How to Make an Advent Calendar

Guide Note Making an Advent calendar is a great way to count down the days until Christmas and can be used to promote family activities. Learn how to make your own Advent calendar quickly and inexpensively.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Using Matchboxes
• Using Stockings or Socks
• Using Envelopes
• Using Paper
• How to Fill Your Advent Calendar
• Other Advent Calendar Ideas
• Conclusion
• References

Advent Calendar Tips

1. Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas.
2. Advent calendars are 150 year old tradition.
3. Colorful socks can double as an Advent calendar.
4. Envelopes can make quick Advent calendars.
5. Fill your Advent calendar with activities as well as gifts.

• by Darcy Logan

Introduction

• Advent calendars are a tradition that began over 150 years ago as a way of counting down the days between the beginning of December and Christmas Day.¹

• Advent calendars can be made in a variety of ways. In this page, we focus on some of the more popular ways, which include using matchboxes, miniature stockings, envelopes and paper. This page also covers some of the different things you can use to fill your Advent calendar such as small toys, themed activities and more.

Using Matchboxes

• 

  (Creative Commons photo by Per Ola Wiberg)
  Both large and small matchboxes can be converted into Advent calendars once the matches have been removed.

1. Cover 24 matchbooks with colorful paper. On each box, poke a hole in one end and thread some waxed twine through it. Add a numbered wooden bead on it and tie it to your Christmas tree with the twine.²
   1. You can also tie the boxes to a thick piece of rickrack, braided rope or heavy velvet drapery cord.³
   2. You can also use empty film canisters.³
   3. If you don't want to buy matchboxes, you can make your own boxes out of origami paper.⁴
2. Make a small chest of drawers using 24 small matchboxes by gluing them together in three stacks of eight. Wrap a strip of paper around the sides of the stacks and attach a square paper to the back. Glue ribbon tabs onto each drawer.⁵
3. Cut large matchboxes in half. Use chipboard wrapped in colorful paper to make new sides for the boxes. Decorate and number the boxes. Boxes can then be glued into a tree shape.⁶

Using Stockings or Socks

• This Advent calendar involves using some type of stockings. While you can purchase 24 miniature Christmas stockings, you can also use colorful baby socks, kids socks, or make your own stockings out of felt.^{7 8 9}

1. Number the stockings using stickers or small tags.^{8 10}
2. Decorate the stockings, if desired, with ribbon, buttons or other objects.¹⁰
3. Hang the stockings using clothespins on a strand of yarn or ribbon.⁷

Using Envelopes

• Colorful envelopes can be used to make a very quick Advent calendar. Inside each envelope, you can include a slip of paper describing an activity or a place where you've have hidden a gift.

1. Instead of colored envelopes, you can use folded cardstock or origami paper.^{11 3}
2. You could also sew your envelopes using felt and embroidery floss.¹²
3. The envelopes can be sealed with stickers and individually numbered.¹¹
4. You can also decide not to number them and have them chosen at random.³
5. The envelopes can then be:
   1. Tied onto garland or your tree.¹¹
   2. Attached to ribbon with clothespins.¹³
   3. Kept in a colorful box.³

Using Paper

• If you don't have any envelopes, skip them and make a paper chain instead.

1. Take strips of gift wrap or colored construction paper and make a paper chain.³
2. Decorate the strips with crayons or stickers.¹⁴
3. Write an activity on the inside of each strip before constructing the chain.
4. Hang the chain in a doorway or on the wall.¹⁴
5. Remove a strip each day as Christmas approaches.

• You can also make an Advent calender using only two sheets of paper. Cut out three sides of small boxes on one piece.¹⁵ Then, place the other sheet behind it. Write down your items inside of each box.

How to Fill Your Advent Calendar (Gifts, Rewards, Activities, etc.)

• Once you have made your calendar, you may be wondering what you should use to fill up each of the spots on the calendar itself. While the most obvious idea is a gift in each spot, you can also use your Advent calendar to encourage family activities and discussions! Below you will find suggestions of things you can use. Feel free to mix and match from several categories to make your family's perfect calendar.

Activities

• 

  (Creative Commons photo by Barry Ross)
  What better way to promote Christmas than to have an Advent calendar filled with holiday-themed, family-oriented activities? Here are a few great ideas to get you started:

1. A round of your favorite board or card game.³
2. Ideas on how to make different ornaments.²
3. Going out into the neighborhood to check out Christmas lights and decorations.¹⁶
4. Baking Christmas cookies together.¹⁶
5. Check out these sites for even more activities:
   1. Kiddley: Fill your Advent with Activities
   2. a peek inside the fishbowl: Easy DIY Advent Calendar (November 26, 2007)

• Don't forget about family discussions as quick and rewarding group activities. This is especially good if you check your Advent calendar right before dinner. Some sample topics include:

1. What is everyone's favorite part of the season?¹⁴
2. Complimenting the person next to you.¹⁴

• You can also promote Christmas spirit with your activities by writing down simple activities which will remind your family to stay festive throughout the day. A few such ideas include "smiling at a stranger" or "choosing two toys/items to give to charity".¹⁴ The next day, you can discuss over dinner how each person carried out their goal.

Rewards

• Reward cards are a great item that can be used on any Advent calendar. Here are a few suggestions on rewards you can use:

1. An extra bedtime story.³
2. Relax a household rule.³
3. Eat dessert first.³
4. Get out of a chore.⁹
5. Pick a movie rental.⁹

Gifts

• Gifts for your Advent calendar can range from candy to small toys. If they are too big to fit in or on your calendar, write down where they are hidden. Examples of items that can be used include:

1. Stickers.⁶
2. 

   (Creative Commons photo by _e.t)
   Movie tickets.⁶
3. Trading or sports cards.⁹
4. Special coins (foreign currency, silver dollar or chocolate).⁹
5. Music or other gift cards.⁹
6. A game (Mad Libs, Sudoku, etc.).⁹
7. Art supplies.⁹
8. An ornament for the tree.⁹
9. Christmas-themed jokes.¹⁷
10. A handwritten note.¹⁰
11. Invitations for special events.⁶

Other Advent Calendar Ideas

• As you may have noticed by now, Advent calendars are extremely flexible fixtures for the holidays. Both their construction and the contents within are limited only by your own holiday-themed craftiness. If the above sections aren't enough, here are a few more sources for homemade Advent calendars that ought to get your creative juices flowing:
  • UKTV Homes: How to Make an Advent Calendar
  • HGTV: Bottle Cap Advent Calendar | Advent Calendar
  • FamilyFun: Advent Calendar
  • Better Homes and Gardens: Paper Advent Box    
  • MarthaStewart.com: Advent in a Box | Greeting-Card Advent Calendar
  • Splitcoaststampers: Advent Calendar
  • CRAFT: Make a Cool Advent Calendar
  • BurdaStyle.com: Make an Advent Calendar
  • Kaboose.com: Felt Tree Advent Calendar  
  • About.com: Felt Advent Christmas Tree  

Conclusion

• Now that you have your Advent calendar, you might want to learn more about Advent y checking out these Mahalo pages: What is Advent: The Meaning and History of Advent, Advent, Advent Prayers, Liturgies, Readings, Poems and Devotions, Advent Wreaths, Advent Candles, Advent Coloring Pages and Crafts and Advent Songs.

References for How to Make an Advent Calendar

1. ↑ Richard Sellmer Verlag: Advent Calendars - The History of a Christmas Tradition
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Craftlog: Matchbox Advent Calendar
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9} so you wannabee a Domestik Goddess?: 3 Quick and Easy Advent Calendar Ideas (November 27, 2006)
4. ↑ HGTV: Paper Matchbox Slide Box
5. ↑ MarthaStewart.com: M is For Matchbox Advent Calendar
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3} Better Homes and Gardens: Matchbox Advent Box    
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} MarthaStewart.com: Baby Sock Advent Calendar
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} MarthaStewart.com: Mini Stockings
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8} FamilyFun: A Stocking Countdown Calendar
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2} HGTV: Baby Sock Clothesline Advent Calendar  
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2} FamilyFun: Christmas Countdown Garland
12. ↑ allsorts: Before You Know It... (November 6, 2007)
13. ↑ a peek inside the fishbowl: Easy DIY Advent Calendar (November 26, 2007)
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4} BabyZone: Counting Down to Christmas with Kids
15. ↑ About.com: Advent Calendar Template for Rubber Stamping  
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1} EverythingChristmas.com: Making an Advent Calendar
17. ↑ Magpie & Cake: 3D Joke Tree Advent Calendar (December 1, 2006)