We love making DIY Advent Calendar Ideas – whether you are making them WITH the kids or FOR the kids, a homemade advent calendar makes a great family keepsake! This is part of our extensive list of fabulous Christmas Crafts for Kids.
DIY Advent Calendar Ideas
We are hurtling towards the most magical season of the year: Christmas.
Explore these Advent Calendar Ideas to see how you can make the big “count down” to Christmas special. Remember, advent calendars do NOT have to be about chocolate and toys and gifts… but I love some of the ideas discussed in this video (below) – from decorating windows and branches to filling your advent with activity ideas.
In the advent calendar ideas video we of course also discuss how to make your own calendars – from knitted, to newspaper, to loo rolls… lots of ideas – something for everyone!
Also, we have a post from a couple of years ago, where 24 bloggers each share an activity for every day of the advent season. Let yourself be inspired by their Advent Activity Ideas and pop notes into your calendar! Also, we share our own Family Advent Traditions (that go beyond “just” the calendar). Have you got traditions typically to YOUR family?
Advent Calendar Ideas
Many of these ideas are shared in the video linked below.. but in the meantime..
Paper cup Advent Calendar – this one is super easy to set up and there is plenty of space for small gifts!
Similarly Little Bags in a Basket can be used in different ways – hang on some twigs, hang as a garland etc. One simple “craft”, with 4 ways to display!
Best memory maker – the Photo Advent Calendar! I love this advent calendar ideas, as it is all about making memories with the kids. A wonderful way to “force” yourself to print off some photos from the year gone by and also remember the best bits! The kids adore this one!
How cute is this Stocking Crochet Pattern? Make 24, either in different colours or all in red.. and you have the most adorable little advent calendar to keep!
Printable Countdown Snowman – one printable, lots of ways to use it – from Bookmark to greeting card!
Another photo based advent calendar idea, is this Artwork Advent combining photos from the year with your children’s artwork. We gave this one to Granny as a gift and she LOVED it!
These Felt Stars (video 3min 40sec) are from my Red Ted Art, Cute and Easy Crafts for Kids book! Hope you like them!
Toilet Paper Fairy Houses – these are a great craft to involve the kids. Make 24.. add numbers and you have yourself an Advent Calendar display!
Here are more Advent Calendar Ideas from around the web!
Book Bairn has a lovely book advent calender idea.. this is a great one for little ones when still building a picture book library. Go to a school fair and stock up on second hand books!
Here is a handy Free Printable Calendar from Living Locurto. Nice and easy and looks great!
Tinkerlab has some simple homemade envelopes (+activity ideas) that the kids helped make.
Check out this super sweet paper doll advent calendar (+ activity list) from The Artful Parent.
The Artful Parent also has a wonderfully arty Christmas Tree Calendar.
Kirsty Wiseman shares this wonderful Peg Calendar.
I have always adored this Advent Calendar from se7en , as it reminds it isn’t about “things”, but about just looking forward to the day and seeing the decorations being revealed.
The Madhouse shares adorable little Advent Calendar Boots (+activity ideas).
I love the simplicity and yet festiveness of this Advent Calendar Tree from The Imagination Tree.
Similarly, The Imagination Tree’s simple but effective felt pocket calendar.
And just one more…. this gorgeous TP Roll Advent Calendar via Fun Crafts Kids!
Me and My Shadow shows the “classic” matchbox calendar – decorate and “throw” into a vase and done! (10min 34sec)
Me and My Shadow also has some super cute upcycled “mittens” hanging from a stick. I love that they make looking for the stick an annual tradition.
Kids Chaos shares sweety paper bags and simply decorated pegs (including free printable!!) which is great for older boys!
30. And finally.. we have a fab Count Down Printable for you to check out!
More lovely Christmas Craft Ideas here:
You can watch our interactive Advent Calendar Hangout on YouTube too:
Ali says
fabulous collection…!!
Red Ted Art says
Indeed! We had SO many!!!
se7en says
Thank you so much for popping our banner calendar up!!! So appreciate your work and all the shout outs!!! Have a fabulous week…
Red Ted Art says
Always a pleasure!!
Pinkoddy says
What fantastic ideas. Peg one would be great for helping develop my son’s fine motor skills too
Rachelle says
What a fantastic collection of ideas, Maggy!
Jeanette Nyberg says
It’s so nice to have these all in one place to peruse through! Great roundup!
Alex says
What a fantastic ideas…We will definitely try one of those this Christmas.
jenny paulin says
wow so many great ideas – i really need to crack on and get my thinking cap on tby next weekend, have pinned and tweeted x
lavinia says
Maggy thought you might be flattered to know that your art book was the first art reference book to be stolen from our craft café!! I on the other hand am gutted 🙁
Red Ted Art says
Oh no!! That is so mean! Where do you live?