Holiday Extravaganza: 15 Creative Advent Calendars

December 10, 2010

Holiday Extravaganza: 15 Creative Advent Calendars

For some, the holiday season means shopping, eating, baking, wrapping and eating some more. But for me, I enjoy taking time out to make a few memorable crafts with my family and friends. High on my priority list before Dec 1st hits? Advent calendars.

Just for fun (and to inspire my own craft-making!), I’ve rounded up my favorite advent calendars online — all 15 of them! Some are for sale, but most are handmade, homespun and completely inspired. Ready for the round-up?:

With little more than vintage flash cards, paperclips and ribbon, Country Living created a sweet advent garland perfect for children and adults alike.
Christmas craft king Sweet Paul’s advent calendar was created from matchboxes and paper scraps. Genius!
Have a few mini metal tins hanging around? Check out Twig & Thistle’s magnetic holiday advent calendar.
A buyable ($100) wooden advent calendar perfect for gift-giving from Not on the High Street.
With a few craft sticks and origami boxes, channel CraftyNest’s clever take on an advent tree.
Christmas advent cones? Easy peasy.
Garnet Hill’s bringing it this year with two great advent designs: Buckets of Joy advent banner ($24) and Lollipop Tree advent calendar ($68).
Advent pouches? Brilliant!
Create your advent calendar with nothing more than office supplies with Nice Package’s mini envelope advent tree. So simple!
For the typography-lover in your life, Ali Edwards’ font-inspired advent boxes are a sure hit.
The prettiest pegboard I’ve ever seen becomes instant holiday decor with this advent calendar tutorial.
A downloadable advent calendar for the lazy crafter? Yes, please!
From Pottery Barn hails a bucket and branch advent calendar ($300). Pricey, but beautiful.
A-ha! Another downloadable advent calendar. Bonus!
Yuletide excitement in one fell swoop with Uusi’s illustrated advent calendar ($65).

Whew! You’ve got some work to do, friends. If you tackle any of the above holiday crafts, tell us in the comment section! We’d simply love to see your skills!