Advent Calendar Craft-Along: Ideas

For years, I’ve meant to make an advent calendar. I was first inspired by the Advent Calendar Sew-Along at Homemade By Jill in 2010 (!). To stop procrastinating, I’m hosting an Advent Calendar Craft-Along this November.

It was originally planned a sew-along, but why limit it to just sewing. There’s a million and one ways to make an advent (and I’ve got some inspiration share with you today). If we start now, and keep ourselves accountable, we should all have a cute Advent Calendar to start counting the days to Christmas by the time December comes around. (Please don’t start counting before then – that just stresses me out!)

Here’s some home-made Advent Calendar inspiration:

Christmas Tree with Ornaments Advent Calendar

The Christmas Tree Advent calendar that Jill (from Homemade by Jill) is the inspiration for the advent calendar that I’m going to make – a felt Christmas tree with a decoration a day to add to the tree.

Nativity Advent

In a similar vein, Cutesy Crafts made this gorgeous Nativity scene advent calendar and has a free pattern on her website:

Village Path Quilted Advent

Deborah from Whipstitch made this gorgeous Village Path Advent Calendar, with a stop in the village each day leading up to Christmas:

Embroidered Felt Advent 

For a simpler sewing project, try this embroidered felt advent calendar from the Purl Bee:

Paper Gnome Advent

This paper gnome advent calendar from Twodaloo is cute. Make them all in red and have a Santa calendar. This is a great craft for kids.

Sock Advent

If you’re not feeling too ambitious, collect up some odd socks in Christmas colours and make this Sock Advent Calendar from Martha Stewart:

Shadowbox Advent

Picking up an MDF advent calendar/shadowbox and decorating it is another option. Here’s a version from Craftulate:

And there’s lots more inspiration from around the web (click on an image for details:

  

Printable Advent

Living Locurto has a free printable Advent Calendar in 3 different designs, with instructions on how to create it:

Cup Advent

Teach Mama has a tutorial for this simple Christmas tree advent calendar, made from small plastic tubs:

Muffin Tin Advent

For a really simple calendar, try this muffin tin calendar from Better Homes and Gardens:

Cardboard Tube Advent

Coffee & Vanilla made this cute Christmas tree calendar from cardboard tubes, and then covered in paper:

Bonbon Advent

Mandy Pitcher made this cute bonbon advent calendar:

Peg and Chocolate Wreath Advent

I love the look of this peg wreath advent calendar (and I can’t resist Lindt balls!) from Homemade Gifts Made Easy:

There are some gorgeous Advent Calendar patterns (affiliate link) on Etsy too. I’ll be pinning more ideas on this Pinterest board.

So who’s going to join me in an Advent Calendar craft-along? Let me know in the comments.

Click here for Part 2 of the craft-along.