Count Down to Christmas With 12 DIY Advent Calendars

Take advantage of what you already have — gift boxes, bags, envelopes — and string them to a branch for an eclectic finished product.

Use small paper or cardboard jewelry boxes you can find at the craft store and put an activity inside of each box for every night of the month!

You can get canvas drawstring bags from the craft store and use fabric paint to write dates on them. Fill each bag with a different treat to open up each day. Fill a basket with the bags, and use it to decorate your home!

Pin small cardboard gift boxes to a framed foam board to achieve this Advent calendar. Use paint pens to adorn the box tops with designs and colors that match the surrounding space.

All this calendar takes is 25 paper lunch bags filled with treats and clothespinned to a strand of wire or twine.