10 Homemade Advent Calendar Ideas

These homemade advent calendar ideas are fun ways for kids to countdown to Christmas.

Children always get so excited about Christmas. It is hard for young children to understand how much longer they must wait until Christmas Day. Advent calendars help kids keep track of how many days they have left to wait, but they also provide an opportunity for you to turn that period of waiting into a fun time to connect with your kids.

There are many ways to use Advent calendars. You can simply count down the days to Christmas, you can give your children a small treat each day as they add another number to the calendar, you can read a few verses of the Christmas story as you anticipate celebrating Christ’s birth, or you can have a family activity planned for each day of advent and surprise your children with that day’s activity when they look on the back of that day’s number.

There are lots of ways of counting down to Christmas, but there are even more ways of making Advent calendars. You can make them from scraps of paper, leftover fabric, felt, and even old toilet paper rolls. I have collected 10 homemade Advent calendar ideas to inspire you, should you choose to make one this year instead of buying one.

10 Homemade Advent Calendar Ideas

If you have a Keurig, save your empty K-cups and make this Upcycled K-Cups Advent Calendar. A detailed tutorial is provided.

This DIY Christmas Tree Advent Calendar makes a lovely Christmas decoration as well as a countdown calendar.

If you are looking for an advent calendar that teaches the Christmas story, this Christmas Story Advent Calendar from Sweeter than Sweets is a creative one.

This Pallet Wood Advent Calendar from Kate Beavis is a great way to upcycle pallet wood.

An advent calendar garland like this Christmas Countdown Garland from The Crafting Chicks makes a great decoration as well as a calendar.

If you start saving your toilet paper rolls, you can make this awesome Toilet Paper Roll Advent Calendar from Maya Made.

Want to make a forest? Make this easy Mini Tree Advent Calendar by Oh Happy Day.

You can easily make an Advent Calendar using a Shoe Organizer. Elizabeth John Designs has a tutorial for how to create a festive countdown to Christmas using an over-the-door shoe organizer.

This Large DIY Advent Calendar with Clothespins from Thrifty Decor Chick is a Pottery Barn knock-off. She gives you directions for making it yourself for a fraction of the cost.

Do your kids love to read or do they enjoy having you read to them? Use these tips to make your own Book Advent Calendar using new or used books.