Make the countdown to Christmas even more exciting with these 8 magical & inventive DIY advent calendars. There’s still time to make your own, but you’d better hurry!

Oh my goodness. In all my hustling and bustling toward Thanksgiving, I almost forgot one of my daughter’s favorite holiday traditions: our Advent calendar! Gee, I wonder why she loves it so? Could it be the promise of a little gift every day for 24 days? Nah, that can’t be it.

I have to admit, I love Advent calendars too, and we’re not the only ones. They’ve become a huge “thang” on Pinterest and for DIY bloggers everywhere. The originality and creativity is astounding really.

DIY Envelope Advent Calendar
via A Few Things From My Life

The simplest of ideas can still be stunning. A quick trip to your office supply store and you are all set!

DIY Colorful Advent Calendar
via You Are My Fave

The colors are the shining star of this Advent calendar. Plus, these boxes will fit in anywhere—no matter what kind of space you’re dealing with.

DIY Snowy Wool Felt Calendar
via Small For Big

My daughter “helped” me with this calendar a couple of years ago. I love that each pocket is big enough to hold whatever strange-shaped gifts I dream up!

DIY Wreath Advent Calendar
via Acquiring Taste

What a great idea: two decorations combined into one! Each of those little ball-shaped gifts are so intriguing too, aren’t they?

DIY Magentic Advent Calendar
via Twig & Thistle

This calendar is so graphic and modern; the color palette is gorgeous too!

DIY Mini Tree Advent Calendar
via Oh Happy Day

These boxes would look so lovely on a mantel—like a mini forest of gifts.

DIY Paper Roll Advent Calendar
via Morning Creativity

My daughter has been collecting our toilet paper rolls for months. We definitely have enough to make one of these calendars—pretty luxe to have come out of the bathroom, don’t you think?

Pictured at the top of this post: DIY Giant Advent Calendar, via Oh Happy Day.