Creative Ideas for Filling a DIY Advent Calendar
Making your own advent calendar is a wonderful way to add a personal touch to the holiday season. But once you’ve designed or assembled your handmade calendar, the big question arises — what should go inside each little door, pouch, or box?
Whether you’re creating an advent calendar for children, adults, couples, friends, or even customers, the possibilities for what you can include are endless. Below, we explore a variety of creative, thoughtful, and affordable ideas to help you fill your DIY calendar with surprises that will delight every day.
1. Treats and Edible Surprise
Food is a classic and universally loved option for advent calendars.
- Mini chocolates or truffles
- Wrapped candies or lollipops
- Tea bags or single-serve coffee sachets
- Spices or small spice jars
- Mini cookie cutters
- Honey sticks or jam samples
- Hot cocoa packets
- Marshmallows in festive shapes
For foodies, consider mixing gourmet items with homemade treats or local products.
2. For Kids: Fun and Engaging Items
Children love advent calendars filled with playful surprises.
- Stickers or temporary tattoos
- Small puzzles or Lego pieces (build a model over 24 days)
- Crayons, markers, or mini paints
- Mini figurines or plastic animals
- Holiday-themed erasers or sharpeners
- Joke cards or riddles
- Tiny books or story prompts
- Craft supplies like beads, buttons, or googly eyes
- DIY ornaments to make each day
To make it extra interactive, you can include small activity cards like “Let’s bake cookies today” or “Make a snowflake decoration.”
3. Self-Care and Beauty Ideas
For adults or teens, fill your calendar with wellness or beauty miniatures.
- Lip balm or mini lotion
- Face masks or sheet masks
- Nail polish
- Scented candles or wax melts
- Bath salts or bath bombs
- Perfume samples
- Essential oil rollers
- Hair accessories or clips
- Compact mirrors
Self-care-themed calendars are perfect for friends, partners, or anyone who could use a little pampering.
4. Personalized Notes and Messages
These are free to make but deeply meaningful.
- Handwritten affirmations
- Love letters or kind thoughts
- Reasons why you appreciate the person
- Coupons (e.g., “Good for one hug,” “Movie night,” or “Breakfast in bed”)
- Quotes or poems
- Memory prompts like “Remember our trip to…”
This is especially touching when making a calendar for a partner, friend, or parent.
5. Creative Gifts and Surprises
Add some imagination and surprise with:
- Keychains or pins
- Magnets
- Mini board game pieces
- Origami instructions
- Puzzle pieces (one a day)
- Trinkets or collectibles
- Customized jewelry
- Personalized tags or bookmarks
- Mini photo prints
For crafters, include supplies that can be used day by day to build one bigger DIY gift.
6. Ideas for Couples or Friends
For your significant other or best friend, try:
- Love notes or funny inside jokes
- Date ideas or “challenge” cards
- Favorite snacks or drinks
- Shared memory cards
- Matching accessories
- Mini bottles of wine or spirits (for adults)
- “This day in our history” notes
- Small games or dice
These small daily surprises build excitement leading to the holidays and strengthen emotional bonds.
7. Branded or Business-Themed Calendars
If you’re creating a calendar for your business or as a client gift:
- Product samples
- Discount codes or coupons
- Branded merchandise (keychains, pens, notebooks)
- QR codes that link to special offers or videos
- Personalized thank-you notes
- Small items from your catalog
Advent calendars are an excellent marketing tool that can improve customer loyalty and brand visibility during the holiday season.
Final Tips
- Mix practical items with fun surprises.
- Consider adding a holiday-themed activity for each day.
- Wrap each item or envelope to maintain the element of surprise.
- Tailor the contents to the recipient’s age, interests, and lifestyle.
And remember — it’s not about how much you spend, but how much thought and care goes into each item. A handmade advent calendar filled with personal touches can become a treasured tradition for years to come.
If you’re looking for a professional way to bring your advent calendar idea to life on a larger scale — for gifts, retail, or brand promotion — our team at DST Pack can help you design and produce beautiful, high-quality custom calendars for any audience. Get in touch to learn more!
