Celebrate Christmas by Making Your Own Advent Calendar

I look forward to celebrating Christmas with my family each year and I’m always looking for new ways to get our hearts ready for the special day. One of the ways we do this by using an Advent calendar to help us count down.

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Unfortunately our beloved Advent calendar was ruined in storage recently and we found ourselves needing a new one. We ended up going with this calendar kit because we’ll be traveling for part of the Advent season, but I can’t wait to get back to using a calendar that’s closer to what we’ve used in the past.

That’s why I’m excited to have my friend Kristi from Savvy Schooling sharing the following ideas for anticipating Christmas by creating your own Advent calendar. Grab some coffee and enjoy:

Celebrating the Christmas Season
by Creating Your Own Advent Calendar

I love Christmas and the Advent season. Counting down the days to Christmas with an Advent calendar has always been one of my favorite ways to celebrate the season.

As a young girl, I remember my mom purchasing chocolate Advent calendars for my brother and I…you know, the ones that had a piece of chocolate behind each numbered door?

We also had this awesome Christmas tree puzzle advent calendar, which I now share with my own little family, and I still look forward to putting it together.

When I became a parent myself, I wanted to make sure that celebrating Advent was a special time for my children too. Not just because we were counting down the days to Christmas day (and presents) but because of how important it is to remember, cherish, and celebrate the coming of our Savior, Jesus, to earth. For without his birth, we could never have the joy and salvation that comes from his death and resurrection!

What really got me excited about Advent calendars in particular was a gift from my son’s godmother. She made him an incredible one and it is my absolute FAVORITE ever! It is such a beautiful, hands-on reminder of the story of Jesus’ birth.

My son can’t wait to open each drawer and take out what’s inside.

This present got me thinking about how much fun it could be to make our own Advent calendar and, after a little bit of research, I discovered there are so many DIY ideas out there!

Do It Yourself Advent Calendar Ideas

If you’re looking to make your own Advent calendar this year, here is a list of all sorts of different ones you can create, starting with the awesome one my son received.

If you’re not feeling up to gathering all the objects for my favorite calendar, here are some others to consider: 

• The first is a card-based Advent calendar from One Dog Woof that draws inspiration from it.
• For a more activity-based calendar, try these Advent Activity Cards from Learning Mama.
• The readers (and those that enjoy being read to) in your family will love this book-based Advent calendar from Mama Teaches with suggestions for a different book to read as you count down each day.
• Focus on the Family has a Build-Your-Own Nativity Advent calendar that combines a nativity scene with the advent celebration. You can find another one like this from The Unlikely Homeschool.
• Try this Paper Sack & Clothespin Advent Calendar from Simply Kierste Design Co.
• For a yummy treat, countdown to Christmas with this Advent calendar using Christmas cookies from Geek Families.
• For a winter theme, make this cute Mitten Advent Calendar from My Suburban Kitchen.

More Advent Calendar Ideas

Here are some other compilations of different Advent calendars to create. Keep in mind there may be some repeats but each has its own unique ideas too:

• 50 Advent Calendar Countdown Activity Ideas from The Unlikely Homeschool
• 25 Homemade Advent Calendars from Frugal Coupon Living
• 33 Clever And Adorable DIY Advent Calendars from Peggy at BuzzFeed
• 33 DIY Advent Calendars from Country Living Magazine
• Advent Calendar Ideas Pinterest Board from Abbey Allman
• This article from The Spruce has a number of Advent calendar ideas (plus other Christmas activities)

And finally, if you just can’t squeeze in the time to make your own Advent calendar, never fear! Try one of these Christ-centered Advent ideas here on Table Life Blog or these suggestions from Faith Filled Parenting.

I know there are a lot of suggestions here but don’t be overwhelmed! If you want to add an Advent calendar to your Christmas celebration, look through these ideas but choose only 1 or 2 to try this year. Some families like to change up what they do every Christmas and some like to stick with the same traditions year after year. There is no right or wrong way to count down to Christmas…it’s all up to you!

I would love to know your favorite ways to celebrate Advent and count down the days to Christmas! Let me know in the comments below!

Merry Christmas!!!

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