20 best DIY and make your own advent calendars

Make your own advent calendar with our favourite kits to buy and free patterns to make! We’ve filled this post with every type of DIY countdown a maker could dream of – you’ll find pop-up cardboard kits, wooden advent calendars, fabric advent calendar panels – plus we’ve popped in a few craft-themed calendars if you’re looking for a daily dose of creativity in the run up to Christmas. So pop on some Christmas carols and enjoy a festive craft session!

Having a little something to look forward every day in the run-up to Christmas is one way to make the festive season feel a little more special this year, and there are lots of craft advent calendars out there – if you know where to look. And, if you do happen to get something behind one of the doors that you’re not a fan of, why not spread the love and gift it to someone else?

If you would prefer to make your own advent calendar, we have lots of different options depending on your preferred craft. We love these papercraft advent calendars (below), or how about sewing your own advent calendar with our free tutorial on how to make a fabric advent calendar? Maybe knitting is more your thing, why not learn how to make this knitted advent calendar wreath!

Best DIY advent calendar kits to make at home

Sew them, fold them, decorate them – which of these DIY advent calendar kits will you get making this December?

• Buy it now (Etsy, £25)

This fantastic box includes everything you need to sew a fabric advent calendar, including a 100% cotton printed Makower fabric panel Advent calendar, wadding, backing fabric, thread and instructions. The panel includes 24 pockets of 6x6cm each for you to add treats for each day leading up to Christmas. The finished calendar will measure about 56 cm x 74 cm. It comes in two colour schemes – red and white or frosty winter scenes.

• Buy it now (£25, Etsy)

The only crochet kit in this round up, it’s the perfect choice for yarn lovers. Each kit comes with yarn a felt sheet to back it with, dowel to hang it from and the pattern of course, plus a bonus pattern for holly and berries

• Buy it now (Etsy, £18.27)

This pre-printed card advent calendar kit DIY set includes all the printed parts you need to make your own Christmas tree with boxes for each day of the countdown to Christmas (on 300 gsm cardstock), and step-by-step instructions.  All you need to do is cut out the Christmas tree and box parts and glue them together for an easy crafted calendar that the whole family can enjoy helping to make.

• Buy it now (Not on the High Street, £84.99)

A DIY advent calendar with a twist – instead of making the calendar, you get a daily mini craft project throughout December! It has the theme of mythical creatures and magic but the actual daily contents are a surprise. We do know that it offers you daily craft kits including cross stitch kits (with hoops included), embroidery, felt and pinata kits, plus additional cross stitch and embroidery patterns, crafty goodies and other little extras. Each crafting surprise is individually wrapped and numbered. Go on… treat yourself!

• Buy it now (Etsy, £8)

Simplypop up these red and white candy stripe boxes and fill with sweets and little treats – one of the easiest DIY advent calendar kits in this round-up,  we love the modern, merry and bright design and and gold foiled finishing touches. Why not hang them from your tree? Each kit includes 24 boxes & 24 number stickers plus red and white butchers twine.

• Buy it now (Etsy, £26.99)

We can never resist a scandi Christmas project, and this Make your own wooden advent calendar ticks so many of our boxes for the perfect make.  Once complete, each of the drawers pull out so you can add whichever you like. It even comes with a little LED light to cast a cosy glow through the dark December evenings!

• Buy it now (Etsy, £16)

This really sweet idea is giving us the urge to drink hot chocolate and curl up by a warm fire wearing some Fairaisle knitting. One of several papercraft kits in this collection, your advent village comes ready for you to cut and assemble, complete with 50 festive activities to place in your houses for each day of the festive countdown! Personalise your village by adding your own family traditions onto the blank activity sheets provided, or add your favourite sweet treats.

• Buy it now (Not on the High Street, £8.99)

Pop out each of the individual silver star shaped advent boxes, assemble and fill with sweets and little treats. A beginner-friendly make with no previous craft experience, these little advent star boxes would look lovely displayed in a large glass jar or hang them from your tree.

• Buy it now (Not on the High Street, £69)

It is hard to put into words how excited we are to learn that the Maker Arcade have released a Craftvent Calendar! One of several in this article where the crafting comes in the daily treats, rather than in making the advent calendar itself (we know you’ll forgive us) as who doesn’t want to open 24 individual boxes stuffed full of DIY felt sewing kits? Each one makes a different Christmas decoration.Most are “full on Christmas”, with a few cute and kitsch designs in the mix too.

• Buy it now (Etsy, from £12)

Rather than a full kit, this is a printed fabric piece which features beautiful Forest Friends Advent Calendar square panels by Dashwood Studio. The pockets feature Christmas animals and birds with metallic gold accents.It comes with instructions for how to turn it into your very own DIY advent calendar too. You’ll need to supply the additional sewing stash to turn it into a finished calendar though – see full details of what’s included in the Etsy listing.

This one isn’t technically a kit but we couldn’t resist including a shout out to this really simple-sew advent calendar DIY project we have for you to make along at home. Give it a go if you already have a few sewing supplies ready to use!

How to make a fabric advent calendar

• Buy it now (Etsy, £9.53)

A super easy DIY, this ready-to-go advent calendar kit comes with 24 stockings and pegs. Simply hang them from string above your fireplace, TV or desk for a lovely simple me-made countdown.

• Buy it now (Etsy, £18)

We’ve been eying up Advent Calendar Panels to sew for years so this article is the perfect excuse to share a few of our favourites out there. This one is around 60 cm high by 50cm wide and is pre-printed with front, pockets loops and binding. It’s printed on 100% woven cotton 160 gsm so a nice medium weight to hold your daily treats. It’s designed and painted at Ned’s studio in the UK and isn’t too tricky to piece together as it comes with full instructions. Say hello to your next family heirloom.

• Buy it now (Etsy, £26.99)

Enjoy a daily DIY jewellery project with 24 days of mini bracelet kits and an extra bag of sparkly charms. Each bracelet kit you’ll open will be a mixture of suede friendship bracelets or stretchy stack bracelets plus an assortment of pretty beads and colours. Open the box to discover a length of rattan cord and pegs to display the little bags throughout December.

• Buy it now (Etsy, £10)

Treat yourself or a crafty pal to this beautiful 100% cotton advent calendar by Dashwood studios. Pre-printed, you simply have to stitch it up to make an heirloom Christmas craft project that you’ll keep in the family for years and years.

• Buy it now (Amazon, £15)

Some of the kits in this round up come with everything you need, but we also thought it would be nice to include a blank canvas for those of you who have over-brimming craft cupboards in need of a project to use up all that stash! Take this basic cardboard advent calendar and decorate it with your favourite festive papers and embellishments!

• Buy it now (Amazon, £3.99)

The best kit in this collection if you’re on a tight budget, we just think it’s really cute! Make Your Own Garland Advent Calendar with this child-friendly craft kit. Each kit contains 25 paper bags plus stickers and string for you to decorate as you please.

• Buy it now (Not on the High Street, £24)

OK, we get it, so this one’s on the soppier side, but one for all you romantics out there who want to give Christmas 2020 a personalised touch for your other half. It comes with 24 numbered envelopes and matching message cards printed with the message ‘I love you because….’ for you to complete the rest.

• Buy it now (Etsy, from £14.25)

24 days of stickers printed with kawaii illustrations? Yes please! Why have we been waiting all our lives for this idea? Choose between 12 or 25 days of pre-wrapped, credit card sized sticker sheets with mix of Holiday/winter themes plus some basic planner stickers.

Buy it now (Baker Ross, £12.95)

Cuteness alert! Have fun with kids counting down to Christmas with this wooden Advent calendar tree – ready to decorate with découpage paper, acrylic paint or Deco pens. Simply decorate, paint and number the draws then fill with tiny treats!