20 creative advent calendar ideas to make at home

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Creative advent calendar ideas to make at home | Mum's grapevine

On the first day of Christmas … I made myself a stunning advent calendar.

Looking to put a spin on the traditional advent calendar this year? Well, look no further. We’ve scoured the web high and low and found stacks of ideas for creative Chrissy countdowns.

Here are 20 advent calendar ideas for you to make at home.

It’s in the bag

Advent calendar: cloth bags

Get out the ink pad! Stamp or paint little cloth bags with numbers and hang them from a hook rack. (via Flickr)

Festive paper forest

Advent calendar: paper cones

Create simple tree-like paper cones and place treats underneath. Mix up the numbers so kids can test their number recognition skills! (via Sarah Mcgaugh)

Bite-sized boxes

Advent calendar: boxes

Cover treat-filled boxes with pictures and hang them on a wall. Get the instructions here. (via Our House)

Petite parcels

Advent calendar: peg board

Glue pegs to a board and hang sweet little wrapped parcels from them. (via Tsj Photography)

Spread the love

Advent calendar: random acts of kindness

Random acts of kindness: Attach a note to each date suggesting an altruistic activity for the kids – like feeding parking meters, donating old toys to your local op shop, or bringing their teacher a coffee! (via Tsj Photography)

Merry matches

Advent calendar: matchboxes in a jar

Decorate numbered matchbooks and display them in a beautiful glass jar. (via Babble)

A rainbow of windows

Advent calendar: DIY push window calendar

There’s something deeply satisfying about pushing through that little window to get to your treat! Make your own punch-out advent calendar with this tutorial. (via Daisy Janie)

Snip, snip, Santa!

Advent calendar: snowman

A no-chocolate version that’s simple to make but surprisingly engaging for kids. Cutting stuff is fun! (via La Classe Della Maestra Valentina)

Snowmen on a string

Advent calandar: snowman garlands

For this nifty snowman garland, you’ll need some plastic capsules – the kind you get from novelty toy vending machines. Once you’ve amassed 25 of them you’re ready to start crafting! Get the tutorial here. (via Whimsy Girl)

Toilet rolls at the ready

Advent calendar: toilet rolls

Here’s what to do with all your old toilet paper rolls! Get the instructions here. (via Maya Made)

Sugar and spice and all things nice

Advent calendar: magnetic spice jars

This fridge-mounted calendar is made from magnetic spice jars. Put stickers on the front, a trinket inside, and arrange them in a Christmassy shape! Get the instructions here. (via Baby de Roach)

Recycled socks

Advent calendar: baby socks

Recycle all those cute baby socks your little ones have grown out of! Add numbered stickers, peg them to a ribbon, and put treats inside. Get the tutorial here. (via Martha Stewart)

Boxes and branches

Advent calendar: Advent tree using favour boxes

Create an ‘advent tree’ using favour boxes or small gift boxes hung from a painted branch. Get the instructions here. (via Centsational Girl)

Very festive felt

Advent calendar: DIY felt tutorial

One to keep for years to come: Make your own embroidered felt calendar with this tutorial. (via All Crafts)

Family time treasures

Advent calendar: activities

Trying to minimise sugary treats? Fill your advent calendar with family activity cards instead of lollies. If there’s anything your kids love more than chocolate, it’s time with you.

Doodle away

Advent calendar: children's drawings

An advent calendar that will cost you only a few cents (and may gain you some precious time keeping the kids busy!) Let your children draw pictures on numbered envelopes then blu-tak to the wall. (via Eclectic Chica)

Christmas clipboard

Advent calendar: clipboard

Use a clipboard and some scrapbooking stationery to make a Christmas countdown calendar. Instructions here. (via Scrap Inspired)

Roll on December!

Advent calendar: toilet paper rolls

Here’s a simpler version of the toilet paper roll calendar that kids can help out with. Get the tutorial here. (via Instructables)

Pretty paper

Advent calendar: garland

A pretty advent calendar garland made of folded, printed paper. Learn how to make it here. (via Polkadot Prints)

Squiggly line

Find more great gifts for babies:

We’ve collected a treasure trove of amazing gift ideas, from the latest baby toys from leading brands to quirky boutique finds. There’s something for every little Piper, Noah and Charlotte.

Gifts for kids are based on play and development, not gender.

Read next …

Looking for more DIY Christmas ideas? Here are just a few of our favourites:

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