Free Printable Christmas Advent Calendar

My inner elf is doing cartwheels over this adorable DIY advent calendar. This year, we’re creating a miniature Christmas village that both kids and adults will love. And the best part? It’s a free printable Christmas advent calendar anyone can put together. Fill those tiny houses with treats, trinkets, or even love notes for a special someone.

Now that my son, Spencer, is all grown up, it seems like the holidays aren’t quite as… chaotic as they used to be. But that doesn’t mean I’ve lost my love for all things Christmas!

In fact, I may have gone a little overboard with the Christmas spirit this year. Blame it on the Hallmark movies and the endless supply of gingerbread cookies! And as crazy as December usually is, I’m determined to slow down and savor the season.

First step? Build this cute advent calendar. Probably more than once because it makes such a great gift! 🎅🏻

📅🎄 DIY Christmas Advent Calendar

This free printable DIY advent calendar is the perfect way to count down the days until Christmas. With 25 pages, starting with Dec 1st and going up to Dec 25th, there’s a little house for each day.

You can fill each house with a small treat or trinket, but we’ll talk about that later. Right now, let’s take a look at how you put it together:

📝 What You’ll Need:

• A printer
• White cardstock paper (U.S. Letter size)
• Paper cutter and ruler or a pair of scissors
• Single hole puncher
• Glue
• Fillers (candy, small toys, trinkets…etc.)
• Optional: Festive embellishments (glitter, ribbon, etc.)

✅ How to Assemble Your Advent Calendar

This is so easy! No need to be a DIY expert. Ever since I made the free printable Halloween advent calendar, I was set on having one for Christmas, and the assembly is a breeze for both.

👉Step 1 – Open the calendar PDF using a PDF reader app like the free Adobe Reader.

👉Step 2 – Print out the templates on cardstock paper. I recommend using heavier-weight paper for sturdiness.

👉Step 3 – Carefully cut out each house along the outer lines. Make it easy on yourself and use a ruler and a paper cutter. You only have to deal with straight lines, and the paper cutter works best in this case. I couldn’t find my paper cutter so I had to use scissors. Lucky me! 😄

👉Step 4 – Fold along the dotted lines to create the walls and roof of the house.

👉Step 5 – Apply glue to the tabs that form the base and sides of the house, attaching them to the corresponding sides.

👉Step 6 – Add your chose filler (treat, toy, trinket…etc.).

👉Step 7 – Apply glue to the remaining tabs that form the roof, securing it in place.

👉Step 8 – Repeat steps 4-7 for each of the 25 houses.

Once the houses are assembled, you can arrange them in any way you like to create your Christmas village. You can also decorate the houses with glitter, ribbon, or other festive embellishments.

🖨️ Grab It Now

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The download link to the free printable Christmas advent calendar will reach your inbox in a few moments.

💒 Advent Calendar Filler Ideas

Okay, now for the fun part: deciding what to put in your charming advent calendar houses! I’ve got some ideas to get your creative juices flowing, whether you’re creating a calendar for kids, adults, or a mix of both.

For the Kiddos

📌Sweet Treats – Let’s be honest, candy is a classic for a reason! Fill those houses with mini candy canes, chocolate coins, gummies, or any other bite-sized goodies that can fit inside.

📌Tiny Toys – Think miniature cars, figurines, bouncy balls, or even those cute little collectible erasers.

📌Fun Activities – Slip in notes with ideas for fun holiday activities, like “Build a snowman!” or “Watch a Christmas movie!”

📌Christmas Jokes – Add a giggle to each day with a silly Christmas joke.

📌Stickers and Temporary Tattoos – Kids love these! Choose festive designs like snowflakes, reindeer, or Santa himself.

For the Grown-Ups

📌Miniature Liquor Bottles – ‘Tis the season to be jolly, right? Add a little nip of something festive to those houses. (Just remember to keep this calendar out of reach of the little ones!)

📌Gift Cards – Perfect for coffee shops, bookstores, or their favorite online store.

📌Jewelry – Think small earrings, a cute pendant, or a charm for a bracelet.

📌Self-Care Goodies – Lip balm, aromatherapy oil rollerballs, or a luxurious hand cream sample.

📌Love Notes or Quotes – Add a personal touch with a sweet message or an inspiring quote.

Creative Ideas

📌Family Activities – Include notes with ideas for activities the whole family can enjoy together, like baking cookies, decorating the tree, or going caroling.

📌Acts of Kindness – Write down simple acts of kindness to do each day, like donating to a charity, helping a neighbor, or complimenting a stranger.

📌Holiday-Themed Trivia – Test your Christmas knowledge with a fun trivia question each day.

☃️ Ways to Display Your Advent Calendar

Alright, you’ve built your adorable little houses, and they’re filled with festive goodies. Now what? Time to show off your creation! Here are a few ideas to get those creative wheels turning:

🏡 The Classic Christmas Village

Arrange your houses to create a charming Christmas village scene. Add some faux snow, miniature trees, and maybe even a tiny Santa figurine for extra holiday magic. Bonus points if you add some twinkling lights!

✨ Centerpiece Surprise

Use your advent calendar houses as a unique and festive centerpiece for your dining table or coffee table. Arrange them on a tray or a decorative plate, and add some greenery, pinecones, or candles for a touch of elegance.

🪔 Mantelpiece Magic

Line up your houses along your mantelpiece for a festive focal point. Combine them with stockings, garland, and other Christmas decorations for a truly eye-catching display.

🌿 Tree Trimmings with a Twist

Hang the lighter houses on your Christmas tree as ornaments! Just loop some ribbon or twine through the roofs, and voilà – instant festive charm.

❄️ Garland Glamour

String your advent calendar houses along a garland for a unique and playful touch. Drape the garland over a doorway, a window, or even your fireplace mantel.

🎁 More Free Christmas Printables

I have more festive freebies for more seasonal fun!

⭐Nice List Certificate – Did your little ones make Santa’s Nice List this year? Celebrate their awesomeness with this free printable and editable Nice List Certificate. It’s straight from Santa’s desk and is sure to make those little faces light up with joy!

⭐Naughty Notice – Uh oh! Looks like someone’s been a little naughty! This free printable Naughty Notice is a fun way to encourage good behavior during the holiday season.

⭐Christmas Charades – Get the whole family laughing with these free printable Christmas charades cards. They’re perfect for parties, family gatherings, or even as fillers for your DIY advent calendar!

⭐Christmas Story Activity Sheets – Keep the little ones entertained with these free printable Christmas story activity sheets. They’re packed with coloring pages, word searches, and other fun activities that will spark their creativity and get them excited about the holidays.