Reusable DIY Christmas Advent Calendar
This post is all about how I made this reusable Christmas advent calendar.
Every year, I look forward to counting down to Christmas—but I was getting tired of buying those one-time-use advent calendars that end up in the trash by December 26th.
So, I decided to make my own reusable DIY Christmas Advent Calendar that I could refill with small treats, notes, or surprises each year.
It’s not only practical, but it’s also become one of my favorite seasonal decorations. I wanted to share this project with you so you can make one too—and enjoy that same excitement each December (or any other month with something fun to count down to) without any waste.
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DIY Advent Calendar
Let’s jump into how to make the calendar. First we’ll gather materials, do a little prep work, and then go through the full tutorial.
Gather Materials
Gather the following materials to complete this project:
Prep
In my experience, the wooden Advent calendar was a bit rough, and I think a light sanding would have helped me when I went to paint it. If you have some spare fine-grit sandpaper, I recommend a quick sand around the wooden Advent calendar before painting.
How To Make This DIY Advent Calendar
Here’s a step-by-step tutorial on how to make the calendar:
Step 1: Paint
The first step is to paint the wooden advent calendar with the chalkboard paint. I found that a foam brush worked really well and helped me get into the corners of the wooden boxes.
I applied 1 coat of paint to the inside of the pull-out boxes, and 2 coats to the outside of the boxes and calendar.
Let the paint dry completely before putting the boxes back into the calendar and then move on to the next step.
step 2: Write the Numbers
Using the chalk, write your countdown numbers on the front of each box. You can do this however you’d like – you can count down from 25 to 1, or up from 1 to 25. Or you can randomize it so that kids have to search for the next number in the countdown.
One of the reasons I chose to use chalk for this calendar was so that I could draw little pictures on the boxes if we had something fun planned on a certain day. December is normally filled with so many fun activities, not just Christmas day.
For example, if you’re baking cookies one day you can draw a picture of a cookie on that box so that kids can know and get excited for that day.
This also makes the calendar fun to use throughout the year too. Countdown to Easter, or Halloween! It helps kids learn the concept of time and how many days there are before fun events.
step 3: Fill The Boxes
The last, and definitely most fun step is to fill the boxes with candy, treats, or toys! I chose a cute set of toys from Amazon to fill the boxes with.
The toys are the perfect size, and my daughter absolutely loves opening a new toy box every day. Next time I fill the calendar, I think I’ll scatter in a few small candies too.
How to Style The Countdown Calendar
One of the reasons I love this countdown calendar is that it seamlessly fits in with your everyday decor. There are many different chalkboard paint colors, so you can paint it whatever color best suits your home and then simply place it on a shelf or table.
I put mine on a shelf that’s hung high on the wall because I just knew that if I put it any lower, my daughter would always be opening the boxes.
Place a few decorative items next to and around it, like a picture frame, a small vase, or a seasonal candle.
Conclusion
Making this reusable DIY Christmas Advent Calendar was one of those projects that made me wonder why I didn’t do it sooner.
It’s a simple craft that adds so much fun and tradition to the holidays. I love refilling the little drawers each year and watching the kids’ faces light up as they open them one by one.
Whether you fill it with candy, small gifts, or little toys, it’s a beautiful way to make December feel a little more magical.
PIN IT TO REMEMBER IT
Don’t forget to pin this so you can refer back to it later!
