22 Creative Christmas Countdowns You Can Make
Advent calendars are a fun way for kids to count down the 25 days leading up to Christmas. Check out these festive and unique handmade Advent calendars you can create just in time to open the very first gift.

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Photo By: Flynnside Out Productions
Photo By: Flynnside Out Productions
Photo By: Made by Carli
Photo By: Melissa Caughey
Photo By: Brian Patrick Flynn, FlynnsideOut
Photo By: Karen Kavett
Photo By: Debbie Wolfe
©Jessica Peterson
Sweater Chic
Upcycle cozy, old sweaters into mini mittens to make this adorable and charming Advent calendar.
GET THE HOW-TO: Turn Old Sweaters Into an Adorable Advent Calendar
Gift-Wrap Magic
Transform discarded wrapping paper tubes into a colorful, tree-shaped Advent calendar the kids will love.
GET THE HOW-TO: Make a Tree-Shaped Cardboard Tube Advent Calendar
Yard Takeover
Drum up some neighborhood chatter with this oversized Advent calendar made from a ladder.
GET THE HOW-TO: Make a Giant Advent Calendar With a Ladder
Chalk It Up
Layered against the backdrop of an arched black mirror, a DIY chalkboard Christmas countdown makes a chic holiday decoration on this foyer table. To make your own, use a straight edge to create a grid, then follow our hand-lettering tips below to sketch out the words on top. Design by blogger Made by Carli.
Upcycled Chic
Got lots of old, patterned dress shirts on your hands? Put them to good use! Copy designer Casey Noble and turn them into a chic Advent calendar garland that can be used year after year.
GET THE HOW-TO: Upcycle Men's Shirts Into an Advent Calendar Garland
Takeout Goodies
This Advent calendar made from takeout food containers is a clever way to get your kids to count down to Christmas. Blogger Layla Palmer made the standard white boxes more jolly with construction paper and stickers.
GET THE HOW-TO: Make Your Own Takeout Box Advent Calendar
Traditional Countdown
This holiday advent calendar by Marian Parsons is full of traditional charm and vintage style, keeping the Christmas anticipation alive for both kids and adults.
GET THE HOW-TO: How to Make a Vintage Garland Advent Calendar
Frame Job
A frame, cork board, holiday cards and ribbon are all you need to make a cute calendar like this one by designer Brian Patrick Flynn. Just add five rows of five cards to the cork board with push pins and mark each card with the numbered days.
SEE MORE: 16 Festive Holiday Entryway Ideas
Scandinavian-Inspired Advent Village
Advent calendars have been in use since the early 19th century. Starting as a German tradition, they typically share a scene, a biblical verse or a piece of chocolate. This year, honor that tradition by crafting an Advent calendar that resembles a quaint Scandinavian village. All you need is scrapbook paper and some basic craft supplies.
Giant Wall Calendar
The wire shelves in this home office are usually filled with books and plants, except at Christmastime when they get transformed into a giant Advent calendar made of numbered gift boxes, with a treat in each one. You can recreate this idea at home by clearing off a bookshelf or storage cube to make room for pretty Advent-style gifts.
Rustic Holiday Surprise
Wood Advent houses like this one can be found online and in retail shops everywhere during the holiday season. We love that this pretty piece doubles as a cute Christmas countdown and farmhouse decor for your mantel, countertop or dining table. Little bits of unexpected greenery tucked into each drawer help to create a more beautiful mantle as the holiday approaches.
Merry Mittens
Add a sweet and colorful touch to any holiday mantel with a festive mitten advent calendar garland. Layla Palmer used a variety of toddler-sized mittens in traditional Christmas hues and printed out 24 numbers small enough to tuck into each mitten. To add extra holiday cheer, she added a sweet sentiment below each number.
GET THE HOW-TO: How to Make a Mitten Garland Advent Calendar
Wreath That Keeps on Giving
Transform a wire wreath form into a cute, interactive Advent calendar the kids will flock to.
GET THE HOW-TO: The Cheeriest Christmas Advent Calendar
Can It
Recycled tin cans create a one-of-a-kind Advent calendar in this example by blogger Cindy Hopper. Fill each date with a toy, candy or an idea for family fun.
GET THE HOW-TO: How to Make a Tin Can Advent Calendar
Repurposed Holidays
HGTV fan Cathe Holden reused vintage thread spools to create a one-of-a-kind holiday advent calendar in her home. On each spool she added a numbered wrap with a special note or a clue to a hidden gift. Cathe, a passionate crafter and designer, displayed her Christmas countdown on a vintage, modified spool holder. Cathe also suggests creating individual, numbered spool ornaments for the tree, or stringing the entire set together to create an advent calendar garland.
Paper Forest
Countdown the days until Christmas and create an interactive winter wonderland with this festive Advent calendar centerpiece. The best part? You don't need any special supplies to craft these cute paper trees.
GET THE HOW-TO: DIY Paper Christmas Tree Forest Advent Calendar
Sew Cute Patchwork Calendar
Break out the sewing machine and dig into your scrap fabric stash to make this sweet holiday keepsake your family can enjoy year after year.
No-Sew Bags
Nothing creates Christmas anticipation like counting down the days with an Advent calendar. Make large treat bags for each of the 24 days, then string them up together and start counting down.