30 Magical Ways to Countdown to Christmas with DIY Advent Calendars

We have the best collection of DIY advent calendar crafts to countdown to Christmas in fun and creative ways. These ideas for Christmas Advent calendar projects are great crafts for kids of all ages and make fun holiday family activities to do together. Let’s find the perfect DIY Advent calendar for your family!

DIY Advent Calendar Ideas We Love

Ahhhh, the anticipation and the countdown to Christmas! It truly is the most wonderful  time of the year. And it does not have to last only that one day. In fact, I think the best part of Christmas is the Santa countdown.

Related: We have 25 days of Christmas activities for kids

Magical Ways to Countdown to Christmas

While it may not make Christmas come faster, it will be a ton of fun for everyone. Here are 30 super fun ways to countdown to Christmas with your family with Advent calendar ideas you can make. Pick a DIY advent calendar craft to mark the days until Christmas…

DIY Christmas Advent Calendars You Can Make

Being able to visually countdown to Christmas with one of these homemade advent calendars will save you from answering…

“How many more days till Christmas?”

…a million times.

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1. Chalkboard Boxes DIY Advent Calendar

Create tiny black boxes and number them with the days till Christmas!  Each filled with a fun surprise or a hint to a family activity. This will let kids know how many more days till Christmas without having to ask!

2. 24 Christmas Books Countdown

Wrap 24 Christmas-themed books, one for every night as a count down to Christmas. Give your child or children one a night to open–it’s an educational advent calendar!

–>We love this book Advent calendar you can buy!

3. Printable Advent Calendar

A really easy way to start counting down to the holiday is download and print this printable Advent Calendar. This printable is super cute and again will answer that question of “How many more days till Christmas”.

4. 24 Days of Book Gifts

Alternately, wrap up books in Christmas wrapping paper and countdown numbers on each one. It doubles as a decoration for the mantle, too!

5. Countdown to Christmas with Kindness

Start by printing our random acts of Christmas kindness list. Do 24 random acts of Christmas kindness–such a good lesson for kids to learn! Here’s an idea to get you started: candy cane bombing!

Christmas Countdown Ideas

6. DIY Advent Calendars

Get a plank and wood glue numbered clothespins to it – then you can use those pins to hold brown paper packages tied up with string!  Each package has a special gift or tradition!

7. DIY Advent In a Jar

Make a DIY Advent Calendar with a pompom jar! Attach a fun family activity with a slip of paper to each pompom in your jar! Not only will you spend family time together, but your little ones will have something to do everyday so they’ll know how many more days till Christmas.

How Many More Days Till Christmas Answered!

8. Make a Forest Of Cones for an Advent Calendar

Countdown the days to Christmas with this forest of cones! It’s a great craft to do with the kids and this post contains a free printable!

9. 24 Christmas Stockings to Countdown to the Holiday

Hang 24 Christmas socks and tuck an activity in each one! No sewing involved, promise. Printables are included in the instructions on this post!

10. DIY Mini Tree Calendar

I love the simple, classic look of this mini tree calendar – each box has another trinket to remember the season.

11. Make a Give Thanks Advent Calendar

How about these cute paper boxes made from grocery bags and filled with surprise treats for your little ones?

Making Christmas Magical – All Month Long

12. DIY Giant Snowflake Advent Calendar

Christmas clouds!  Sew little gifts into circular pieces of colorful fabric, and hang below the cloud! Use wire hangers to form them. Your kiddos get to open a gift each day!

13. Craft an Advent Tree

Create an advent tree on the wall! Hang little gifts, snacks and ornaments from it for each day.

14. DIY Christmas Book Advent Calendar

Wrap Christmas books and let kids open one each day until the holiday. Make it a family tradition by reading them aloud to your kids.

15. Make a Vintage Christmas Countdown Calendar

Print cards with a fun family Christmas Activity that you can do together. This Vintage Christmas Countdown Calendar is easy to throw together quickly.

16. DIY Ping Pong Ball & Toilet Baby Tube Advent Calendar

Ping Pong Ball & Toilet Paper Tube Advent Calendar — such a cute (and EASY) way to re-purpose toilet paper tubes!

Xmas Countdown Ideas

17. Make a Santa’s Beard Advent Calendar

Give Santa’s beard a haircut every day until Christmas! This is super cute, but will require supervision for little kids.

18. DIY Treat Bag Advent Calendar

Make treat bags with all of your kids’ favorite goodies inside!

19. Advent Treat Bag Kit

Or try this treat bag which includes a free printable for wrapping! Perfect for xmas countdown!

20. Make a Snowman Christmas Countdown

Put together this adorable paper chain snowman countdown! Remember making paper chains for birthday parties?

21. Simple Advent Calendar You Can Make

Put sticky countdown numbers onto simple cardboard boxes with activities to do each day inside.

22. DIY Christmas Envelope Countdown

Countdown envelopes–each one filled with flat gifts (like coins, stickers, temporary tattoos and more!)

23. Christmas Card Advent Calendar Craft

Put cards on a tree with a holiday activity for the whole family to do each day! This one of the simplest Christmas countdown ideas on this list.

24. DIY Christmas Activity Jar Advent

The coolest advent jar I’ve seen so far! I am making this FOR SURE. Plus her ideas for each day are really good. There are so many Christmas countdown games and Christmas countdown activities in each box to do as a family.

25. Make a Snowy Forest Advent Calendar

Create a mini-forest of beautiful Christmas tree countdown cones! This is one of the cutest Christmas countdown crafts. Plus, not only will it tell you how many more days till Christmas, but it can be used as a festive counting game as well.

More Ways to Countdown to Christmas

26. DIY Adorable Christmas Countdown Clock

This amazing snowman countdown clock. Your family will use this for years!

27. Grow A Candy Cane to Countdown to Christmas

Oh I love this idea: have your kids grow a candy cane! This post shows it in three stages but I bet you could stretch it to several more days and have a full-grown candy cane by Christmas! Magic!

28. DIY Christmas Countdown Wheel

Make a wheel with clothespins and numbers! It’s simple, but super cute and doesn’t require a ton of materials. It is one of the best ways to tell how much time till Christmas.

29. 25 Christmas Scriptures to Countdown to Christmas

Print out this list and read a passage of Scripture every day to remember the reason for the season! This is one of my Christmas countdown family traditions.

30. DIY Wood Advent Calendar

DIY Clothespin tree (as tall as you!) Pin paper bags filled with wonderful things onto each one!

31. Download & Print a Nativity Printable

Here is one our faith-based fun Christmas ideas: add something or someone to the Nativity scene every day! This is a great way to teach your child about your faith and the story of Jesus Christ.

More Advent Calendar Ideas for Kids

Get started on your advent calendar so you can be ahead of time. It will only be a few weeks before everyone starts asking “How many more days till Christmas.”

Christmas Countdown Apps

More Advent Calendars We Love

What are you using as an advent calendar this year to countdown to Christmas.