10 Creative Advent Calendars

Children love the excitement of an Advent Calendar. The countdown until Christmas is the best part of the holiday! Here are 10 fun and creative Advent Calendars you can pull together for your family. An added bonus, some of these can be reused for other special occasions like birthday or back to school countdowns.

1. Framed Advent Calendar. You'll need to make or buy 24 simple, drawstring bags. Paint a large number on each. Use a large frame (painted a bright green) strung with wire to attach your bags. Each bag can contain inexpensive dollar store treats like holiday shoe laces, small packages of candy, a special barrette, etc.

http://browneyedfox.squarespace.com/journal/2011/12/1/its-here-its-here.html

2. Wrapped Book Countdown. Perfect for a family of readers, this one is pretty darn easy too. Just wrap 20 holiday books in plain brown wrapping paper. Tie with festive ribbon and stencil numbers on each package. Put the pile in a special spot and each day, unwrap that day's book. Make it even more special by gathering together as a family to read the book before bed.

http://www.oopseydaisyblog.com/2011/11/christmas-book-advent.html

3. White Paper Bag Calendar. You can make the base of this calendar as elaborate as you want but a simple board will do. Decorate the backing and then attach 20 clothes pin with hot glue. Decorate 20 white bags and stencil a number on each (or hand write). Fill the bags and you're all set.

http://creeklinehouse.com/2013/11/ridiculously-easy-diy-advent-calendar.html

4. Wood Advent Calendar. This one looks pretty elaborate but once you read through the steps you'll see that it isn't all that difficult. You'll need 6 evenly cut boards, a piece of wood for a backing, nails and 20 pretty Christmas balls with tags. If you don't have the right tools, Home Depot will even cut your wood for you.

http://www.homedepot.com/c/make_holiday_advent_calendar_HT_PG_DC?crlt.pid=camp.skrAI6YBUFD3

5. Baby Sock Advent Calendar. Ribbon, 20 baby socks in different sizes and colors and number stickers add up to an adorable Advent calendar. Arrange the socks along the ribbon and attach with tiny clothespins. Slip a small gift into each sock.

http://www.marthastewart.com/270492/baby-sock-advent-calendar

6. Clothespin Advent Calendar. Paint 20 clothespins and a wood frame and backing white and then decorate the pins with simple red designs (Sharpies work great). Attach the pins to a wood backing cut to fit the frame. Label each clothespin with a numbered sticker. You can ;in either a small bag with the daily gift or pin a wrapped package.

http://visualheart.com/2011/09/20/christmas-craft-project-advent-calendar/

7. Muffin Tin Advent Calendar. Cut out circles from festive paper glued to magnet sheets. Mark each with a number. You can place a simple treat in each of the closet and then cover with the magnetic circle. Attach bright ribbon to hang your calendar.

http://www.bhg.com/christmas/planning/christmas-hacks/?socsrc=BHGHolidaySurprise2014_xmashacks#page=14

8. The Rustic Advent Tree. This one uses simple pieces of wood (beat up is good as long as there are no splinters!) in graduated sizes. Nail them together in a tree shape. Simply tacks will hold 20 different numbered packages.

http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2012/11/diy-advent-tree.html

9. Fabric Banner Advent Calendar. This one is for sale on easy. com but if you want to make your own, sew 20 fabric triangles so each has a flap. Add velcro or a button to close each package. Each triangle can slide over a long piece of ribbon. 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/62600989/heirloom-christmas-bunting-pennant

10. Things To Do. This one isn't an actual calendar, instead it's a suggestion for all of the other calendars. Instead of putting a little gift in each day's container, slide in one of these cards with an activity. If you don't want to make a calendar, put one of these suggestions in a plain envelope for each day and toss them all in a big bowl on your dining room table. There are some excellent suggestions for activities at the link below.

http://www.homedepot.com/c/make_holiday_advent_calendar_HT_PG_DC?crlt.pid=camp.skrAI6YBUFD3