There are so many ways to countdown to Christmas! Get over 40 advent calendar ideas that you can make to decorate your home and enjoy with your kids. There are projects for both candy and non-candy gifts.
There’s a Christmas taste you never forget from your childhood – at least I haven’t. It’s a very familiar, nostalgic flavor that can only be enjoyed from a chocolate advent calendar. You know what I’m talking about, right?
Each year my family used to get them for $1 each at the grocery store, and it was an exciting time. You knew for the next 25 days you were going to get a piece of chocolate every. single. day. leading up to Christmas.
And then a big piece behind the largest door on Christmas Day. It felt amazing.
And I looked forward to it every single year, until I got old enough to stuff my face with chocolate I purchased myself around the holidays. But I never forgot about those glorious advent calendars.
The thing is, Christmas countdowns have changed greatly over the years. Not only have they evolved past candy (and now include toys, etc.) but they have also slowly meandered into the realm of Christmas crafts.
And that, my friends, is why we’re here today: I’ve got some advent calendar ideas for you!
I’ve definitely matured beyond the cheap chocolate calendars and now I like the handmade ideas. I’ve posted a few on the blog, and I’ve collected them here with several others. I want to share this list with you and see what you think.
If you’re looking to make your own advent calendar, I think you’re going to like these projects. There are a variety ranging from toilet paper rolls to paper chains to envelopes to recycled wood! No matter what type of countdown you’re looking for, you’ll find one here.
Take a peek and let me know which of these is your favorite in the comments. Happy Holidays!
1
Wood Snowman
This is a very simple DIY you can use year after year. Make this wood snowman, and rotate his nose to the dates.
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2
Big Boxes on Canvas
I wanted a calendar that would make a huge statement, so I made this one using a big canvas and paper mache boxes. Kids will love this for Christmas!
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3
Paper Chain for Kids (Easy & Cute!)
Children can assemble their own easy holiday paper chain countdown using this tutorial! This is made from construction paper, candy-free.
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4
Lindsay Eidahl
Ironing Board Christmas Countdown
Lindsay found this wood ironing board at Goodwill for $6 – and turned it into the cutest farmhouse Christmas countdown using a stencil! This is so unique.
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5
Cindy Hopper
FREE Printable Calendar with Activities
If you're looking for a fun non-candy advent calendar option, you're going to love this free printable option! You'll assemble the envelopes and add the printable activity cards to each. There are also blank Christmas printables so you can write in your own.
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6
www.adventuresofadiymom.com
Christmas Charm Tree
Countdown to the holiday by adding an adorable charm each day to a wood tree. This is such a pretty option to add to your homemade Christmas decor!
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7
Vanessa Coppola
Book a Day with Printable Tags
I love Vanessa's no-candy advent idea! She places 24 wrapped books under the Christmas tree and reads one book every night, starting on December 1st and leading up to the 25th. It’s a fun and educational way to celebrate the holidays that won’t break the bank and doesn’t involve extra sugar.
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8
Kimberly Coffin
Farmhouse Style
Advent calendars are a great visual so that kids know when Christmas is – having said that, they can also be a beautiful part of your holiday decor! Kimberly's version is so pretty and perfect for a farmhouse Christmas.
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9
Chiara Alberetti Milott
Advent Wreath
Advent calendars can also be in the form of wreaths! Each day is a bright little bonbon with a plastic container inside. Fill each little package with treats, jokes, tattoos, things to do together, etc.
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10
Christmas Countdown Chalkboard (Easy DIY!)
Mark the days to gift giving with this DIY Christmas countdown chalkboard, made with dollar store supplies! Easy, cute, and reusable year after year.
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11
hellobee.com
Felt Trees
Learn how to make this cute felt calendar covered in trees; it just requires a bit of stitching! You can place anything small inside the pockets: small wrapped candies, tiny trinkets, or even money! Mollie also has downloadable, printable strips.
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12
Brandy Nelson
Christmas Cookies
Do you like edible advent calendar ideas? Countdown the days to Christmas with a cookie advent! Cut one cookie off every day until Christmas Eve.
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13
Heidi Gustad
For the Knitters
Have you heard of a knitting calendar? Instead of the usual candy or small toy, each bag is filled with a different knitting notion. A perfect idea to adapt to any sort of crafter for Christmas!
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14
www.amotherthing.com
Adorable Toilet Paper Rolls
I've got an entire drawer of toilet paper tubes waiting for a project just like this one! This is a great way to make an advent calendar on a budget.
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15
deliacreates.com
Christmas Advent Paper Houses
If you have a cutting machine, you're going to love this advent calendar idea! Make simple paper houses using cut files (provided by Delia), with each one having their own number. The display looks great at night with LED tea lights.
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16
Stephanie Dulgarian
Magnetic Tins
I can’t get enough of this darling magnetic advent project. With a few simple supplies, you’ll have a genius countdown you'll be able to use again each year. It's pretty inexpensive to make with the free printable.
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17
trytrytry.de
Mug and Pom Pom Advents Kalender
Learn how to make a paper cup advent calendar with the addition of pom poms! While the site is in German, you'll be able to see a video of what you need to do. This reminds me of something you'd find in Whoville.
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18
5littlemonsters.com
Cute Crocheted Stockings
Not only do these little crocheted socks make a great calendar, but they'd also be cute as Christmas tree ornaments! Erica will show you how to make the basic mini stocking pattern as well as the variations she developed. So cute!
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19
hellowonderful.co
Santa Favor Boxes
The countdown to Christmas is coming! If you celebrate advent, you might be in need of a cute way to get the kids excited about counting down to their favorite holiday. These adorable Santa favor boxes are easy to make with just a printer and pair of scissors.
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20
thehousethatlarsbuilt.com
DIY Christmas Bulbs
This DIY Christmas bulb advent calendar is both functional and decorative! It’s perfect for hanging up around the house as a colorful decoration while holding treats to open each day
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21
Elsie Larson
Hand Stitched Stockings
You can machine or hand stitch each stocking in this advent calendar project! Either way, it's really easy to make – including the wood structure that it's hanging on. Get all the instructions on the blog.
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22
designertrapped.com
Chalkboard Inspired
Tasha was inspired by a Christmas countdown calendar she saw at Target. She made it her own with different colors and a different size – and it's one of my favorite advent calendar ideas in this collection!
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23
crafterward.com
Wooden Block Christmas Countdown
You know what works perfectly for a countdown? A perpetual calendar! Elle used a wood block base and a mid century modern vibe to make this cute advent calendar.
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24
www.blog.birdsparty.com
Pink & Copper
Bird used a variety of paper mache boxes, envelopes, and match boxes to create the coolest countdown ever to hang from a branch. I love the pink and copper, which adds a bit of bling to the holiday.
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25
eighteen25.com
Shoe Organizer
The girls from Eighteen25 provide three printables for you to turn a shoe organizer into a countdown – the themes are red and green, red and gold, and bright colors. Which color palette will you pick?
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26
Laura Tusken
Tiered Wooden Houses
Not only did Laura create the tiered tray for this DIY advent, but she also created each of the little houses! This advent calendar requires several steps, but the results are worth it – and you can use it again, year after year.
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27
Stephanie Dulgarian
Christmas Stocking Countdown Printable
Let the countdown officially begin with colorful stockings! This Christmas stocking advent printable is a simple way to decorate for the season! Stephanie gives you the free printable on her blog.
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28
www.paper-riot.com
Countdown to Christmas Spool Clock
An upcycled industrial spool top makes the perfect backdrop for this fun DIY Christmas countdown calendar. The kiddos will love ticking the days down – one at a time! And it’s way easier to create than one might think.
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29
Claire Armstrong
Paper Gingerbread Men
If you've never stitched kraft paper, Claire is going to expand your crafting horizons! She used a lot of leftover wrapping to make a cute advent calendar. You can shove small treats, messages, or tiny gifts inside.
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30
panduro.com
Green Advent Calendar Wreath
Choose 25 small presents to wrap – then hang them from a metal wreath in this unique calendar that doubles as decor! It was also decorated with small leaves from a boxwood garland for a little something extra.
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31
thepaintedhive.net
Chalkboard Pockets
The chalkboard pockets on this wall calendar aren't really chalkboard – Kristine gives you the free printable to make them easily! She's also got a free printable for the tags, cutting down the time it takes to make this simple and modern (and really pretty!) Christmas countdown.
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32
Brandy Nelson
Tissue Punch
Learn how to make a simple tissue punch advent calendar that is incredibly fun! Kids can break open the tissue each day to find the surprise inside each cup.
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33
Snugglebug University
Mini Stocking Advent Calendar
Jill fills her DIY advent calendar with little notes specifying some special activity for her family to do together each day. She houses these notes in the most darling mini stockings! Learn more about how she made the stockings and the wood tree for hanging in her post.
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34
designertrapped.com
Paper Mache Drawer Advent
If you want to make a personalized advent calendar for each of your children, these paper mache drawers are the way to go! Tasha shows how she customized each countdown for her girls' individual style.
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35
Tisa Jackson
Colorful Favor Bags Countdown
I love colorful advent calendar ideas like the aqua and red combination in this DIY! It takes some time to paint the muslin bags, but it's a relatively easy project, even if you've never made anything before.
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36
studiodiy.com
DIY Take-Out Boxes
This advent calendar idea is almost too easy to be considered a craft! If you can apply adhesive numbers to a container, you can create this colorful countdown.
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37
thediydreamer.com
Outdoor Christmas Countdown Marquee Sign
Every advent calendar I've ever seen was indoors – but there's no reason you can't make one part of your outdoor decor as well! Christine shows you exactly how to make this creative decor.
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38
lovecreatecelebrate.com
Rustic Chalkboard Ornaments
If you're looking for rustic advent calendar ideas, this one fits the bill! It incorporates a simple wood background with chalkboard ornaments, and you can make the entire project in less than a day.
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39
simpleasthatblog.com
Christmas Countdown Tags
Use these printable advent calendar tags to label packages in your Christmas book countdown. There are so many uses for these little tags this holiday season beyond books!
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40
Amy Weir
Colorful Drawers
Christmas isn't always about red and green. Sometimes you need to throw some bright shades of paint in there, and that's exactly what Amy did in her painted countdown.
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41
tarynwhiteaker.com
Luminary Baby Jars
There are so many ways to make an advent calendar, and these luminaries in baby food jars are such a perfect non-candy idea! You can light a candle each night (white candles are traditional for advent), or kids can turn on LED tea lights. They are so cute, and this is so inexpensive to make.
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42
Stitched By Crystal
Simple Sewing
If you're looking for a basic advent sewing project, this one is about as simple as it gets! I love that it only takes a yard of fabric, and it's easy to create for beginners.
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43
www.thinkingcloset.com
Instagram Photos
This advent calendar with Instagram photos is such a fun way to surprise your family! Pick the best moments of the year and turn around a new photo each day. Perfect for teens and tweens.
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44
ellemariehome.com
Chicken Wire and Paper
Cut out little envelopes with your cutting machine, then hang them on a chicken wire wreath to make a unique countdown that doubles as decor! All you'll need is scrapbook paper, and your cutting machine does the rest.
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45
Chelsea Johnson
Wood Slices
This farmhouse advent calendar fits right in with the rustic style and it is simple to create! You’re going to love the wood slices to countdown to Christmas.
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46
Wendy Sue
Twelve Days
Sometimes you're not looking for an entire 24 or 25 day countdown – and you just want to do 12! This is a great option. Your kids will love counting down the days and opening a small treat each day with these easy pillow boxes.
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Did you enjoy this list of DIY advent calendars? I’d love for you to check out these other posts:
- DIY Christmas Ornaments: 100+ Ideas For Your Tree!
- Christmas Wall Decor: 50 Festive DIY Projects!
- Mason Jar Christmas Crafts for Gifts and Decor
- Christmas Door Decor for Your Holiday Home