22 Creative Christmas Countdowns You Can Make

Upcycle cozy, old sweaters into mini mittens to make this adorable and charming Advent calendar.

Transform discarded wrapping paper tubes into a colorful, tree-shaped Advent calendar the kids will love.

Drum up some neighborhood chatter with this oversized Advent calendar made from a ladder.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Transform a wire wreath form into a cute, interactive Advent calendar the kids will flock to.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.