25+ Advent Calendar Ideas for Christmas | DIY & More
Looking for a special way to count down to Christmas?
Advent calendars have come a long way from the little chocolate calendars we remember as children. Today, you can make or find them in all sorts of shapes and styles — from pretty fabric pockets and tiny Christmas villages to paper bags, recycled materials, crochet, knitting, and reusable handmade designs.
Whether you want to make your own Advent calendar, buy one, or need inspiration, this collection will help you explore the possibilities and decide what works for you.
And if you’re making one, you’ll also find ideas for what to put inside — from little treats and gifts to activities, messages and meaningful Christmas traditions.
A little Easy on the Tongue Tradition
For our family, Advent calendars have always been about more than counting down the days until Christmas. They became part of our own Christmas traditions, with the anticipation of opening something each day adding a little bit of magic to December.
Over the years, I’ve come to love the idea that an Advent calendar doesn’t have to be expensive or elaborate. It can be handmade, filled with little treats, activities, messages, or simply something that gives the family a reason to pause and enjoy the season together.
This fun tradition got me thinking about just how many different ways there are to make an Advent calendar…
What is an Advent Calendar?
An Advent calendar is a Christmas countdown traditionally containing 24 numbered doors, pockets, bags or compartments. Advent calendar ideas can include reusable fabric calendars, DIY paper calendars, recycled materials, Christmas villages, handmade crochet and knitted designs, and calendars filled with gifts, treats, or activities.
25+ Beautiful Advent Calendar Ideas
The best Advent calendars aren’t necessarily the most elaborate ones — they’re the ones that become part of your family’s Christmas memories.
Here are some Advent calendar ideas to inspire you, whether you’d like to make your own or choose one to buy:
1. Fabric & Felt Advent Calendars
Fabric Advent calendars are a lovely choice if you’d like something you can bring out year after year. You can choose from individual hanging bags, rows of pockets, little stockings, or a quilted design…
- Fabric Pocket Advent Calendar – Check out the PDF pattern for the Festive House refillable advent calendar designed by TatiaCreativeStudio on Etsy. Fill it with small surprises that won’t break the bank.
- Here is another easy DIY fabric advent calendar from The Merrythought.
A reusable fabric calendar is a lovely choice if you’d like something you can bring out year after year. This is an easy and straightforward sewing project (image below).
Photo and project: The Merrythought.
- Mini Felt Stocking Advent Calendar – from A Beautiful Mess. This beautiful reusable Advent calendar from A Beautiful Mess is made with 24 handmade felt stockings, each individually decorated and numbered. Hung from a simple wooden frame, it’s designed to become a Christmas tradition that can be brought out year after year. The stockings can be filled with small treats, gifts, or Christmas activity ideas.
Photo and project: A Beautiful Mess
- Felt Christmas Tree Calendar
- Fabric Advent Bags
- Quilted Christmas Village
2. Paper & Card Advent Calendars
Paper Advent calendars are an easy and inexpensive way to create a handmade Christmas countdown. Try paper bags, envelopes, paper pockets, Christmas trees, little houses, and festive paper villages you can decorate with your older kids to suit your Christmas style. It can turn into a real Advent activity.
Paper Christmas Village
Envelope Christmas Tree
Paper Cone Advent Calendar
Numbered Paper Bags
3. Recycled & Upcycled Advent Calendars
Give everyday items a festive makeover with these creative recycled Advent calendar ideas. Toilet rolls, cardboard boxes, jars, tins, matchboxes, and other household materials turned into unique DIY Christmas countdown calendars.
This is the perfect opportunity to recycle and save on Christmas decor. Let’s look at some examples:-
Jar Advent Calendar
Toilet Roll Advent Calendar
Matchbox Advent Calendar
Tin Can Advent Calendar
Recycled Box Advent Calendar
4. Creative Displayed Advent Calendars
Your pretty Advent calendar doesn’t have to hang on a wall in a traditional row of pockets. Try hanging Advent calendars from branches, ladders, pegboards, wreaths and garlands, or create a creative Christmas display using bags, boxes or little numbered packages.
Hula Hoop Advent Calendar
Pegboard Advent Calendar
Branch & Hanging Bags
Ladder Advent Calendar
Wreath Advent Calendar
5, Crochet & Knitted Advent Calendars
For knitters and crocheters, an Advent calendar can become a special handmade Christmas project. Try crochet Advent calendar pockets, knitted Advent bags, Christmas stockings, crochet Christmas trees, gingerbread houses, and festive ornaments for a reusable countdown.
If you start early enough, you may be able to make such a special calendar for the whole family.
- Mini Striped Crochet Mittens by MJs off the Hook Designs
These adorable mini striped mittens are a fun handmade addition to a Christmas Advent calendar. They’re quick and beginner-friendly to crochet, and you can fill them with little treats or hang them from an Advent tree as festive decorations.
- Crochet Pocket Advent Calendar
- Crochet Christmas Tree Calendar
- Crochet Gingerbread House Calendar
- Knitted Advent Bags
- Crochet Ornament Advent Calendar
6. Advent Calendars for Kids
Make the countdown to Christmas extra exciting for young kids with colourful Advent calendars filled with small treats, toys, crafts, and daily activities. Reusable pockets, stockings, paper houses, and activity Advent calendars are all fun ways to build anticipation for Christmas.
Activity Advent Calendar
Each pocket contains an activity:
Make something for someone else
Make a Christmas card
Bake cookies
Decorate the tree
Make a Christmas ornament
Read a Christmas story
Watch a Christmas movie
Make paper snowflakes
Do a Christmas craft
Visit Christmas lights
7. Advent Calendars for Adults
Advent calendars aren’t just for children. Create a thoughtful Christmas countdown for adults with tea, coffee, chocolates, stationery, beauty treats, craft supplies, small gifts, inspirational messages or experiences to enjoy throughout December. I’m hoping to receive an adult advent calendar this festive season…
A Crafter’s Advent Calendar
Instead of chocolates, make a homemade advent calendar. Other adult calendars are:
Here is a list of the art supplies needed:
- mini skeins
- buttons
- stitch markers
- embroidery thread
- beads
- crochet hooks
- knitting notions
- fabric scraps
- mini patterns
- project ideas
8. Ideas Beyond Gifts Advent Calendars
Acts of Kindness Calendar
One kindness activity for every day.
Ornament-a-Day Calendar
Add one ornament to the tree every day.
Family Activity Calendar
Bake, watch a Christmas movie, make decorations, visit Christmas lights, etc.
Photo Advent Calendar
Reveal a family photograph each day.
CHRIstmas Memory Calendar
A memory, story or family tradition behind every door.
As a special gift to you, I designed free printable Christmas countdown tags. Have fun with it!
You can download the countdown tags here.
DIY Advent Calendar Ideas
- Cover match boxes with craft paper, decorate with doilies and stencil the dates on it! Stick these on a wall or piece of furniture (like a cupboard) and there you have lovely, quick and easy advent calendar – for inspiration, check out this post.
- Cut different shapes out on paper and sew 2 pieces together to form a bag. Fill with sweeties and close the gap. Add a ribbon or some bakers twine. Hang on your tree or from your window or door…..from anywhere! If you want to stick to certain colors, here is a black and white idea.…..
- Make small felt pockets (you can sew it by hand or with your machine), embellish and add numbers to it. I am sharing a very old post, but it is still lovely. Click here for the post and pattern.
- Print Christmas Elves with paper cups with the free printable by Raum Dinge.
- Make cardboard mini-houses and fill with sweeties or Christmas candy. Buy the Calender Kits here and make your own.
- Cover toilet rolls with gift wrap, ‘pretty’ it up and fill with candy.
- Embroider sachets with numbers – string it like a bunting or hang on your tree. Kerst In Bremer, a German site, offers various numbering ITH (in the hoop) embroidery designs and bag designs.
- Felt Stockings with wooden stars and stamped numbers like A Beautiful Mess did here.
- Fill envelopes with clues and hide the goody bags somewhere to create more fun.
- Fill Gift Bags with very handy everyday items and print the numbers on cardboard and attach with a clip!
Won’t have time to make your own advents, check out these lovelies:
The post contains affiliate links and will result in a commission at no extra cost to you.
Melissa & Doug Wooden Advent Calendar
Burlap Hanging Advent Calendar Garland
Paw Patrol Advent Calendar with collectibles
Wooden Gingerbread House Countdown to Christmas
Remember: Creativity has no rules. You can absolutely make what you want and how you want is. Nothing is perfect.
Michelle, I am so embarrassed because my pins are not displayed correctly at the moment. There is a glitch with my content builder and I had to share it to be fixed. Hopefully they can come to my rescue soon!
Such stunning ideas Amanda. We made our first Advent calendar this year but I wish I’d seen your lovely printables before. It would have made my life so much easier. Baie dankie, I’m pinning them for next year