Making your own advent calendar is one of my favorite ways to kick off the Christmas season. A DIY advent calendar can hold a treat, a tiny gift or a little note, and it gives you something to look forward to every morning.
Here are 30 homemade advent calendar ideas, grouped by style so you can jump to the one that suits your space. I’ve marked each one as simple or more skill, so you’ll know what you’re getting into before you start.
Garland Advent Calendars
Garlands are the easiest place to start with a DIY advent calendar. You hang them, fill them and you’re done.
1. Christmas Cracker Garland
I love a tall string of paper crackers with a number on each one. You can use any colors you like, and gold and green look really pretty together.
Fill each cracker with a small gift and open one each day. This one is simple to make.
Paper crackers are light, so almost any hook will hold the whole string.
2. Envelope Garland
Consider a garland of envelopes on twine, each held up with a mini clothespin. Every envelope can have a different design, and you can mix paper ones with fabric ones.
Slip a treat or a note inside each one and open one per day. It’s a simple project.
Scraps from other crafts work well here, since the envelopes don’t have to match.
3. Hanging Envelope Advent Calendar
Think about a DIY advent calendar made from strings of kraft paper envelopes hanging in a triangle shape. They’re topped with greenery, dried orange slices and pom-poms.
Slip a note or treat in each envelope and open one each day. It’s a simple build.
I’d add the greenery and orange slices last, so they don’t get squashed while you hang the strings.
4. Pouch Garland
I really like small numbered pouches hung on a string with mini clothespins. Soft pastels with gold numbers are one pretty option.
Put a small gift in each pouch and open one every day. This one is simple too.
Because the clothespins do the holding, you can unclip the pouches and refill them whenever you need to.
5. Felt Christmas Bulb Garland
A lot of people choose felt Christmas bulbs on a string for a colorful homemade advent calendar. Each bulb has its own number.
Each bulb is a small pocket, so you can slip in a note or sweet and open one each day. This one takes more skill, since you’re cutting and sewing felt.
Felt is sturdy, so it’s a good one to keep and use again.
6. Toilet Paper Roll Crackers
One thing I suggest if you like upcycling is paper roll crackers. Cardboard tubes, such as old toilet paper rolls, are wrapped in paper, tied with ribbon and hung on a string.
Fill each tube with a treat and pull one down each day. It’s a simple project.
Start saving the rolls early, since you’ll need quite a few.
Box & Cup Advent Calendars
These ideas use boxes, cups and tags, so every day’s gift sits right there waiting to be opened.
7. Takeout Box Advent Calendar
Colorful takeout boxes stacked in a bright block, each with a white number, make a fun DIY advent calendar for a table or shelf.
Fill each box with a treat and open one each day. It’s a simple one to put together.
I’d mix up the box colors and keep the numbers white, so they’re easy to spot in the stack.
8. Cupcake Cup Advent Calendar
Here’s a cute one. Striped cupcake cups are filled with treats and topped with pink napkins and a sprig of greenery, and each cup has a chicken-shaped number tag.
Hide a small gift in each cup and open one each day. This one is simple to make.
The napkins cover the treats, so there’s still a little surprise when you lift one.
9. Star Box Garland
I love kraft paper star boxes hanging at different heights from red-and-white twine.
Put a small treat in each star and take one down each day. This one takes more skill, because you have to fold the star shapes.
Fold one test star before you make the whole set, so you know you’ve got the shape right.
10. Advent Wreath with Boxes
You could also make a wreath from small kraft boxes joined together in a circle, finished with a plaid bow. Hang it on the door and it’s the first thing people see.
Each numbered box holds a treat, and you open one each day. This takes more skill, since you’re building the boxes and joining them.
Join the boxes first and add the bow last, so you can check the shape before it goes up.
11. Reindeer Advent Calendar
Another option is a snowy scene with small reindeer figures and mini trees. Each reindeer is tied with twine to a numbered kraft tag.
Tuck a small surprise under each tag. Each day, find the next reindeer and lift its tag. It’s a simple setup.
Hunting for the next reindeer makes it feel like a little game.
Christmas Tree Advent Calendars
A tree is the classic shape for a homemade advent calendar, and these four build one in very different ways.
12. Matchbox Advent Calendar
I really like matchboxes arranged in a tree shape, each with a number. You can decorate them however you like, for example with gold paint, leaf drawings and small stars.
Each drawer holds a tiny gift, and you slide one open each day. This one takes more skill, since you’re decorating and arranging a lot of boxes.
Decorate the boxes before you arrange them. They’re much easier to handle that way.
13. Cardboard Tube Advent
Think about cardboard tubes stacked into a tree shape, with each end covered by a numbered paper circle. Any colors or patterns work.
Put a small treat inside each tube and pop off one circle each day. It’s a simple project and a great way to upcycle.
Use papers you already have around the house, and it costs almost nothing.
14. Advent Tree with Triangle Boxes
A triangle tree silhouette frame holds small triangle boxes that fit right inside it. Each box is covered in patterned paper and numbered.
Hide a small surprise in each one and open one each day. This takes more skill, since you’re cutting and fitting lots of small pieces.
I’d make one test box first to check that it fits the frame.
15. Wooden Drawer Advent Calendar
I love a wooden tree covered in small patterned paper squares, where each one is a tiny drawer with a knob.
Each little drawer holds a hidden treat, and you pull one open each day. This takes more skill, since you’re building the drawers and decorating them.
The small knobs are the detail people notice first, so pick ones you really like.
House & Door Advent Calendars
Houses and doors give a DIY advent calendar a cozy, storybook feel, and a few of them are great for getting kids involved.
16. 3D Paper House Advent Calendar
This one is great for families. Little houses made from regular paper hang at different heights, and you start with a patterned paper.
Let the kids paint or draw their own designs, then fill each house with a small gift and open one each day. It’s a simple project and kid-friendly, but it takes time.
Decorate a few houses at a time, so it doesn’t turn into one long craft day.
17. Gingerbread House Advent Calendar
Small kraft paper houses printed with white icing designs look just like little gingerbread houses. They hang together on twine with fairy lights.
Fill each little house with a treat and take one down each day. This one is simple, since you can buy ready-made boxes or fold your own.
The fairy lights make it a pretty one to hang in a window.
18. Lift-the-Flap Advent House
Consider a flat paper house with a door that opens and a small tree on each side. Inside are numbered paper flaps.
Each flap opens to a message, photo or image, and you open one each day. This takes more skill, since you’re cutting, folding and painting or drawing the details.
Nothing edible goes inside, so it’s a nice choice if you’d rather skip the candy.
19. Cardboard House Advent Calendar
A tall house made from recycled cardboard, painted and decorated by hand, with a small wreath on the door. Each window opens.
Number each window and tuck a small gift behind it, then open one each day. This takes more skill, since you’re building the box and painting the windows.
A tall house like this makes a lovely centerpiece, so give it a spot on a sideboard or shelf.
20. Patchwork House Advent Calendar
One thing I suggest if you sew is a patchwork cloth house with a pocket for every day. The patchwork gives it a cozy, handmade look.
Tuck a gift in each pocket and take one out each day. This one takes more skill, since there’s sewing involved.
You can reuse it every year, so this homemade advent calendar is worth taking your time on.
21. Wooden Door Advent Calendar
Little wooden tags painted like colorful doors, with tiny wreaths, gold knobs and deer figures, are such a sweet idea.
Hang the doors on hooks, then open or take down one door each day to find a treat or note. This takes more skill, because of the painting and small details.
Take your time with the wreaths and knobs. They’re what make each door look different.
Wall Hanging Advent Calendars
Fabric and felt calendars are the ones you can pack away and bring out again every December.
22. Cloth Bag Advent Calendar
White cloth pouches with big black numbers, hung on pegs and decorated with ornaments, ribbons and tassels, look really pretty on a wall.
Fill each pouch with a gift and take one down each day. This one is simple to make.
Big black numbers on white are easy to read from across the room.
23. Pocket Advent Calendar
Think about a mustard fabric wall banner with pockets sized for medium packages. Greenery and lights go on top to finish it.
Fill the pockets with numbered kraft bags, with a gift in each bag, and open one each day. This takes more skill, since you’re sewing the pockets.
Check your gift sizes before you sew, so every bag fits.
24. Mini Stocking Advent Calendar
A lot of people choose mini colorful felt stockings with glittery numbers, hung on a pegboard.
Fill each stocking with a small treat and take one down each day. This one takes more skill, since you’re cutting and sewing felt.
The glittery numbers make it easy to spot the next one.
25. Felt Advent Calendar
Consider a hanging frame made of wood dowels, holding little fabric squares with felt scenes, stars, snow globes and a nativity.
Each square hides a small gift or treat behind it. Lift or take down one square each day. It takes more skill, with all the sewing and felt details.
Plus, you can reuse it every year, so the extra work pays off.
26. Advent Banner with Flaps
Something else to think about is a banner with a tree and numbered flaps made of paper, fabric or felt. A colorful fringe curtain behind it adds a fun touch.
Hide a small surprise behind each flap and lift one each day. This takes more skill, since you’re layering and gluing the details.
Mixing paper, fabric and felt gives it extra texture.
27. Gift Box Wall Advent Calendar
You could also group gift-shaped panels in bright colors with gold ribbon on the wall. They’re symbolic, so the real gifts can sit nearby if they’re too heavy to hang.
Number each panel and match it to a small gift, note or voucher, then open one each day. It’s a simple project.
This works well for bigger gifts that would never fit in a pocket.
Advent Calendars with Notes & Activities
Not every advent calendar needs candy. These last three are all about notes, activities and little acts of kindness.
28. Activity Advent Calendar
A green tree painted on wood, with mini folded notes held by gold clips, is a lovely way to count down together.
Each note shows a daily activity and a photo, and you unfold the next one each morning. This one is simple to make.
Plan the activities ahead of time, so you can match them to your December schedule.
29. Kindness Advent Calendar
Think about kraft cards that each have a kind task on them, such as “Give someone a compliment.”
Read a new card each day and do the kind act. It’s a simple idea.
Write the cards in advance and keep the tasks short, so they fit into a busy day.
30. Santa Mailbox Advent Calendar
I really like a pink mailbox decorated with Christmas art, with numbered envelopes inside and around it.
Slip a note or treat in each envelope and open one each day. Kids can mail letters to Santa in the slot too. This takes more skill, since you’re building and decorating the box.
Start this DIY advent calendar early, so you have plenty of time to decorate the mailbox before December.
My Amazon Picks
Need supplies? On my Amazon page you’ll find the materials for these projects, plus very similar options to the ones listed in this post, so you can pick up what you need in one place.
Wrapping It Up
That’s my full list of DIY advent calendar ideas, from quick garlands to felt wall hangings. Pick the one that fits your time and your skills, and start filling it.
Which one are you making first? Let me know in the comments.
If you’re in a crafting mood, this post is a good next stop:
- 40 Christmas Crafts That Will Make Your Holiday Decor Actually Special for more handmade projects to fill the rest of the house
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