December is the month of advent calendars. Well-known brands launch their new advent calendars featuring the most beautiful products. Opening small compartments from December 1st until Christmas brings a daily dose of surprises. But how much fun is it to make your own advent calendar? It’s easier than you think, and we’d love to tell you how to create your own countdown calendar full of gifts.
Start with an empty advent calendar
Before you start filling an advent calendar, begin by gathering materials such as boxes (large and small), jars, bags, or even envelopes. This depends on how big you want to make the calendar and which gifts you’re putting inside. Number the chosen materials from 1 to 24 and decorate them with festive elements. For example, you can decorate empty shoeboxes, sprinkle envelopes with glitter, or paint wooden crates in Christmas colors. After making 24 compartments, it’s time to start filling them.
In addition to smaller materials for making the calendar yourself, you can also use a shelving unit if you’ve chosen larger gifts. Decorate each compartment with wrapping paper or a piece of fabric.
What’s fun to put in an advent calendar?
What can you fill an advent calendar with? It can be anything, and it’s a good idea to think about this before choosing the materials the gifts need to fit into. For gifts, you could think of:
- Sweets
- Chocolates
- Care products
- Activities
- Personal messages written on a beautiful card
- Gift voucher
Place a gift in each compartment of your advent calendar. Vary them nicely and let the excitement grow for the recipient. Do you want fewer than 24 gifts? That’s also possible, of course! If you have 20 gifts, start filling the advent calendar on December 4th to end on December 24th, the day before Christmas Day.
How did the advent calendar originate?
The origin of the advent calendar doesn’t go back very far. It originated in the 19th century in Germany. It started with counting the days until Christmas by marking chalk lines on doors. Over the years, this developed into the countdown calendar we primarily know as the advent calendar.
Advent calendar step-by-step plan in brief
Follow these steps to make your own advent calendar:
- Decide which gifts you want to fill the calendar with (also consider how many gifts you have).
- Find materials that the gifts will fit into, such as boxes and envelopes.
- Decorate the materials with festive glitter, colors, ribbons, and beads.
- Place the materials next to each other to create a calendar and mix up the numbers for a playful effect.
- Fill the calendar with the gifts.
- Now you’re ready and the countdown can begin!
Are you looking for original Christmas gifts and do you have enough space in the advent calendar? Then take a look at our Christmas page, where we inspire you with the most beautiful Christmas gifts.