DIY Paper Envelope Advent Calendar
For me, the countdown to Christmas day is as exciting as the event itself. I just love all the buildup and anticipation.
What better way to start the countdown to Christmas than with an advent calendar. Homemade ones are the best, as you get to choose what you put inside them. With this paper envelope advent calendar there is a chocolate treat and cheesy Christmas joke for each day.
The calendar is very easy to make. I used Christmas craft paper to make mine. However, you can use any paper from upcycled Christmas wrapping paper, old book pages and even maps to make yours. So many possibilities!
This post contains Amazon affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to see my disclosure policy.
What you need to make an Envelope Advent Calendar
- Envelope template : You can buy one cheaply online or you can download this one here (Envelope template) and cut your own out of cardboard.
- Christmas paper, can either be craft paper, old wrapping paper or even Christmas paper out of magazines. I use a combination of all these.
- Glue stick, scissors, & Christmas twine
- Mini craft pegs.
- Number stencils
- Wooden coat Hanger.
- Red spray paint
How to make an Envelope Advent Calendar
- Using whatever Christmas paper you have chosen, make the mini paper envelopes. Use the template for this. You will need 25 envelopes or 24 if you are a 24-day advent calendar kind of person.
I have found that there is a big debate on whether advent calendars should be 25 or 24 days. Personally, I think you should just do how many days you like. I’ve even seen shop bought advent calendars go up to New Year’s Eve! - Next, stencil, draw or paint a number on each envelope 1 – 25. Then fill them with treats and jokes.
- When all the envelopes are made it’s time to decide how you want to hang them. I spray painted an old wooden hanger red and then hung my envelopes from this using the craft pegs and twine. Doing it this way enabled me to hang it easily on the back of boys bedroom doors.
You can of course just hang them on the string like bunting.
You may have noticed I have hung my numbered envelopes in a random order, that’s just a personal preference. For me, part of the fun of an advent calendar is hunting for the right day. Also in life, I generally err on the side of randomness rather than order and symmetry.
What do you put in your advent calendars? As children we used to have those paper calendars where you’d open the window each day to reveal a different picture there wasn’t a chocolate in sight. Now there would be a mutiny if my boys didn’t have a daily sweet treat in their calendars. But I think they like the cheesy jokes more, even though they won’t admit it.
One of the best advent calendars I had was from my husband, and everyday there was a different alcoholic chocolate truffle.
If your a bit short of Christmas jokes the Telegraph compiled a list of the best 50.
With 3 boys in our home we have more than one advent calendar each one different. If you are looking for more ideas for DIY advent calendars you should check out my tin can upcyeld advent calendar or my jeans pocket handmade advent calender.
You might like some of my other Christmas crafts:
15 Unique Christmas Advant Calendars
Giant Christmas Felt Letters
Upcycled Felt Garland
Christmas Elf on the Shelf
DIY Compte à rebours de Noël Calendrier de l'Avent Idées et tutoriels - Budget-friendly
Thursday 14th of November 2019
[…] Chacune de ces enveloppes en papier est remplie de friandises au chocolat et de plaisanteries de Noël au fromage pour chaque jour. C'est très facile à faire. Vous avez juste besoin de papier d'artisanat de Noël ou de n'importe quel papier provenant de papier d'emballage de Noël recyclé, de vieilles pages de livres et même de cartes pour créer le vôtre. Apprenez à les fabriquer Boîte pilier bleu. […]
DIY Christmas Countdown Advent Calendar Ideas & Tutorials - For Creative Juice
Tuesday 12th of November 2019
[…] Each of these paper envelope is fulled with chocolate treat and cheesy Christmas joke for each day. It is very easy to make. You just need some Christmas craft paper or any paper from upcycled Christmas wrapping paper, old book pages and even maps to make yours. Learn how to make them from Pillar Box Blue. […]
Julie
Sunday 12th of November 2017
That's clever. I made a very basic similar advent calendar for my husband years ago (he felt he was missing out when the kids were opening their's each morning!) and just cut old manilla envelopes in half thinking it would be a one off funny thing for us to do. We used that same tatty old thing for YEARS! I think an upgrade might be in order, he would love one like this. This will be one the the features at Handmade Monday later on today :-)
Claire Armstrong
Sunday 12th of November 2017
Thank you, Julie that's a lovely story. Look forward to seeing the feature.
Mary
Tuesday 7th of November 2017
Claire this is so simple to make and yet so adorable. That is what Christmas should be all about. Making crafts with the family and then enjoying the holidays. Not running around spending money ton tons of things others may or may not want. You obviously have many fond memories from your advent calender's.
Claire Armstrong
Wednesday 8th of November 2017
Thank you Mary. That is my favourite part of Christmas is the making. I would love it if everyone made their gifts. I always have loads of things I want to make at Christmas, I'm working on about 6 different crafts at the moment.
Leanna
Tuesday 7th of November 2017
I really enjoy all the variations of diy advent calendars. They are so much nicer than their commercial counterparts. Love this one with the various colours.
Claire Armstrong
Wednesday 8th of November 2017
Thank you Leanna, I always love a bit of colour.