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Kids will be thrilled! A collection of DIY Christmas advent calendar ideas

Kids will be thrilled! A collection of DIY Christmas advent calendar ideas

Last updated:2025/11/6

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Accompanist / Piano Instructoryuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.

How about turning the countdown to Christmas into an even more exciting time? If you make your own Advent calendar, the joy of opening each day becomes something special.

Here, we’ll introduce a variety of DIY Advent calendars you can create with 100-yen shop items: box-style and gift-bag types, space-saving board styles, and house-shaped versions made with origami.

These ideas use everyday materials like plastic cups, paper bags, and coffee filters, so they’re perfect for making together with your kids.

Choosing the sweets or messages to tuck inside will also become one of your cherished Christmas memories!

Kids will be thrilled! Handmade Christmas Advent Calendar Ideas (1–10)

Packed with fun! An interactive Advent calendar

How about making a fun, hands-on advent calendar? Inside envelopes labeled with the dates are cards with messages.

Each card has a simple mission like “Take a photo with Santa” or “Decorate the tree.” They’re all Christmas-themed, sure to make every day delightful! When you create it, think of missions that are manageable for your child’s age.

If you prepare envelopes in Christmas colors and hang them on the wall, they’ll double as decorations.

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Stylish and cute advent calendar

[100-Yen DIY] Make a stylish and cute advent calendar with Seria origami

Stylish and cute advent calendar

Here are some stylish advent calendar ideas you can make using patterned paper and black construction paper.

Fold the patterned paper into a small bag, add the contents, then close it by forming a 3D triangle.

Cut the black construction paper into tag shapes, stamp the dates with gold ink, then punch holes in both the triangular patterned paper and the tags and thread them together with string.

You can display the finished pieces in a basket, or hang them as ornaments on your Christmas tree—they’ll look adorable either way.

Semi-transparent and metallic patterned papers are especially recommended!

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Advent calendar made from 100-yen store Petit Blocks

@erikahome8
An advent calendar made with DAISO Petit Blocks 🎄💓 Perfect for my daughter who loves building ♡ I made it inspired by a post from @Suu 🐒 Home Play/Early Learning/Montessori ☺️🎄💓Advent calendar
3:03 PM – Sharou

When it comes to advent calendars, it’s standard to have a little cute treat each day, but how about making it mini-sized building blocks instead? Using 100-yen store mini blocks is an easy option, but be sure to choose a set appropriate for the child’s age! First, separate the blocks needed for each step of the build, and put them into small zippered storage bags.

If possible, copy the instruction sheet, cut it into steps, and include the relevant part with each bag—this will enhance the excitement of “I wonder what it will be?” On the final day, you could make it special by adding a message card and having them search for a treasure filled with sweets!

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A beaded tree is complete! An advent calendar that looks like candy

@n.annlee321
Support us in the TikTok Awards with one vote every day until 11/19! Thank you so much 😭🙏💓 Let’s spread the excitement together 😊🫶✨ This year’s Christmas advent calendar is a beaded tree 🎄Life with children Parenting Childcare Childcare #Christmas
♬ Christmas song “Let’s decorate” – 3KTrack

The contents of Advent calendars are often candy or toys, but this one uses beads—once you collect them all, you can make a tree.

Each bead is individually wrapped like candy, which is adorable, and it looks fun to watch the tree gradually take shape.

Set the pipe cleaner base on the first day, and let the kids thread the beads onto it as if they were stringing them.

Please create it with the letter “A” in mind.

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100-yen store DIY! Advent calendar made with cups and a wooden box

December 2, 2023 [100-yen DIY / Making Christmas Decor] Late-night prep for a Christmas advent calendar #ChristmasAdventCalendar #100YenSpecimenBox #MakingChristmasDecor

100-yen store DIY! Advent calendar made with cups and a wooden box

Here’s an idea for an advent calendar made by filling a tall cup with a Christmas design with presents.

Prepare your favorite sweets and small items, pick a few, wrap them in origami paper, and place them in the cup so the contents can’t be seen.

Stick date-numbered labels on the sides of the cups, set them in a wooden box, and you’re done.

You can buy a wooden box or make one yourself by assembling pieces of wood.

If your child can read numbers, try arranging the cups in the wooden box at random on purpose.

If you say, “Where’s today’s cup?” it’ll feel like a treasure hunt and they’ll have fun with it.

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Advent calendar made with 100-yen shop items

[100-yen shop] 2024 Seria Advent Calendar Making — Making an Advent Calendar with My Grandchild — 100-yen Shop Advent Calendar

Advent calendar made with 100-yen shop items

When you want to make an advent calendar easily, the ones from 100-yen shops that you just assemble are super handy! There are various designs, so you can buy your favorite, put it together, then just fill it with sweets or toys and you’re done.

Since sweets and toys are also sold at 100-yen shops, you can buy everything in one go.

You can fill it and give it to your kids as a present, or have them help during the making stage and let them pack their favorite treats—it sounds fun either way.

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House-shaped Advent calendar

How to Make a House-Shaped Christmas Ornament – It Can Also Be an Advent Calendar! How to Make a Simple Christmas Ornament

House-shaped Advent calendar

How about making house-shaped Christmas ornaments out of kraft paper? They’re simple and stylish, and if you put candy inside, they become an advent calendar.

First, prepare a house-shaped template and cut the kraft paper.

Next, use a white pen to draw roof patterns, windows, and a door.

Fold it up, apply glue to the tabs, and assemble.

Then punch a hole in the roof and thread a string in your favorite color through it.

Put in your child’s favorite treats, attach another string, and hang it on the Christmas tree.

The window and roof patterns will look cute in a variety of colors, too!

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