24 Little surprises - DIY Advent Calendars!

Every year around this time I get a little excited when the shops start filling up with advent calendars. You know the ones: full of chocolate, gin, beauty products or random trinkets that make you go Ooh, I need that even though you absolutely don’t but there’s something extra fun about making your own advent calendar. It’s more personal, a bit creative and you can fill it with exactly what you like.

Here are a bunch of DIY advent calendar ideas that look great, don’t require a fine arts degree and most importantly won’t make your living room look like Santa’s workshop exploded!

The envelope string calendar!

This one’s simple, tidy and looks so cool. You just need 24 envelopes, some string or twine and a few mini pegs. You can use plain brown envelopes for that minimalist look or go for coloured ones if you’re feeling festive. Write numbers 1 - 24 on the envelopes, black marker does the job and string them up on your wall or across a window. Inside each envelope pop a little treat: chocolate coins, notes, stickers or small gifts. If you want to make it feel more thoughtful, you could include daily challenges like watch a Christmas film tonight or call a friend for a catch up. It’s a nice way to make December feel more meaningful rather than just counting down to stuffing your face with mince pies.

Mason jar magic!

If you’ve got a few spare jars lying around, this is such a cute way to make a reusable advent calendar. Line up 24 mini jars and fill them with small surprises: sweets, rolled-up notes, bits of jewellery or even mini candles. You can decorate the lids with bits of fabric or paper and stick numbered labels on top. Arrange them on a shelf or tray or if you’re really feeling crafty glue them to a wooden board in the shape of a Christmas tree. It looks surprisingly stylish once it’s done and you can reuse the jars every year.

The self care calendar!

December can be a bit of a mad rush so why not make an advent calendar that’s all about slowing down and treating yourself a bit! Instead of chocolates or gifts fill it with tiny self care ideas or little pamper treats including: A tea bag for a quiet cuppa break, a mini bath bomb, a face mask sachet, a handwritten permission slip to do nothing for an hour or a candle tealight for an evening soak. You can wrap each thing up in brown paper and tie with twine for that rustic, organised look. It’s basically a little reminder every day that you deserve five minutes to just breathe which is a gift in itself.

The for someone else calendar!

Instead of treats for yourself make an advent calendar focused on giving. Each envelope or box could include a small act of kindness like: donate a tin to the food bank, message someone and tell them why you appreciate them or bake something for a neighbour. It’s wholesome without being soppy and it’s a lovely thing to do if you want to get into the spirit of Christmas without the sugar rush. You could even get the whole family involved and make it a group challenge.

The hobby calendar!

This is one of my favourites because you can tailor it to whatever you’re into. If you love cooking you could do a spice of the day calendar with 24 mini pots or packets of different herbs and spices. If you’re more of a cocktail person fill small bottles with different mixers, syrups or recipes to try. If you’re a gardener do one with seed packets and small gardening tools. Into crafts you can pop in washi tapes, buttons mini cross stitch sets. It’s practical, but still feels like a treat.

Making your own advent calendar might sound like one of those Pinterest ideas that’s doomed to fail but it’s actually easier than it looks. So grab your envelopes, jars or boxes and maybe a mug of hot chocolate and get crafting!

Do you have an advent calendar in December?