Christmas crafts season in officially up on the blog, Yeah!!!! The advent calendar has become a tradition in our family. Each year I try to find a new way to make one. I use to fill the calendar with candies and chocolates but I want to try something different this year. Instead of goodies, each day we will open a paper star and find an activity to make together.
It’s a nice way to spend a little more time with each other…at the end it’s what Christmas time is about. The kids also participate and made some suggestions, here are some of the things we are going to make: playing family games, bake a cake, make a pillow fight, go to the playground, eating crêpes (several time…my kids love crepes).
You can adapt this idea to your family, maybe you would prefer to write some quotes, thoughts or nice things to do to treat yourself. Tell me, what would you like to fill your advent calendar with?
DIY Paper Star Advent Calendar
This Christmas calendar is quite simple to make, here goes the list of material you will need:
- 24 sheets of brown paper (or any other color you like)
- The PDF star template (If you already are a member, click HERE for direct access)
- Printer
- Sewing machine and white thread
- White embroidery thread
- Some small Christmas ornaments
- A hole puncher
- A dowel and a wood ring
The free template is available in my FREE resource library along with a bunch of other great prints and patterns. All you need to do is fill out the form and check your inbox for a welcome email with the password in. Click here to get in >>>> FREE LIBRARY ACCESS
You first need to print the star shapes. Once the 24 sheets are printed, cut the 48 stars, one for the front and one for the back of each envelope.
To create the envelope I stitched the sides of both stars, leaving the top open to be able to slide a note inside. No worries if you don’t have a sewing machine, you can just glue the edges together it will work as fine.
Punch a hole in the top tip, and put a note with some family activities to do, a nice a quote, or the name of a Christmas tale to read.
Put your stars in lines (or not), just arrange them the way you want to hang them on the dowel.
Cut a piece of string and attach each star on the dowel. If you like, you can add some small ornaments like bells, wooden beads, pine branches… You can also wrap some garland around the dowel. To hang the advent calendar on the wall, cut a piece of string pass a wooden ring and attach the string at each end of the dowel.
And done! wait until December first and enjoy every day before Christmas.
>> DOWNLOAD THE STARS TEMPLATE <<<
The star template is available in my free resource library along with a bunch of other great prints and patterns. All you need to do is fill out the form and check your inbox for a welcome email with the password in. Click here to get in >>>> FREE LIBRARY ACCESS
Having the Christmas calendar hanged on the wall saves some space and makes a nice wall decoration at the same time. I like natural and Scandinavian Christmas decor, that’s why I choose a brown paper. But as I said you can make your paper calendar the color you like, and add some glittery ornaments is sparkling Christmas is more to your taste.
Tell me, What color would you like to make your calendar? Don’t hesitate to share your creations in comment or via email at amaohoh(at)gmail(dot)com, I love to see what you make!
I love making Christmas crafts, so you may also enjoy this others advent calendar ideas:
- The elves house Christmas calendar
- A last minute paper advent calendar
- Minimal Christmas advent calendar.
Sylvia
Sunday 3rd of November 2024
This would be a great way to recycle grocery bags or, for sturdier stars, cereal boxes!
amaryllis
Thursday 7th of November 2024
Using cereal boxes is a great idea! Thanks for sharing! Have fun crafting!
nhg
Saturday 18th of November 2023
good
amaryllis
Monday 20th of November 2023
Thanks
Gloria
Wednesday 1st of December 2021
Merry Christmas
amaryllis
Thursday 9th of December 2021
Thank you! Merry Christmas to you too Gloria.
Diane Walters
Wednesday 23rd of September 2020
I just wanted to say thank you so much for posting this great idea! My husband just turned 40 so I used this idea and did 40 numbers and in each one, I had a small gift until he got to the 40 and I put in custom cufflinks it was a huge success and I am so grateful! Thanks again!
amaryllis
Thursday 24th of September 2020
Hello Diane, what a great idea to make a countdown to a birthday. I'm glad you and your husband enjoyed this calendar idea.
Whitney
Thursday 30th of July 2020
I love this idea! I have made a calendar for Halloween using pumpkins, Christmas the stars, and Valentine's day with hearts! I love them, for valentines on even put a necklace on the back for my daughter, she loved it! Thank you for the cute idea!
amaryllis
Monday 3rd of August 2020
What a nice idea to make calendars for more festive days. I'm sure my kids will enjoy it! Thanks Whitney.