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We’ve reached the end of the year and the busiest season of the year! My kids ask every year for an advent calendar and they absolutely love it. We’ve done a variety of advent calendars: candy, socks, activities, you name it! I will admit, their favorite has definitely been the candy ones, but I know they also love getting into the holiday spirit with Christmas activities.
Here is an advent calendar that you can print off and use for years. Knowing that every year is going to be different, you can also change the text so that you can plan the activities based on your schedule. The text can be changed in Canva and is free and easy to use!
Here’s what you’re going to need:
- Cardstock
- Advent Printable Calendar Cover (Green & Pink / Red & Blue / Red & Green)
- Activity Page – Edit in Canva
- Cutting Mat
- Precision/Exacto Knife
- 8×10 Frame
- Tape
How to put it together:
- Print out the Advent Calendar Cover on cardstock.
- Using a cutting mat and precision/exacto knife, start cutting 3 sides of each box on the Advent Calendar so that it opens up like a door. You don’t want to cut off all of the sides on each box.
- To print out and/or change the text on the Activity Page, go to Canva and edit the text on the template.
- To print out the Activity Page, select “Share” at the top right corner, choose Download and for file type, choose PDF Print. Once you’ve selected the file type, click download.
- Line the Advent Calendar and Activity Page behind it.
- If using a matted frame, tape the pages to the matte and line up the 2nd page. If using a frame without a matte, sides down to fit a 8×10 frame.
See the video on how to put the Advent Calendar together: Instagram Video
Need some ideas for your Advent Calendar?
- Watch a Christmas Movie
- Look at Christmas Lights
- Bake Cookies
- Make a homemade gift and deliver to a friend/neighbor
- Wear an Ugly Christmas Sweater
- Look at Christmas Lights
- Make a holiday craft
- Write a letter to Santa
- Read a Christmas Book
- Hot Chocolate Bar
- Make a Ginger Bread House
- Make Magical Reindeer Food
- Donate a gift to someone in need
- Go Ice Skating
- Listen to Christmas Songs
- Send Christmas Cards
- Have a Sleepover by the Tree
- Visit Santa
- Watch a holiday show
- Visit a Christmas Market
- Play in the snow
- Make a Christmas Ornament
- Play board games in Pajamas
- Wrap Christmas Presents
- Try a new Christmas Cookie Recipe
- Donate Food
- Take family pictures
- Go Sledding
- Leave Cookies for Santa
- Attend or Host a Christmas Party