Sweet & Simple: Make This Easy DIY Advent Calendar

updated Apr 30, 2019
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Post Image
(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

No matter your decor style for the holiday season, this advent calendar/gift cluster can hang, literally. Glam it up with a disco ball ornament (or five!), add color by wrapping the gifts in the same papers that are under the tree, or go over the top with your greenery by adding bright berries or flowers. Whatever your preference, our tutorial will get you started on counting down the days till Christmas.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

What You Need

Materials

  • Envelopes, tiny boxes, tissue paper, wrapping paper, other paper ephemera and decor (enough for 24 small items)
  • Ball of twine
  • 1/2″ x 36″ dowel rod
  • Greenery (I used an olive branch)
  • Floral wire
  • Tape
  • Number stamp kit or permanent marker (optional)

Tools

  • Scissors

Instructions

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

1. Start by gathering your 24 tiny gifts and place them in boxes, or wrap them in paper. Stumped as to what to give? Check out our list of tiny things to fill those boxes.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

2. Once you’ve collected everything you can either number each package, or leave them blank. I picked up a number stamp kit at the craft store and tagged each package. The numbers won’t necessarily hang next to each other in order on your wall hanging, so if that bugs you, you might want to leave them blank.

3. After all the presents are in order, get to work on prepping the dowel rod with the twine to hang the gifts from. To do this, you’ll want to first cut 12 long lengths of twine. I cut each string the length of my arms, outstretched. Once they’re wrapped around the dowel rod, you’ll have 24 strings to hang gifts from.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

4. Take each length of twine, fold it in half, and make a Larks head knot around the dowel. Start by placing the twine under the dowel rod.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

Bring the loop up.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

And pull the tail through.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

Pull the end of the tail taut so that it’s snug around the dowel rod.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

Do this with the remaining 11 lengths of twine.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

5. Add a simple hanger to the dowel rod by tying a length of string around each end of the rod. Before attaching the gifts, place the hanging on a wall. This will give you a better idea of layout and balance as you attach the packages. It might look meager at first, but keep at it – once all the packages are in place it looks great!

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

Move the strings around if you need to to balance the gifts and keep the rod level.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

6. Lastly, add greenery to make it festive. I chose an olive branch because of its simplicity, and even though it wilts a bit, it will continue to look festive all throughout the season. To keep the branch looking full, add more greenery than you think you’ll want, this way when it begins to dry the wall hanging will still look full.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

Don’t overthink this step, just grab some thin floral wire and attach each branch to the dowel rod. Try to keep the wire somewhat inconspicuous.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

That’s it! A pretty, simple wall hanging turned advent calendar that can easily be modified to fit your taste.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)
(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

If you’re not a fan of olive branch, ask your florist silver dollar eucalyptus, or one of the many types of pine to make your home not only look festive, but smell festive as well.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

Not sure how to fill up your calendar this year? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Tiny Gifts for ideas.

And for more advent calendar inspiration, check out our 35 DIY Advent Calendars to Make Now So You’re Ready For December.

Have a really great DIY project or tutorial that you want to share with others? Let us know! We love checking out what you’re making these days, and learning from our readers. When you’re ready, click here to submit your project and photos.