same set of numbers, but just look at all the great ways you can display those numbers.
Paper Advent Calendar Ideas
This Small Tags Advent Calendar is a lovely decorative countdown to Christmas Eve. The plain shipping tags are stamped with the dates and embellished with little decorations like tiny Christmas ornaments and handmade trinkets. All together, it has a nice vintage vibe.
What a wonderful way to countdown the Holiday season with this Robot Advent Calendar. The little boxes that are used to make the robots are a fun way to hide the small gifts inside.
The Advent calendar is a central part of the Holiday decor that will get special attention every day. So make sure your calendar is fun to look at. And I love this Advent calendar garland made from Reindeer Cups with Googly Eyes.
A vintage ladder decorated with small buckets that hide a daily small treat. The Christmas lights on this Red and White Buckets Advent Calendar just add to the festive spirit of this Advent decoration.
Brown Paper Packages tied up with string are everybody’s favorite thing. This Advent calendar is perfect for wrapping up little gifts for the whole family.
This DIY Advent calendar in soft, muted colors looks so perfect. You’d never guess it is made with toilet paper rolls. You can find the DIY instructions for this toilet paper roll Advent calendar under the link.
Another simple way to reuse toilet paper rolls or tubes from kitchen towels is by making a Paper Tube Advent Calendar. Not all DIY Advent calendars are a lot of work to make. Because all that was needed for this cute homemade advent calendar was a bit of cutting, painting, and stamping.
Folding a Pyramid Garland Advent Calendar is a fun way to hide small items and decorate your Christmas mantel at the same time.
Tiny packages wrapped in coordinated wrapping paper and hung from strings. This Advent Calendar Wall Hanging is an awesome idea for those of us who are not as crafty.
Little kids, older kids, heck, every family member will have much fun rummaging through this Christmas Advent Jar, hoping to find the best sweet treat of the day.
White and brown paper bags, along with vintage lace, ribbon, and buttons, are used to make this Paper Packages DIY Advent Calendar. Doesn’t it look gorgeous!?
Fabric Advent Calendar Ideas
Fabric advent calendars are a great option for those who prefer a softer, more tactile option. Whether you are an avid crafter who loves to sew, crochet, or embroider or a casual crafter who likes an easy way to make a fabric countdown calendar, there is the perfect Advent calendar for you.
Here are some examples of fabric advent calendars.
A perfect start to the Christmas season. Decorate your house with this Advent Calendar Ladder that uses small gift bags to count down the days.
Anyone who likes to sew likes fabric. And anyone who likes fabric has lots of fabric scraps. Why not turn those small pieces of fabric into this Advent Calendar Sewing Pockets. Each pocket is just the perfect size for a small bit of candy.
If you start today, you will be ready just in time! This knitted Advent calendar (free pattern) is not a beginner’s project, but look at how adorable it is!
It doesn’t get simpler than this. Torn pieces of fabric that are stamped and tied together. But what a great way to start the Advent season with this Scandinavian Inspired Advent Calendar.
A lovely that is a play on traditional Advent calendars. The numbers are subtle on this DIY Advent Calendar that is made with a fabric-covered board with little fabric tags pinned to it.
Another great alternative Advent calendar idea. Make an Advent Calendar Pillow! Move the candy cane from day to day until you can eat it on Christmas morning.
Christmas Tree Advent Calendars
When you make a Vintage Advent Calendar Garland you can use it to decorate your Christmas tree. I think this might just be my favorite Advent calendar!
An alternative Christmas tree made from white painted branches. This Advent tree is the perfect way to package all kinds of small toys.
Combine tiny boxes and tiny Christmas trees, and you have a mini tree Advent calendar that is so cool.
A Christmas tree made from sticks and decorated with tiny burlap tags. I love this rustic Christmas countdown calendar. The source of this project is unknown to me. Is it you? Please let me know so I can credit you.
Wooden Advent Calendar Ideas
Wooden advent calendars are a classic option that can be used for years to come. You can make a wooden calendar from scratch or use and repurpose things like window frames, vintage letter boxes, or pieces of scrap wood.
The great thing about an Advent calendar made from wood is that it will last for years, and it is the perfect reusable Advent calendar that can become a valued part of your family’s Holiday tradition.
Here are some examples of wooden advent calendars:
I can never resist a good pallet project. And this Pallet Wood Advent Tree is a great option if you love rustic Christmas decorations.
If you are so lucky to find the perfect window, you have an almost ready-made Window Pane Advent Calendar that looks perfect on your Christmas mantel.
This Farmhouse Advent Calendar in a printer’s tray is perfect in its simplicity. You can pull together this Advent calendar in 15 minutes or less.
With just a little DIY effort, you can make a Chalkboard Advent Calendar. It will be the perfect way to display your favorite Christmas ornaments.
Another great option for using Christmas ornaments on your countdown calendar is hanging them on a Barn Wood Christmas Advent Calendar.
Pallet Wood Christmas Tree Advent Calendar
This easy and fun pallet wood Christmas Advent tree is a lovely beginner’s woodworking project. And the best part is, if you no longer want an Advent calendar, you can repurpose it into a wooden Christmas tree.
More Fantastic Advent Calendar Ideas
When the Advent season has begun, the dark time of year has arrived. This Luminary Advent Calendar is sure to light up those dark evenings and lift all of our Christmas spirits.
What better way to end this presentation of best Advent calendar ideas than with chocolate! Turn a box of chocolates into a yummy Christmas Countdown Calendar. Find the printables for this Chocolate Advent Calendar under the link.
Marianne Songbird is the founder of Songbird, where she hopes to inspire everyone to create a home they love, one DIY project at a time. She shares anything from craft ideas to home decor inspiration and from DIY projects to decorating hacks. Originally from the Netherlands Marianne and her husband Lex are currently renovating a 250-year-old farmhouse in Germany.
Victoria says
Those are adorable! I just sent my oldest son an Advent Calendar that contains a different scent of incense for each day with a little tin house to put it in while it burns, the smoke comes out of the chimney:)