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Home » Christmas » Make Your Own Advent Calendar.

Make Your Own Advent Calendar.

Dec 2, 2011 · Modified: Oct 18, 2017 by Kelly Roenicke · 23 Comments

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homemade advent calendar with boxes

A simple tutorial for how to make your own advent calendar. This handmade calendar is sure to be enjoyed for many holiday seasons!

make your own advent calendar

Happy December! We made an Advent Calendar this year, in my favorite color scheme, aqua + red.  I had been admiring all the advent calendars on Etsy, but I didn’t want to spend a ton of money, and I thought it would be fun to make one myself.

I used 2 ½″x1 ½″ Kraft paper jewelry boxes that I had on hand, and decorated them with washi tape and red sticker letters and numbers.  This is where I got the cardboard boxes. They come in a case of 100. If you don’t need that many, you may be able to find them at a craft store individually.

Update: Of course Amazon sells them, too! I have all the links at the end.

how to make an advent calendar with boxes

To make your own advent calendar, you’ll need large wooden letters to spell JOY, paint, hobby wood, and the cardboard boxes.  It was pretty simple, it just took awhile to decorate each individual box.

Step by step instructions to make your own advent calendar:

  1. Paint a piece of craft wood your desired color. The piece I used was 10″ x 20″.
  2. Paint wooden letters your desired color. You could choose to spell JOY, or HOPE, or MERRY. Let dry, then hot glue them to the top of the board. You can also affix decorations near the letters – I used felt snowflakes.
  3. Gather the cardboard boxes, and use stickers and washi tape to decorate. Hot glue the finished boxes to the painted board. (I used 25, and include a special note to open on Christmas morning. You could use 24 if you wish).
  4. Fill the boxes with candy or little toys, notes, or stickers. You can also make your own allergy friendly candy if you are dealing with food allergies.

aqua and red handmade advent calendar

Done!  Since I had the boxes already, it was relatively inexpensive.  I’ve used this calendar in a few different ways since making it. The first year, I simply filled the boxes with stickers, chocolate and tiny toys.

paperbackfront-copy

The next year we did Truth in the Tinsel (affiliate link), so I did it a little differently.

Truth in the Tinsel is a Advent daily craft activity for kids and parents to do together.

For each day there is a word that relates to the Advent story, like “light,” or “star” and then a corresponding Bible passage to read and an ornament to make. When we did Truth in the Tinsel, I hid a piece of candy and the word printed out on a small scrap of paper in each box. My sons LOVE Truth in the Tinsel and I can’t say enough good things about it!

The ornaments are super cute and really help reinforce the details of the Christmas story in little one’s minds.

affiliate

Kraft Jewelry Boxes

Holiday Washi Tape

Glue Gun

Felt Snowflakes

Red Letter Stickers

Silicone Candy Molds

Related

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Filed Under: Christmas, Crafts, holiday

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Kelly Roenicke
Kelly Roenicke
Mom to two boys with food allergies and sensitivities, Kelly is passionate about allergy friendly cooking and baking. She believes that you can enjoy amazing, easy recipes even when cooking for multiple food allergies.
Kelly Roenicke
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. tricia

    September 14, 2014 at 8:16 am

    Did lids fall off when hung?

    Reply
  2. Angie@Echoes of Laughter

    December 03, 2011 at 8:28 pm

    What a pretty calendar! You did an amazing job! Angie xo

    Reply
  3. Kellie @ My So Called Green Life

    December 03, 2011 at 12:01 pm

    Such a cute idea. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  4. Pam

    December 03, 2011 at 9:43 am

    Me too! I just finished mine last night. I like yours so so much! (I used match boxes) TFS

    Reply
  5. Crafty Mischief

    December 03, 2011 at 12:28 am

    Your advent is so cute! I found you through TT&J. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  6. aPearantly sew

    December 03, 2011 at 12:05 am

    It turned out so cute! I love it, and the colors are great!

    Reply
  7. Angie

    December 02, 2011 at 11:13 pm

    I have never done an advent calender and would love to make one.. maybe next yr! Thanks for sharing! I am now following!

    I found you on TT&J! I would love for you come by and join me by linking this up at my new “Create and Inspire” linky party! ;)

    http://www.littleinspiration.com/2011/12/create-and-inspire-linky-party.html

    Thanks,
    Angie from A Little Inspiration

    Reply
  8. Meeling

    December 02, 2011 at 7:06 pm

    Love it!! Super cute Kelly!

    Reply
  9. Mallorie Owens

    December 02, 2011 at 4:26 pm

    Cute! Never thought to make my own advent…love this :)

    Reply
  10. Eva Scott

    December 02, 2011 at 2:18 pm

    So simple and pretty!!

    Reply
  11. Toaster4JC

    December 02, 2011 at 1:41 pm

    That is totally adorable!!! I’ll probably do an advent calendar next year for our little one :).

    Reply
  12. Sara

    December 02, 2011 at 1:01 pm

    So darling!! Would LOVE it if you would link this up at my turquoise lovin’ party! (and red during the holidays) http://www.sweetlittlegals.com/2011/11/turquoise-lovin-15.html

    Reply
  13. Faith

    December 02, 2011 at 12:53 pm

    So fun! I’ve never done an advent calendar before, but I’d like to next year.

    Reply
Newer Comments »

Trackbacks

  1. 20 DIY Advent Calendars To Make The Countdown To Christmas Extra Special | Prepper's Survival Homestead says:
    November 6, 2015 at 9:13 am

    […] Jewelry Box Advent Calendar – The calendar uses little paper jewelry boxes to hide all the treats! Decorate them with washi tape and stickers to make them seasonal! […]

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  2. 20 DIY Advent Calendars To Make The Countdown To Christmas Extra Special says:
    November 6, 2015 at 8:48 am

    […] Jewelry Box Advent Calendar – The calendar uses little paper jewelry boxes to hide all the treats! Decorate them with washi tape and stickers to make them seasonal! […]

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  3. 20 Advent Calendar Ideas says:
    November 5, 2014 at 9:06 pm

    […] This cute little box advent looks easy enough- get the directions from the Pretty Bee. […]

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  4. Goedkope DIY kerstdecoraties - Like & Love (it!) says:
    November 4, 2014 at 11:58 am

    […] Deze op-en-top kerst adventskalender maak je eenvoudig met rood/witte decoratiematerialen (masking tape bijvoorbeeld) en kleine doosjes. […]

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  5. DIY Christmas Advent Calendar Ideas says:
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    […] Advent calendar tutorial here. […]

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    […] It’s December 1st! Are your advent calendars ready? Is your Christmas music playing? Ready to start some holiday […]

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