If you’re looking for a fun holiday project, a DIY advent calendar is a wonderful way to make the holidays truly magical. For your kids, opening up a little surprise each morning is pure excitement. The countdown to Christmas becomes just as special as the big day itself.
While stores are filled with ready-made calendars, creating your own adds something you can’t buy: a personal touch. You choose the treats, the colors, the surprises, and the traditions your family will remember year after year.
And your DIY advent calendar doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. It only has to be creative and made with love.
Choose What Kind of Advent Calendar You Want to Make
There are so many fun ways to create a personalized DIY advent calendar, so tailor it to your time, budget, and your child’s interests.
And don’t stress, because the surprises don’t need to be new or expensive toys. A movie night, a special activity, or even a second-hand treasure are amazing ideas that get any kid excited about their advent calendar. Even tiny items feel magical when they’re part of the countdown.
- Gift bags or boxes: Put together 24 small bags, boxes, or envelopes that your child can open each day. Fill them with tiny gifts, treats, or activity cards that you know they’ll love and appreciate.
- Hanging packages: Wrap small gifts and hang them on a string with numbered clothespins. Colorful gift bags or mini boxes make it look extra festive as part of your holiday décor.
- Wall calendar: Create a decorative display by attaching little pockets, envelopes, or bags to a poster board or bulletin board. Plus, it doubles as a cute Christmas decoration and a daily countdown.
What to Put Inside an Advent Calendar
The best part of making an advent calendar yourself is that you can fill it with things your child actually loves—and match it to their age, interests, and daily life.
Small gifts and treats
Toys: Tiny figures, small cars, puzzle pieces, or a few LEGO bricks each day that gradually build into something bigger by Christmas Eve.
Candy: Chocolate, gummies, or any favorite sweet treat—always a hit in December.
Craft supplies: Stickers, crayons, beads, or mini paint sets give kids a creative activity to enjoy throughout the month.
Activities
Instead of filling the calendar with small gifts, you can create an activity-based advent calendar with something fun to do together each day. Write each idea on a card and place it inside the bag or envelope for that date. Some activities you might include are baking cookies, watching a Christmas movie, making ornaments, going on a walk or drive to see Christmas lights, or drinking hot cocoa while reading a holiday story.
You can also turn the calendar into a daily story time tradition. Add short Christmas stories or pick a holiday storybook and read one chapter each night as you count down to Christmas Eve.
Experiences
Small experiences give kids something meaningful to look forward to, like visiting a holiday market, writing a letter to Santa, or decorating the Christmas tree. You can even make little “coupons” for time together: a family game night, building a snowman, or a day at the ice rink. For many kids, these moments become the best gifts of all. Even a simple hot cocoa night or bake-and-decorate cookies coupon feels special.
How to Put the Advent Calendar Together
Once you’ve chosen your calendar style and decided what to fill it with, it’s time to put everything together. Here’s what you’ll need for a simple, DIY advent calendar:
Materials
- Small gift bags, boxes, craft store cardstock, or envelopes
- String and clothespins (if you’re hanging the packages)
- Number stickers or a marker to label each day
- Ribbons, stickers, glitter, or other decorations to make it festive
- Small gifts, activity cards, or treats to fill the calendar
How to Do It
- Number the bags: Use stickers, tags, or a marker to label the bags or boxes from 1 to 24.
- Decorate: Add ribbons, glitter, or holiday stickers to make each package look festive. If your kids are old enough, let them help decorate. They’ll love being part of the process.
- Fill the calendar: Place a small gift, treat, or activity card inside each package. Kids love knowing there’s something different waiting each day.
- Display the calendar: Hang the packages on a string with small clothespins, or place them in a basket or tray. If you made a wall calendar, attach the bags or envelopes to a poster board or bulletin board and let it double as holiday décor.
Advent Calendars for More Than One Child
If you have multiple children, you can either make one shared calendar or matching sibling DIY advent calendars, so no one argues over whose turn it is. A shared calendar works especially well when it’s filled with family activities, like watching a Christmas movie together, decorating cookies, or having a game night. If you want to include small gifts, choose something they can enjoy together, such as a board game, a craft kit, or a toy they can play with.
Some families prefer a weekend-style calendar instead of giving a gift every day. For example, the kids only open packages on Saturdays and Sundays, and those surprises can be slightly bigger. This is a great option if you want fewer gifts to prepare or if your kids have specific wishes leading up to Christmas.
Looking for more festive inspiration? Explore our guide to creative Christmas crafts and cozy holiday activities to add to your DIY advent calendar this holiday season.
