Home > Holidays > Christmas > DIY Advent Calendar

DIY Advent Calendar

Last year I came across this adorable advent calendar from Twig and Thistle. We were already well into December and it was too late to make one. This year I’m bringing my ‘A’ game to Christmas and I knew I had to make one! I picked up a pack of Wilton 2″ favor tins months ago and have been waiting for Christmastime to arrive.

DIY Printable Advent Calendar

DIY Magnetic Advent Calendar Tutorial

The supplies to make this are pretty straight forward:

  • 2″ Favor tins
  • Card stock
  • Modge Podge
  • Chocolate candies
  • 12×12 frame
  • 12×12 metal sheet

First, print the advent calendar number printable.  <<Free Printable Download Below!!>>

Use a 2″ circle punch.  My favorite paper punch is this squeeze punch by Fiskars because you can see your design and align it how you want before you make the punch.  It works fantastic!  If you have a crafter in your life – consider this for a Christmas gift.  They’ll love you forever!

Cover each circle number in Modge Podge.

Put Modge Podge’d circle in the tin lid and allow to dry.

The lid is kind of loose on the tin, so I flattened the bottom of the tin slightly so the top fit snug.  The top of the tin will cover the flattened part, so don’t worry about an odd shaped tin.

I love the idea of having a family activity advent. Hopefully we will be able to keep up with it all.  I punched out some circles with Christmas traditions and activities and taped it to the bottom of the tin. <<Free Printable Download Below!!>>

I placed some chocolate treats inside the tin.

I used a simple, elegant winter themed scrapbook paper as a background for the advent tins.

I placed my scrapbook paper on top of the 12×12 calendar metal sheet I have used for my magnetic monthly calendar and put it in a 12×12 frame.

DIY Advent Calendar Supplies

Free Printable Advent Calendar Numbers

To download this printable, select the button with the arrow pointing down.

Free Printable Family Christmas Activities

To download this printable, select the button with the arrow pointing down.

Want more?

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Thanks for stopping by!

Makoodle’s free downloads and printables are for personal, non-commercial use only.  Copyright is owned by Makoodle.  If you have a commercial inquiry, please contact me. 

You are welcome to link to the download on your site, but please link to the original post for the download (please don’t host the original files on your site).

Filed Under: Christmas, Crafts, Printables & Freebies · Tagged With: , , , , , ,
About Camille

Camille's family is the light of her life and nothing makes her happier than spending time with her husband and 3 kids. Design and creativity are a way to unwind after a busy day. Camille loves trying new recipes and enjoys sharing projects and ideas on Makoodle.
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Comments

  1. Maria says:
    November 17, 2011 at 8:20 pm

    This looks awesome!!!!! Modern and Christmassy, and I love how pretty the inside of the tin looks too! What a great idea!

    Reply
  2. Lowri McNabb says:
    November 17, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    This is FABULOUS – wow I totally love it.
    A great idea for an advent calendar.
    Lowri
    http://papervinenz.blogspot.com/
    Visiting from Whipperberry

    Reply
  3. Mindy says:
    November 17, 2011 at 10:51 pm

    LOVE this!! It looks so cute and I like how you Modge Podged the special activity for the day to the bottom of the containers!

    Reply
  4. Lynn says:
    November 18, 2011 at 4:43 am

    Love this! I hope to get to do it!

    Reply
  5. DaNita says:
    November 18, 2011 at 9:05 am

    ohhh… this is just so cute!

    I would love to have you link up to my Delightfully Inspiring Thursday Party going on now.

    http://delightfulorder.blogspot.com/2011/11/delightfully-inspiring-thursday-party_16.html

    Hope to see you there & join us every Thurs-Sat.

    Thanks,
    DaNita

    Reply
  6. Sara says:
    November 18, 2011 at 10:19 am

    Oh my how ADORABLE!! Pinning this right now! Would LOVE it if you would link this up at my turquoise lovin’ party!! http://www.sweetlittlegals.com/2011/11/turquoise-lovin-13.html

    Reply
  7. Kristen says:
    November 18, 2011 at 6:15 pm

    Love! Found you on the tt&j linky party. I’ll have to pin this. Thanks for the printables :)

    Reply
  8. Jackie says:
    November 18, 2011 at 6:23 pm

    This is the cutest advent calendar. I love the little tins just large enough to hold a special treat. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  9. Laura @Ms Smartie Pants says:
    November 18, 2011 at 6:29 pm

    I love this, what a cute idea! And how much do those little favor tins cost? I don’t think I have ever seen them.

    Reply
  10. Kristina says:
    November 18, 2011 at 8:49 pm

    Very nice idea-I love your graphics and use of magnetic tins-wanting to try this!

    Reply
  11. Jennifer says:
    November 18, 2011 at 9:56 pm

    Found you over at Whipperberry’s link party. Love your advent tins! I linked up an advent calendar using square tins, but our projects are so different! I LOVE the labels you put inside the tins! I was going to just fold up strips of card stock with the activities on them and stuff them in; your idea is so much better! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  12. Jenn says:
    November 19, 2011 at 2:21 pm

    This is so cute and I love all the color combos and designs.

    Reply
  13. karen says:
    November 19, 2011 at 7:43 pm

    I love the project – perfect formy granddaughters. When I clidk on the pdf link to download the darling numbers – I just get a gray square with nothing in it. Any ideas?? I’d love to make it this week :)

    Thank you -

    Reply
  14. Cassie says:
    November 20, 2011 at 8:55 am

    Where do you guys find your metal sheets? last time I did a magnetic project I got some at home depot. But it was quite the process..I keep thinking there has got to be an easier way to find some!

    Reply
  15. Kerryanne says:
    November 20, 2011 at 11:27 am

    So clever!!
    I’d love it if you could link up to my Simply Christmas Inspiration Party at http://shabbyartboutique.blogspot.com/2011/11/yay.html

    Reply
  16. Kaysi @ Keeping It Simple says:
    November 21, 2011 at 10:54 am

    This is SUPER cute!

    Reply
  17. Nikki@EverythingUndertheMoon says:
    November 21, 2011 at 6:16 pm

    This came out super cute!! Would love it if you would stop by and share this at my linky party going on right now :) http://everything-underthemoon.blogspot.com/2011/11/bedazzle-me-monday-9.html

    Have a great week!!

    Reply
  18. Suzanne says:
    November 22, 2011 at 3:22 am

    This is just a great project. I love how you presented it. Thank you.

    Reply
  19. Holly says:
    November 22, 2011 at 8:40 am

    This is genius! Now I have something else to add to my list for Michael’s on Black Friday :) Thanks for the printable too, I want to do this with my kids now.

    I’d love to have this linked up over at our Christmas traditions party & giveaway today. Every link will be entered to win $50 in craft supplies from Pick Your Plum:
    http://mysisterssuitcase.blogspot.com/2011/11/homemade-for-holidays-day-12-christmas.html

    Happy Thanksgiving!

    Reply
  20. nik says:
    November 22, 2011 at 2:32 pm

    ohgoodgolly this is brilliant!
    Thank you so much for sharing this project…and for the tip about the Fiskars cutter! :)

    Reply
  21. Lisa @ Lisa's Craft Blog says:
    November 23, 2011 at 2:00 am

    Oh my gosh!! This is absolutely gorgeous!! You did a marvelous job on the calendar and the tutorial!!

    I’d love for you to link up this post and any other Christmas-related projects to the 26-Day Christmas Craft Marathon Linky Party!!

    Thanks so much for sharing!!
    ~Lisa
    Lisa’s Craft Blog

    Reply
  22. Jamie says:
    November 23, 2011 at 5:36 am

    This is amazing. I just pined it to pinterest so I can print it one I get my printer hooked up. Thank you for the printable.
    Would love to see you DIY Home Sweet home.
    Jamie
    http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/

    P.S. I have a linky every Monday. Would love for you to stop by and link up.

    Reply
  23. Kristi says:
    November 23, 2011 at 2:39 pm

    I love this idea! Printed the numbers and just got the Wilton tins…but are the tins supposed to be magnetic or did you add magnets to the back?

    Reply
  24. Allison Wist says:
    November 27, 2011 at 6:32 pm

    i did it! Tank you soooooo much for your amazing inspiration! To see it….
    http://3wists.blogspot.com/2011/11/craftbrought-to-you-by-instagram.html

    Reply
  25. Melissa Frances says:
    November 27, 2011 at 9:36 pm

    JUst wanted to say thank you so much for the free printable!!

    I will totally enjoy this..thanks

    melissa

    Reply
  26. anne says:
    November 27, 2011 at 10:21 pm

    Thanks! Just what I was looking for!

    Reply
  27. Nici says:
    November 28, 2011 at 10:16 am

    This is probably a stupid question, but how do the tins stay on the board? The 2″ tins I found at Hobby Lobby are not magnetic. Is the metal sheet you’re buying magnetic? Thanks.

    Reply
  28. Emily says:
    December 1, 2011 at 8:12 pm

    SO cute! I’m hosting an advent link party and would love for you to join!
    http://nap-timecreations.blogspot.com/2011/12/december-1st-beginning-of-advent.html

    Reply
  29. Cassie says:
    December 2, 2011 at 8:34 pm

    I just finished mine! Thanks so much for the idea/tutorial/printables!

    http://ideachest.blogspot.com/2011/12/another-advent-calendar-update.html

    Reply
  30. DiannaD says:
    July 30, 2012 at 5:34 am

    Hi! I just wanted you to know that I used this printable last year for a countdown calendar and it turned out great! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  31. Jen says:
    September 14, 2012 at 9:29 pm

    Hi there! I’m having trouble downloading your printable. Any tips? I love this project. It’s so cute! I plan to make one for counting down to Halloween, one for Thanksgiving, and one for Christmas. My son will love it!

    Reply
  32. cmluke says:
    November 13, 2012 at 7:55 pm

    Thanks for this tutorial. I stumbled upon it on pinterest and just had to make it. I blogged about it as well. Thanks again!

    http://itspinterestinglife.blogspot.com/2012/11/an-updateits-about-time.html

    Reply
  33. Victoria says:
    November 14, 2012 at 12:10 pm

    What a great project. Love it!! I shared it on my blog today: http://www.vixenmade.com/2012/11/20-adorable-advent-ideas.html
    Victoria recently posted..20 Adorable Advent IdeasMy Profile

    Reply
  34. andrea says:
    November 14, 2012 at 12:44 pm

    I want to download some of the printables but I’m not sure how. Do I have to download a certain program first? You have really cute ideas!
    andrea recently posted..How to Get Started With Baby Sign LanguageMy Profile

    Reply
  35. Little Bird Celebrations says:
    November 25, 2012 at 10:59 am

    Thank you for the detailed instructions. I have seen variations of these advent calendars on Pinterest and am thinking about making one for our preschool class to give the teachers as our class gift, each child filling a tin and maybe adding a photo of each child to the inside.
    http://www.littlebirdcelebrations.com

    Reply

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