DIY Advent Calendar

Although it isn’t even November, I admit that I’m already looking all the way forward to

I’ve been collecting ideas on Pinterest and thinking of new decor and adventures to create in our home this year.  I’ve always loved the holidays and the advent calendar.  I’m especially giddy about it this year because we have a little one (19 months old) to start sharing the season with and creating our own memories and traditions. 

I made this advent calendar with our family in mind, and considering our child’s age, but of course you can personalize it to suit your family’s needs.  I printed the labels on the computer and taped them to the tags with Japanese tape.

ADVENT CALENDAR ADVENTURES
Take a family photo in front of the Christmas tree
Sing Christmas songs
Make Christmas cards for Grandparents
Make a Christmas ornament
Color a Christmas picture 
Make paper snowflakes 
Drink hot cocoa with marshmallows
Watch a christmas movie 
Go out for a Christmas treat 
Drive around the neighborhood and look at Christmas lights 
Visit Santa Claus
Call Grandparents 
Wrap a gift for your teachers
Read a story about the birth of Baby Jesus 
Make cookies for Santa Claus 
Write Santa Claus a letter
Read the book: “The Night Before Christmas” 
Make a snowman
Make a yummy treat
Build a gingerbread house 
Buy a Christmas gift for Toys for Tots  
Donate toys and clothes
Visit Grandparents
Make chocolate covered toffee
I’m hoping to have this advent calendar for years to come in our home! 

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Meet Megan

Hi! I’m Megan, mom to a thoughtful teenager and spunky young girl. We call Houston home and recently moved into our dream home. I traded my lawyer hat to become a full-time blogger in 2010. I love sharing my passion for affordable fashion, home decor, organization, & fitness to help inspire you to take care of you!

34 Comments

  1. I'm glad y'all are sharing my excitement. I told my husband that he has to get on board with these things too but he didn't seem too excited:)

  2. Wooow you're so creative! I'm impressed 🙂
    I'd love to do something similar but I'm afraid it will only really be used when we'll have a child so I'll just wait a couple of years 😉
    You really did an amazing job on this one!

  3. I love, love, love this idea! My little girl is too little, but I'm saving your list of activities for next year when she will be around your little guy's age. Great project!!

  4. That is the most adorable Advent calendar I have ever seen! So fun, Megan. I'm a big one on traditions and it's great you are starting this when James is so young. He will love it and look forward to it each year. You did a great job making it.

  5. I love it Megan! It is beautiful. And yes, it will become a tradition James will look forward to year after year. We have always had some form of an advent calendar or a countdown. The girls always look forward to it.

  6. I love this! And love that each of the projects is totally doable (drink hot chocolate with marshmallows? I think we can handle that!)Thanks for sharing!

  7. oh my goodness Megan that is adorable! LOVE it! Wish I had the patience to do a project like that. I would never several glasses of wine to tackle that. LOL

  8. Love this! We never did Advent Calendars growing up, but I've been thinking I want to make one for Evie.. such fun memories!

  9. I really like this take on the advent–alot of the ones I have seen in blog land have actual treats for each day. Trying to get away from that–don't want our boys to expect a treat every day! Where did you find the craft paper to cover the posterboard? (I'm assuming that's what you did)

  10. Love, love your calendar! It's a beautiful tradition I did for our son (now 26)! He loved it! It's such fun and means so much! Mine wasn't as well made, I just bought red legal size envelopes, sealed them then cut them in half to make 2 pockets out of each envelope, then attached them to green poster board and decorated! Yours is gorgeous!
    P.S. For the comment saying she would wait until she has kids….I originally got the idea from a newlywed who grew up with her parents doing it for her..now she and her husband alternate days putting a card in for each other..isn't that sweet?

  11. Hi Megan – I know this is an "old" post but I love this advent calendar idea and will be featuring it in an article I am writing for our online Christian women's magazine, Ruby for Women. The article will include several beautiful DIY advent calendars, and I will link back directly to your blog and encourage our readers to visit you for more crafty holiday ideas. Thanks so much for sharing! Nina @ Ruby for Women http://www.rubyforwomen.com

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