The holiday season is all about joy, creativity, and making cherished memories with loved ones. As a parent and professional artist, I wanted to create something special for my kids last December—a DIY advent calendar filled with crafts, cozy moments, and small surprises that brought us together every day leading up to Christmas (celebrated on the 24th in our household).

Growing up in Sweden, December was a time of dark, snow-filled days, so we embraced hygge, the Danish and Swedish practice of creating a warm, cozy atmosphere filled with comfort and togetherness. Lighting candles, using blankets, baking cookies, enjoying a hot drink with family and friends – it’s all part of creating coziness when the sun barely shines.

An Advent calendar is such a lovely tradition in Sweden that it truly helps bring a bit of hygge during the month of December. Since the 1960s, Swedish children have watched a Christmas TV calendar each evening in December, and at the end you open the accompanying advent calendar together with the advent host. This daily ritual added magic to my childhood.

Creating this DIY advent calendar was my way of recreating those cherished cozy moments from my childhood and passing them on to my own children. Each morning, they would wake up excited to open a new bag with a craft or an invitation to a family adventure, from painting ornaments to sipping hot chocolate together.

This DIY advent calendar isn’t just an activity; it’s a way to slow down, connect, and embrace the season with heart and joy. If you’re inspired, here’s how you can make your own unique, budget-friendly advent calendar that celebrates family time and holiday magic.

Materials Needed for Your DIY Advent Calendar

Building your own advent calendar starts with gathering simple, budget-friendly supplies.

Base Structure Options:

• Vinterfint Advent Calendar from IKEA (with hanging loops).
• Alternatives: Use a branch, clothes hanger, or a string tied between two nails. Hang bags at different lengths with clothespins for a rustic touch.

Gift Bags/Sacks:

• Canvas gift bags from Dollar Tree and Amazon.
• Alternative idea: 100-pack small brown paper bags from Amazon for a budget-friendly option.

Additional Supplies:

• Kitchen twine for hanging bags or this holiday festive twine.

Filler Ideas: Activities to Include in the Advent Calendar

The best part of a DIY advent calendar is filling it with meaningful activities that bring everyone together. Click here for the printable advent calendar.

Creative Crafting Days

Crafting together is a wonderful way to create keepsakes and let kids’ imaginations shine:

• Painting Wood Ornaments: Pick up these animal color-in wooden ornaments and have fun painting them in wild colors. Let the kids add them to the tree and watch them beam with pride. The pack comes with 8 different animals so I divided them over two different advent days.
• Sewing Felt Ornaments: Simple felt sewing kits are perfect for introducing kids to sewing and makes for fun tree decorations. The pack comes with 6 different animals so I divided them over two different advent days. My big kid (7) lost interest the second time around.
• Holiday Coloring Sheets: Print out holiday-themed pages for a relaxed coloring activity. Use a mini-print out or a note in the gift sack to explain the activity.

These animal color-in wooden ornaments from Michaels make for a fun craft activity and tree decoration. The pack comes with 8 different ornaments, perfect to divide up into two different advent days and for two kids (2 ornaments per kid each time).

Baking and Cooking Activities

Baking fills the home with holiday aromas and creates sensory memories:

• Gingerbread Cookies: Use ready-made dough or a cherished family recipe (I love using my great-grandmother’s Swedish recipe!). Roll out the dough, use seasonal molds, and bake. I cut out a gingerbread man in paper and put it in the gift sack to let them know what today’s activity was.
• Lussebullar for St. Lucia Day: These traditional Swedish saffron buns are only made in December ahead of celebrating the cultural tradition of Saint Lucia (a Swedish saint who brings the light during the darkest time in Sweden and is celebrated on December 13). These days I prefer them with lots of white chocolate. Yum.
• Holiday Cookies: Decorate your own kit sugar cookies with seasonal molds and icing for added fun and yumminess. Save time and buy a decorate your own cookie box from the store.

I love making my great-grandmother’s recipe, but this ready-made gingerbread cookie dough from IKEA saved a lot of precious time!

Experience-Based Surprises

Add holiday outings and cozy at-home experiences for an extra touch of magic. These local experience are meant to give you inspiration for what may be happening in your town for your children to marvel at holiday lights and decorations.

• King’s Dominion Winterfest: Explore an amusement park’s holiday lights and crafts (we have season tickets which includes this event).
• Jefferson’s Hotel: Visit a local hotel known for its grand Christmas tree and festive decor.
• Colonial Williamsburg: Enjoy holiday lights, fireworks, and ice skating for a memorable day out.

We loved visiting Colonial Williamsburg for festive lights, ice skating, and fireworks for a fun advent experience.

Fun Ideas for Small Gifts and Surprises

Adding small treats can keep kids excited for each day. Here are a few affordable ideas:

1. Chocolate Treats and Gold Coins: Include chocolate coins in a bag or make it a scavenger hunt for added excitement.
2. Glow Stick Bath: Transform bath time into a glowing adventure with glow sticks or a star projector (we love this one).
3. Holiday Stickers and Scratch Art Kits: Add a few easy crafts that encourages independent creativity like holiday stickers and scratch art (make sure to use a try with the scratch art!).
4. New Coloring Pencils or Markers: A fresh set of art supplies paired with a new coloring book is always a hit.
5. Simple Puzzles: Split a 100-piece puzzle over two days, starting with the edges for anticipation. I got ours at the Dollar Tree store.
6. ‘Tickets’ to Family Activities: Create printed tickets for special activities like a at-home holiday movie night or an experience-based surprise.

This Santa ceramic ornament kit from Micheals is a great kid craft activity. While it’s recommended for ages 8 and up, my 4-year old loved it.

Tips for a Magical Advent Calendar Experience

Here’s how to keep your DIY advent calendar fun and stress-free:

• Mix Crafts & Outings: Alternate crafting days, baking and outings for variety. Build in easy days when you know you have a lot going on.
• Scavenger Hunts: Hide bigger surprises around the house or in the garden for added fun. Draw a map and add it in the gift sack.
• Stay Budget-Friendly: Shop after-holiday sales for discounted crafts and supplies.
• Incorporate Family Traditions: Include special traditions like baking to celebrate cultural holiday to make it uniquely yours.
• Keep It Simple: A hot chocolate night or holiday movie with popcorn can be just as special. Make fun tickets they need to hand over.
• Plan Ahead: Make some days travel-friendly with easy-to-pack items like stickers or small activities. I used KinderEggs for one of the travel days.

These fun felt sewing kits were a hit with my kids and made for fun and unique tree decorations. The pack comes with 6 different animals so I divided them over two different advent days.

A DIY advent calendar is more than just a countdown—it’s a way to create lasting memories filled with crafts, activities, and surprises. It’s a reminder that the best gift we can give is our time. The holidays can be hectic, but it’s the small, meaningful moments of creativity and togetherness that make them magical. Embrace each day, savor the little moments, and celebrate the joy of family.

What are your favorite DIY advent calendar ideas? Share in the comments—I’d love to hear your suggestions and inspire others!

Click here for the printable advent calendar full of activities.

xo,

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