The Birthday Advent calendar combines two of the most loved things in the world. Opening secret doors and punching through tissue paper.
It's a universal scenario. You're at home minding your own business practicing ways to stand in photos that will make your arm skin look tighter, when you get the "So when are you coming over for birthday cake" call.
The um, what-the-what-say-again???
OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG. Their birthday is TODAY???
And in that very moment you look at every single thing around your kitchen that might make a suitable birthday present for a 6 year old. Like a package of spaghetti. Only a package of spaghetti seems like a stupid present for a 6 year old girl so you consider adding a can opener to it.
When you realize you have to actually go out and buy a present your mind goes blank; you have NO idea what to get this kid and why can't she just play with a potato like you used to.
Then out of the blue like a birthday arrow shooting straight through your brain it hits you. You're going to make a Birthday Advent calendar because that'll be fast and easy and she'll love it.
You would be right on one count.
Making a Birthday Advent calendar isn't the fastest present idea in the world but it's one that can be used over again.
Keep the idea in your back pocket just in case someone's birthday sneaks up on you even though you're normally very prepared for this sort of thing and even kind of think she might have liked the spaghetti.
DIY Advent Calendar (with punch throughs)
What You Need
- 30 small (literally small) presents
- 2 pieces of foam core board (one for calendar, one to make stand for back)
- 1 roll of washi tape
- 1 or 2 packages of sparkly letters (make sure there's enough of all the letters you need)
- 3 or 4 packages of sparkly numbers (make sure there are enough numbers for all you need)
- hot glue gun
- hole punch
- X-Acto knife
- Coloured string or very thin ribbon.
- Tissue paper (1 sheet)
- Foam stickers for Name Tag at top and to cover doors. (I used cork stickers)
- 30 "dixie" type cups
Stick your sparkly numbers on all 30 foam stickers for the calendar doors.
Spell out recipient's name on larger foam sticker for top of calendar.
Using a measuring tape, mark out the centre of where your holes will go. You'll need 6 rows with 5 holes each.
Using something slightly smaller than the mouth of your dixie cup trace the 30 circles onto your board.
Carefully cut out the circles using an X-acto knife. (this is a pain and by hole 14 you'll hate it)
When the holes are all cut place a piece of washi tape from the centre of the hole to the edge (either the edge of the board or the edge of the hole to the left as you can see in the photos above).
Punch a hole in the middle right edge of each door.
Loop string or ribbon through the hole and secure it with hot glue on the back side of the door.
Run washi tape along the back of the doors the same way you did on the front of the doors BUT do this with the door open. If you do it with the doors closed the tape will be too tight and you won't be able to open the doors. (unlike the front of the door, make sure you run the washi tape along the whole back of the door so it covers up where you glued your string)
This is what the back will look like.
Run a bead of hot glue around the edge of the first row of doors on the back of the board.
Carefully lay your tissue paper down and press it onto the glue.
Repeat this for all the rows of doors, pressing on the tissue paper as you go.
Flip the board over and stick all of the foam stickers with numbers onto the fronts of the doors.
Add the name to the top of the board.
Add washi tape anywhere the board looks unfinished (like around the edges). And then add a bit more just for fun.
Fill your cups with your 30 tiny presents.
Hot glue the edge of your cups and stick them to the back of the board pressing hard so you know the glue seeps through the tissue paper, right to the foam core. Sometimes this is HARD if you have things that want to spill out. Like googley eyes. You'll figure it out.
Cut your last piece of foam core board into 2 rectangles. Then cut each piece again until one side is slanted like you see in this photo ... and glue both to the back of the board. This will make it stand up on its own.
If something is just tooooo big to fit in the little cup, just cut the back out of the cup and wrap it in tissue paper like you can see I've done. It just gives you a little bit more room for something larger like a miniature Frozen flashlight.
You can make the calendar entirely out of stuff from the Dollar Store (provided you have a half decent Dollar Store around like I do) or a craft store where you're sure to find the stuff, it'll just cost you a bit more money.
Would you like to save this stuff?
We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.
I made this Birthday Advent calendar for $35 including all the materials to make the calendar and the presents for inside each compartment.
A few months later I made a baseball themed one which I also have detailed instructions for.
For the next 30 days the recipient can wake up every morning, open the secret door, punch through the pink tissue paper and find a present.
You're done! And it only took you 14 days. Just kidding, I did this in a day but only because I had to. Doing it over a couple of nights would be ideal.
Actually finding a child that appreciates a ¾'s full package of spaghetti would be ideal - but this is a good backup.
Carrie
Wow, great idea! Can you make one for me?
Karen
Absolutely. Just give me a ... I was going to say decade, but let's up that to eon. ~ karen!
Kat - the other 1
I thought it said birthday cake advent calendar... I'm a little disappointed. 😐😆
A miniature frozen flashlight... I had to think about that a moment. Lol. How are you going to keep it frozen? Why would you want/ need a frozen flashlight? Oh wait... Frozen! Gotcha! Lol. Silly brain. 😄
Get back to me on the cake... 😁
Deb from Maryland
Perfect idea for the "I don't know what'd they want" person. Your brain is the best. :)
Hettie
Lucky Estelle and Oliver! My 3-year-old grandson is getting a new baby brother or sister come November. I think I'll make him a brother-themed calendar to open after the baby is born. That'd be fun! For me and him! Thanks, Karen. :)
🌵Las Vegas Pam🌵
How did you know that I was just looking at my arm skin and trying to figure out the best angle to not have the loose stuff show while still wearing one of my favorite sleeveless blouses? Do you have a wiretap in my brain?
You put a lot of thought into this birthday extravaganza for a kid named Liver. Wait, Oliver…that’s completely different. You’re far more thoughtful and kinder than me. If faced with a last minute birthday gifting problem for a 6 year old liver, I’d find an envelope and speed draw a card and put cash inside. Ta-da! There’s never cake here but I almost always have gas in my car and Costco is under one mile from my garage. Cake? Pie? Steak? Well little Liver? You pick and not only will I fly, I’ll buy. No, 6 year olds can’t get margaritas!
Back when my kids were kids, I always had a few wrapped emergency presents and cards for moments like this. Also my house was the local hangout for the neighborhood. Every Friday night for five years was Friday night movie night. 10 or more kids and any parent who wanted, could join us or go out while their kids were safe, fed and entertained. I cooked tacos, spaghetti and meatballs, homemade pizza, chili, ribs, steak, chicken. Whatever! There was always a dinner set out buffet style. Homemade bread was a must. Remember when Netflix sent the movie in a red envelope? That’s what we did. Every one of those children were not only my own kid’s friends, they were mine too. They’re all grown adults now but they all remember Friday Night Movie Night.
I love your creativity and style. If I ever pass through your neighborhood I’ll wave and scream “Hey! Crazy Canadian lady! You not only have the most impressive rutabaga crop in town, your arms look fabulous!” And if it happens to be my birthday, I won’t spring it on you. Besides, my birthday is at the end of January and there will be snow on the ground and I’ll likely be ice skating past your place so I’ll still wave and all the rest but I’ll be wearing a sweater over my slightly loose skinned arms so stop trying to sneak a peak you weirdo!
Thanks for keeping your blog going. It’s one of the only email “gifts” I open in my inbox. Love reading it and adore your stories.
❤️🇨🇦❤️
P.S. the picture is a piece of my art. A repurposed tea tin that I’ve made all antiqued Mary Iconography like with all the lyrics of Let It Be located somewhere on it. Even an atheist like me knows there is still a light that shines on me…
Randy P
Very clever and creative. Would I make one? Probably not, so I'm gonna go with a FULL box of low carb pasta and a small can of tomato sauce. But that's just me.
Karen
At least add parmesan. Or a self twirling fork. ~ karen!
Randy P
Ooooh! Fancy! I like it.
Kelly
Beautiful!
Definitely worth reusing.
If I got a birthday advent calendar I'd keep it for the rest of my life. And I'm 44!
Love it Karen!
Julie
this is all sorts of awesome!!!
I concur on the "don't buy cheap glue gun" statement. We're making fairy wings for a school play and just about burned the school down because the cheap one we had started sparking!
Elaine
When God handed out creativity, Karen, you were DEFINITELY first in line and when there was a second lineup for brain cells, you obviously were first in line for that too! This is SO impressive - what a super, thoughtful, caring idea!
In the past (I've gotten lazier with age!) friends used to say I was creative but I would never have thought of that in a million years; your brain must be running a mile a minute all day long! Congrats!
whitequeen96
OMG, this is incredible! Thank God I don't know any children I care enough about to make this, because it also looks like a lot of work! But darn, I do have a friend who will be getting out of the hospital soon, so I may just have to get to work! Maybe, instead of 30 days, I'll make a tree with a few apples that can be opened to find small gifts. Hmmm, stickers, essential oil, nail polish, tiny hand lotion, headband . . .
Kari
This is the sweetest present ever! I'm sure it was the best present she got. You're amazing, Karen! #goals
Janine
This is amazing and I'm totally doing one for my mom's birthday :D
Thanks!
Debbe Van Ness
Oh! I have a 5-year-old, soon to be 6-year-old granddaughter b-day in June. She will LOVE this. I think, if the B-day present is too big, I could incorporate a "treasure hunt" for that day. Her poor parents.....he he he...not really.
Nancy Blue Moon
AWESOME!!..I can't think of a child I know who wouldn't love this!!!...
Marna
What a great idea! I want one too, of course I would want a few things more than something at the dollar store, but they have some good stuff there. :)
Mona
I have enjoyed your sense of humor. It is so refreshing . Your ideas and suggestions are great too.
Karen
Thanks Mona! ~ karen
nancy
I want to know why did they eat dinner before you arrived???
Jan in Waterdown
Yeah, I wuz wondering that too . . . hope the cake was worth the drive!
Gingersnappo
Man! This is so cool! So glad there's 3 Dollaramas within 5 minutes of my house.
I think if I start now, I can get a couple of these suckers done for Christmas 2017.