Get Ready for the Holidays: Advent Calendar Ideas and Inspiration 🎄🎁

About Advent Calendars

Hi, Reader,

How are you doing?
It’s wild how all the content on social media transforms from spooky to jolly overnight! 🎃 -> 🎅
I need more time to adapt to this change!

Too early?

It happens every year right after Halloween, but I'm never ready!

One of my ways to get into the Christmas mood is by making an Advent calendar for my daughter. This tradition began years ago when she was three or four. I sewed linen bags and hand-embroidered the numbers from 1 to 24. We both got so used to having this handmade calendar that now, even at 19, she still looks forward to it. I continue to fill the same calendar for her each year.

What to put into the Advent calendar?

Every November, I start looking for small treats and cute mini gifts, brainstorming ideas for what to put in my daughter’s calendar. We’ve been through all the phases—from sweets and toys to movie tickets, hair accessories, and makeup.
If you’re not a fan of candy, here are some ideas for small gifts to place in calendar bags:

Hair accessories: Cute elastics, hair clips, headbands, bows, scrunchies, etc.
Craft materials and art supplies: Crafty children, teenagers, and even adults enjoy new supplies for their projects.
Bookmarks: Perfect for any book lover.
Tickets: Movie, theater, concert, art gallery, fair, or food-related event tickets. These can be paid or free. Print the tickets or event information and place them in the calendar.
Your services: A ticket for “breakfast in bed” or a “foot massage” is always appreciated.
Family activities: Plan a picnic in the park, bird feeding, cookie baking and decorating, or a walk in the snowy woods. Print the plan for the day and place it in the calendar.
Staples: A cute pen, a highlighter in an unusual color, or an adorable eraser make great additions.
Accessories: Keychains, coin purses, and other small accessories are nice Advent gifts.
Clothes: Cute socks and mittens are my favorite additions.
Notes: Love notes, appreciation notes, or encouragement notes. Holiday quotes or handwritten memories also make wonderful gifts.

Make it or buy one?

Either option works great!

There were years when I bought a ready-made calendar, and it worked well. Recently, though, I’ve noticed my daughter appreciates the handmade calendar more. We’ve reused the same bags for years, but the gifts inside are always new, original, and suited to her current interests and age.

If you’re looking for a ready-made Advent calendar, check out my article “Embroidery Advent Calendar: The Perfect Holiday Gift for Stitchers,” where I list some pre-made calendars for stitchers and crafters, as well as empty calendars you can fill with your own treats.

Planning to make an Advent calendar?

If you’re thinking of making an Advent calendar from scratch, there’s still time! Here are some patterns for inspiration:

Advent calendar sewing pattern and sewing instructions on Etsy

Advent calendar PDF sewing pattern on Etsy

Embroidery advent calendar numbers with tutorial on Etsy

Small gifts you can make to put in the calendar:

P.S.: If the Advent calendar is not your thing, but you are looking for Christmas embroidery inspiration, check out Christmas related articles and tutorials on the Practical Embroidery blog!

Till next week!

Tatjana