Free Pattern! Advent Calendar

It's the countdown to Christmas! Follow the steps below to build your own 12-day advent calendar out of cardboard.

Make Your Own Advent Calendar

Fun Fact: 💡 Did you know advent calendars started in Germany in the 1800s, when families would mark the days until Christmas by drawing chalk lines or lighting candles? The first printed advent calendar appeared in Germany in 1908, thanks to a young printer named Gerhard Lang. His mother used to sew him 24 little cookies onto a cardboard sheet as a countdown, and he turned that childhood memory into the very first commercial advent calendar.

What You’ll Need:

• • A solid piece of cardboard (under 3mm thick)

  • Our Advent Calendar Pattern (PDF Download Here)

  • Scissors

  • Double Sided Tape

  • Packing Tape

  • Glue

  • A ChompSaw (for cutting)

  • A Scoring Tool (for creating folds)

Video Tutorial: 

Steps:

1. Grab Your Cardboard:
   Pick a sturdy, clean piece of cardboard large enough to fit all four parts of this project.

2. Print and Attach the Patterns:
   Print your pattern sheets and cut loosely around each shape (pieces L, M, N, O, P, Q.) leaving a bit of white space. Tape or glue the printed side face-up onto your cardboard. For M: Match the printed arrows with the cardboard flutes.

3. Cut Out the Shapes: 
   Using your ChompSaw, carefully cut along the black outlines of each shape. For Q, cut the straight top line first, then the inner cuts.

4. Build the Base + Walls:
   Curve the three M pieces by rubbing along a table edge. Add double-sided tape to all yellow marks on L. Use packing tape to connect the M pieces into a ring.

5. Attached the Base:
   Place L inside the ring. Lightly tape in place with masking tape. Flip over and secure with packing tape over the purple areas.
   

6. Build the Ornament Top (N, O, P, Q):
   Score red dashed lines so they fold easily. Add double-sided tape where marked. Fold piece N, attach O inside it. Curve and attach P on top. Curve and wrap Q around the top edge.
   

7. Attach the Top to the Base:
   Match the orientation of the letters and press to secure.

8. Create and Attach the Doors:
   Glue remaining pattern pieces to cardboard and cut them out. Score folds and add tape where shown. Assemble each row by matching letters (A/B, K/C/D/E, F/G, H/C/J/I). Fold doors inward to check fit.
   

9. Number the Doors:
   Use a marker to number your doors 1-12 (and fill with goodies!)

All Done! Send photos or videos of your calendars to hello@chompshop.com or tag us @itschompshop!