Craft your own CALENDAR

Start the festive countdown with easy advent calendar ideas that will make a fabulous Christmas centrepiece

HANGING PACKAGES YOU WILL NEED 1

Hide mini gifts or foil-wrapped chocolates in 24 handled gift boxes and bags. Then add

1 to 24 number stickers to each.

2

Cut varying lengths of coloured string or baker’s twine and tie them to each package.

3

Tie the gifts to the hangers in a staggered arrangement before hanging them on wall hooks.

CONJURER’S CUPS YOU WILL NEED

Paper cups in varying sizes Gift wrap and stickers Glue gun Pine cones, foliage and bottle-brush trees

1 GRAB SOME CUPS

Decorate a sideboard, mantel or console table with festive treats hidden under paper cups. Start by choosing cups in a selection of sizes.

2 DECORATE WITH PAPER

Use gift wrap, craft foils and stickers in a mix of designs to decorate the cups. Stick on wooden numbers from 1 to 24 – some on top, others on the side of cups.

3 SET THE STAGE

Arrange the cups, varying the heights by propping some up on logs or books, pop gifts under each and add evergreen foliage, trees and pine cones to decorate.

STAIRWAY COUNTDOWN YOU WILL NEED

Mini buckets ribbon or braid

Mini pegs

Wide coloured Numbered labels

Try this super-easy staircase advent with treats popped inside mini metal buckets. Weave a long length of coloured ribbon through the stair posts to start and simply tie on the buckets using short lengths of ribbon.

ENVELOPE TREE YOU WILL NEED

24 assorted envelopes numbers Adhesive tack

1 DECIDE YOUR THEME

Adhesive

Instead of treats and gifts, hide clues to an advent hunt in numbered envelopes or come up with a fun activity for each day that the family can do together.

2 CREATE A TREE SHAPE

Use envelopes in assorted sizes and colours, arranging them into a Christmas tree shape, and secure on the wall using adhesive tack.

3 ADD NUMBERS

Finish off the calendar by adding a number sticker to each envelope or writing numbers on in metallic pen. Position the numbers randomly, but reserve the top envelope for a special treat, with an ‘X’ to mark the spot.

ARRANGE THE ENVELOPES ON THE FLOOR FIRST TO CHECK THE DESIGN BEFORE STICKING THEM TO THE WALL

Gift boxes Mini paper bags Number stickers Twine Round scarf hangers NUMBER PACKAGES TIE THEM UP HANG ON THE WALL Add a sprig of greenery as a festive decoration Boxes, £2.40 for 10; bags, £4.32 for 10, both Party Packs. Similar stickers, £1.78 a pack, Amazon

Polka dot cups, £3.50 for 8; numbers, £7 for 136, all Hobbycraft. Brush trees, £3.50 for 5, The Danes

Kraft envelopes, £2.80 for 50; mini wooden pegs, £2.50 for 50, all Hobbycraft

Pastel envelopes, £6 for 30; gold number stickers, £1.30 a pack, all Hobbycraft

Use white felt to create a snowy roof with tissue smoke from the chimney Stencil, £1.80; self-adhesive felt sheet, £1; tissue paper, £1 for 10 sheets, all Hobbycraft