When I was growing up, our Advent calendar consisted of strips of red and green construction paper that we cut and taped together to make a numbered chain. As the chain got shorter, we got more and more excited that Christmas was getting closer! I haven’t made a construction paper chain in MANY years but I have created a few of these Advent calendar ideas for my family.
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11 Easy Advent Calendar Ideas
Vintage Frame Advent Calendar
There are many things that you can include in your DIY Advent calendar — chocolate or other candy, toys, ornaments, handwritten notes, stickers, or other little goodies. But I’ve always liked the idea of using Scriptures that talk about the true meaning of Christmas.
This vintage frame Advent calendar was about as easy as they come… and the post includes a free printable of the Scriptures I used so you can cut them out and use them in your own Advent calendar.
Matchbox Advent Calendar
This matchbox Advent calendar was the first project I ever had published in a magazine! (You can read more about that in that blog post.)
This Advent calendar took a long time to make but it was easy and I used up a LOT of my little scraps of Christmas paper and ephemera that I had saved.
Use your imagination for this one!
Rustic Wood Christmas Tree Advent Calendar
This wooden Christmas tree Advent calendar also comes with a printable. You can print these numbers and then write on the back. Write Advent related Scriptures from the first post above OR write a different activity for your family to do every day.
Christmas Book Advent Calendar
This Advent calendar is a little different. I’ve listed 24 of our favorite children’s Christmas books and where to find them online. I still think it would be great fun to wrap each one with a number and open one every night before bedtime.
(Let me know if you have other Christmas books that you like.)
Jeans Pocket Advent Calendar
Claire makes the cutest stuff out of old blue jeans! This is on my “to do” list… I almost have enough jeans already.
Big Box Advent Calendar
Here’s another Advent calendar where you can use your imagination. Save all your small to medium size boxes and decorate them with all those leftover Christmas craft supplies.
Magnetic Advent Calendar
And here’s the same idea, except with magnets!
Double Sided Advent Calendar
This is another that’s on my “to make” list… maybe next year. I might even use this Christmas countdown stencil.
More Advent Calendar Ideas:
- Free Printable Vintage Style Envelope Advent Calendar
- Shoe Organizer Advent Calendar
- Paper Cup Advent Calendar
Thanks for reading! Don’t forget to leave a comment and let me know about your Christmas Advent calendar.
‘Til the next project,
Ann @ Duct Tape and Denim
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