Easy DIY Advent Calendar

I know, I know – you’re going to think I’m crazy with Christmas posts this soon after Hallowe’en – but there is a method to my madness.

DIY advent calendars take time to make; you have to gather your supplies, decided on your treats, create a display and then package it all up to look pretty.

TODAY is a great day to make your own DIY advent calendar because YOU HAVE THE TREATS!

Yup, leftover Hallowe’en candy!

Better still, I’m going to show you how to make the easiest darn DIY advent calendar there is – probably with supplies you already have!

You’ll want to bring out your Christmas wrapping paper, like this cutie polar bear print from Innisbrook, a pair of scissors or a scissor mouse (life-changing invention!) some double-sided tape and a bit of silver string to hang.

Cut your wrapping paper down to 8″ squares.

On the back, lay three pieces of double-sided tape as seen below.

No specific measurements, and the tape does not need to run end-to-end – just a strip to seal the sides.

Roll your wrapping paper up into a tube and seal it by removing the wax strip from one of your pieces of double-sided tape. You will still have two sides that have tape on them opposite to each other.

Remove another wax strip from the tape and press down on one end of your tube.

Stuff your tube with leftover Hallowe’en candy, treats or details of an activity to do that day.

For instance, I inserted a little folded note into each tube outlining something we would do that day like; “December 1st – write our lists to Santa”, and “December 17th – bake Holiday cookies”. I’ll put a list below if you’re looking for ideas.

Remove the last wax strip from your tape and seal the end perpendicular to the first end. I believe these are called “sour cream containers” and they are SO EASY to make.

If you have specific days you want to do specific tasks, make sure to number your sour cream containers right away. I used adhesive vinyl to impress you, but really a marker would have been fine.

The ends of my DIY Advent calendar tubes were embellished a bit by using my ‘crinkler‘, then I punched a hole and threaded each with a bit of string.

So how do you display your awesome DIY advent calendar? On the tree of course!

Spread each sour cream container out randomly and each day the kids can search out and find their treat!

I told you this was easy!

Wrapping paper, tube, pinch, punch, string and hang… plus you’ll be using up that leftover candy that would only go to your rear-end if it was in sight anyways. You hear me, I know.

Not all of these will apply to you, but perhaps they’ll trigger something that works for your family:

Dec. 1 – 23 more sleeps until Christmas Day! To start the season off right, let’s find a book to read together
Dec. 2 – Family Movie Night! Bring out a Christmas classic and enjoy popcorn together
Dec. 3 – it’s time to set up your Christmas trees! Let’s get your room decorated!
Dec. 4 – Are your Christmas wish lists done? If not today is the day to get it finished and off in the mail.
Dec. 5 – In the colours of the Season, let’s eat a red and green supper!
Dec. 6 – It’s a quiet night tonight – why not spend some time making Christmas crafts?
Dec. 7 – Wonderful Wednesday! It’s time to give to others; let’s gather gifts for the Angel Tree at school.
Dec. 8 – It’s ‘treat a stranger day’ – We’ll treat the person in the car behind us to a treat at the drive-thru.
Dec. 9 – Time to make cards for your special friends and loved ones.
Dec. 10 – Ugly Sweater Contest! Take and old sweater and decorate it to win the “Ugly Sweater of the Year” prize!
Dec. 11 – Gather up canned food for the Food Bank and take them to school in the morning.
Dec. 12 – RAK. Random Act of Kindness Day. Spend the day doing kind things for others.
Dec. 13 – Our windows are looking bare – let’s create our own snow flurry by hanging paper snowflakes!
Dec. 14 – Wonderful Wednesday! Kids cook dinner tonight! Anything you want, any colours you choose!
Dec. 15 – 10 Sleeps left! How about a family game night? Choose a game and the winner gets a treat!
Dec. 16 – Do you think the skating rink is ready? Let’s go check out the Christmas lights at the park and have some fun!
Dec. 17 – It’s getting cold, which means the birds will be looking for food. Let’s create some bird feeders to help see them through the winter.
Dec. 18 – We haven’t tackled our Holiday baking?! Plan to spend part of the day covered in flour, sugar and chocolate chips!
Dec. 19 – Time to deliver our specially-baked treats. Do we wrap them and deliver them with a tag, or do we ring-and-run to surprise your friends?
Dec. 20 – We haven’t tried a puzzle together – Mommy has a secret gift that we can open tonight and work together.
Dec. 21 – Wonderful Wednesday! It’s Lacey, Otis and Phoebe’s turn for some Holiday cheer. How can we spoil them for Christmas?
Dec. 22 – Hot Cocoa night… but with all of the fixings! Choose what toppings you’d like and let’s create the ultimate hot chocolate!
Dec. 23 – Last day of school! Take in your Christmas treats for the class and give your Teacher a warm Holiday hug.

I planned these around extracurricular activities and weekends, so if you’re reading this in any year other than 2016, you’ll want to shift them slightly.