1. Crate and Balls

To make this cute DIY advent calendar, you will need a vintage soda crate, tree ornaments, and foam numbers. You simply glue the numbers to the Christmas balls and then display them in the crate. Easy!

Tutorial

2. Painted Bottles

Got lots of bottles and jars? Instead of letting them gather dust in your garage, you can take them out, paint them green (or red or silver), and use them as components of your advent calendar. If you use chalkboard paint, you can write the numbers directly on the bottles and jars.

Tutorial

3. Buckets

How fun! These tiny tin buckets are sold in dollar stores. For this craft project, you will also need number stickers, a piece of wood, some paint, and other embellishments. The great thing about this idea is that you can make your version follow any holiday color theme you may have in your home.

Tutorial

4. Magnetic Metal Tins

If you can't find tiny buckets but there is an abundance of metal tins in the craft store nearest you, this DIY advent calendar idea is for you. This tutorial is brought to us by Twig & Thistle and they were gracious enough to provide us with a template of the numbers.

Tutorial

5. Pillow

If you're in the mood for a DIY advent calendar that you can sew, you can go for this fun pillow case tutorial. The numbers on this pillow case were stamped but you can choose to embroider them.

Tutorial

6. Japanese Paper

Isn't this the sweetest? To make this, you will need pretty paper (with Japanese pattern or not), gold card stock, gold thread, and several long twigs. Basically, you will use the pretty paper to make stars, paste gold numbers on them, and then hang everything from the twigs.

Tutorial

7. Framed Ornaments

This beautiful advent calendar is Pottery Barn-Inspired. What I love about this is the elegance; the use of neutral colors is beautiful. Stephanie Lynn has a comprehensive tutorial on her blog, so head on over.

Tutorial

8. Clothespins

Here is another easy craft project that will help you count down the days until Christmas. To make this, you will need an unused frame, 25 clothespins, spray paint, and numbers (printed or freehand drawn).

Tutorial

9. Matchboxes

This is a fantastic recycling holiday decor idea. The base of this advent calendar is a cookie sheet. You cover the matchboxes with Christmas wrappers, add printed numbers, place magnet sheets to the back, and then arrange them on the cookie sheet. That's it.

Tutorial

10. Hanging Star Pouches

This is a similar idea to the Japanese stars one I have mentioned here but it's just as cute and creative. The stars you see here are pouches with treats inside. You make them by sewing the sides with pretty silver thread.

Tutorial

Will you be making a DIY advent calendar this year? I hope that our list of handmade advent calenders here give you loads of inspiration!