14 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.
By:
Kayla Kitts
Gift-Wrap Magic
Transform discarded wrapping paper tubes into a colorful, tree-shaped Advent calendar the kids will love. Get the how-to.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
Sweater Chic
Upcycle cozy, old sweaters into mini mittens to make this adorable and charming Advent calendar. Get the how-to.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
Yard Takeover
Drum up some neighborhood chatter with this oversized Advent calendar made from a ladder. Get the how-to.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
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.
Ornamental Additions
This advent calendar idea is simple and perfect for last-minute crafters. Blogger Melaine Thompson stenciled 24 numbers onto manila shipping tags and added glittery adornments. Each day, as Christmas draws closer and closer, the kids take off an ornament and place it on the tree.
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.
Interactive Centerpiece
Dress up the dinner table with a sparkling and unique advent calendar centerpiece. Blogger Jessica Wilcox used a vintage chicken-wire cloche dome of gifts and printable Christmas tags to represent the 25-day countdown. Add small, wrapped presents, decorative ornaments and ribbons underneath the dome.
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.
From:
Marian Parsons
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.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
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.
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.
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.
Countdown for the Kids
This traditional, felt advent calendar is the perfect addition to a child's bedroom door over the holidays. By using simple and inexpensive materials, each child can have a calendar of their own. Try to create different holiday-inspired shapes to form the background — a classic Christmas tree, snowflake, mitten or Santa Claus hat.
Special Delivery
HGTV fan Katie Watson came up with a fun and creative way for children to count down the 25 days of Christmas. Using simple square envelopes with string closures, she adorned each one with different holiday-inspired themes, patterns and colors. Inside each envelope Katie placed a coupon for each child that can be redeemed for something special at home, such as a cup of hot chocolate, a piece of Christmas candy or Mom reading a bedtime story. Strung up the banister with colorful foam balls, the advent banner is not only a fun family activity but an original piece of holiday decor, too.
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