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Easy DIY Advent Calendar and 35 Advent Calendar Ideas

This Easy DIY Advent Calendar is made using popsicle sticks. There are also 35 ideas for fun activities and experiences to write on the sticks.
Prep Time5 minutes
Active Time20 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Yield: 1
Author: Vicky

Materials

  • Clean glass jar
  • 25 Popsicle sticks the larger the better
  • Ribbon
  • Double sided tape or a hot glue gun
  • Fine tip permanent marker

Instructions

  • Fold over one end of the wide ribbon about ⅛ of an inch. Then add a few strips of double-sided tape to the back of the wide ribbon.
  • Wrap the ribbon around the jar, making sure it is straight as it goes around. You can also place the ribbon on a table (tape side up) in a straight line and set the jar on it so the ribbon is in the middle. Then you can just pull and stick the ribbon on the jar.
  • Make sure that the end of the ribbon that you folded over is the end that overlaps, as it will look much cleaner than having the unfinished end overlap.
  • Next you will use your thinner ribbon. You will want to cut this ribbon longer than the wide ribbon since you will be tying it. You do not need any adhesive on the back of this ribbon. You can leave the edges on the thinner ribbon as is, or you can cut a little v-shape as I did on mine. Tie the thinner ribbon around the wider ribbon on the jar and make a knot.
  • Write fun Advent ideas on the Popsicle sticks. A fine-tip permanent marker works best for this task.
  • When you are done, place the sticks in the jar and pull out one a night during Advent to do with your family. You can also write a number on the back of the sticks so you know which one to pull out each night. This way you can make sure the activities you have planned go with the time you have on any particular day.

Notes

  • The Popsicle sticks I used are the larger tongue depressor type, but small ones would work as well if that's what you have on hand.
  • I used red and green popsicle sticks. They sell colored Popsicle sticks if you don't want to go through the trouble of dying them yourself. Of course, you can leave them natural as well.
  • A recycled jar would be perfect for this advent calendar. Just make sure you have removed the label.
  • The length of ribbons you use will depend on the width of your jar. You want to make sure you have enough of the wider ribbon to wrap around the jar completely and overlap itself a bit.