How to Make a Homemade Advent Calendar – My Dollar Store DIY

Posted in Christmas, HOLIDAYS, My Dollar Store DIY, Winter: Seasonal Decor and Crafts

on October 25, 2018

This refillable homemade advent calendar is made from dollar store items and is an adorable accent for counting down to Christmas. Fill this homemade advent calendar with your favorite treats, small presents, or activities for a memorable and personal Christmas season!

What?! It’s not even Halloween yet, and I JUST posted a Halloween tablescape a few days ago! Have I lost my mind!? No – I have not. Well, maybe a little. But that’s not new or news! What IS going on is that I, along with a few of my friends, am hoping to help you lovelies get a jump start on the season! I’m super excited to be joining the My Dollar Store DIY girls with some super easy holiday ideas that won’t break the bank and are doABLE! Be sure to scroll down to the bottom to see all the other holiday ideas as well!

Christmas is in 62 Days

Today, I am sharing a beautiful homemade advent calendar made from simple Dollar Store items that can be reused every year. Metal favor buckets (from the wedding aisle) are the perfect way to create a customized Christmas countdown calendar. This homemade advent calendar is made with 25 little buckets for you to fill up for each day in December. There are so many different you can use to fill an advent calendar – this one uses small treats – but you could just as easily fill the buckets with activity ideas or small toys.

Treats for the Kids and One for You!

I got so far ahead of myself that I even wrapped up a few little presents in my favorite wrapping paper – I hope I can find it again this year! I also printed off a sheet of fun gift tags from last year. Want to download them, too? Get these adorable Christmas Gift Tags for free – click HERE to get them! Now on to the how-to!

How to Make a Homemade Advent Calendar

You’ll need:

12″x 24″ rug or piece of foam board
white paint
25- metal buckets (9 packages from the dollar tree) with tags and ribbon
decorative pattern file folder or cardstock
Scissors or 2″ paper punch
bakers twine
Number stickers – I used something similar to this
small hooks with adhesive backing
ribbon
2-small eye screws
2 – 12″x 1″ pieces of wood
2 – 24″x 1″ pieces of wood

Prepare the Board

Paint the board or posterboard white. Let dry.

Make the Tags

Cut out 25 cardstock circles and punch a hole in the top of each card.

Apply the number stickers 1 through 25 to the unprinted side of the tags included with the buckets. Then, stack the numbered circle over the cardstock and thread together with a piece of baker’s twine.

Add the Buckets

Remove the handles from all 25 buckets.

Thread the number tags through one side of the bucket tabs used to hold the handles. Fold the flap over to prevent the tag string from coming off, then, add a loop of baker’s twine to the other tab to be used for hanging.

Position and stick the hooks evenly onto the board. I used a 5-4-5-4-7 pattern, but use what looks best to you.

Add trim pieces around the rug to create a frame using glue then screw eye screws into the top and thread ribbon through for hanging.

I added some snowflakes to each of my buckets, giving my homemade advent calendar the final touch I was looking for.

Once completed, hang the buckets on the hooks and fill with your favorite treats, toys or activities!

Now I’m just sitting here waiting for December 1st to roll around so I can start using it! How about you – are you thinking about Christmas yet?

Don’t forget to stop by and take a peek at these other lovely Christmas Decor ideas! Thanks for stopping by!

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