Create Your Own Festive DIY Christmas Photo Advent Calendar

It’s no secret that I adore Christmas and love capturing family memories. That’s why creating a Photo Advent Calendar felt like the perfect way to countdown to the holiday while embracing a cherished Christmas tradition!

Each year, our advent calendar is stuffed with candy. Yet, I’ve noticed that sweets are a daily occurrence between Halloween and December 25, and the advent calendar only adds another late-night snack of chocolate or other goodies, even small gifts or toys. Or better yet, mom forgot to add a treat and it was an empty advent calendar day. This new idea is designed to create cherished memories with a thoughtful twist, encouraging us to capture extra special photos while enjoying a personalized advent calendar. If you like to incorporate photos into your holiday decor, these other DIY ideas you might be interested in: DIY Glass Photo Ornament Tutorial, Ikea Hacks Keepsake Photo Ornament, and ChristmasPhoto Ornament Craft.

This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see our disclosure policy. This post was updated in 2024, to give you the most current ideas.

Supplies Needed For A Personalised Advent Calendar 

• Wood Frame
• Bulldog clips
• Gorilla Glue
• Instax Camera or Smartphone Printer
• Instax Photo Film
• Photo Safe Marker
• Scrapbooking embellishments (optional)
• Cardstock
• Advent numbers (print them below)
• Scissors

Building The Base Of The Advent Calendar

1. Arrange the bulldog clips on the photo frame, spacing them evenly to fit the size of your finished photos. Instax photos are about 2.25″ wide x 3.25″ tall.
2. If you’re making the frame vertical (portrait as shown), 5 rows of 5 clips will fit evenly. Or in landscape, you will have uneven rows, but could balance it with a title or an additional decoration. 
3. Use a pencil to mark where each clip will be placed.
4. Apply a bead of super glue to both the circular part of the clip and the straight bar that will contact the wood.
5. Place the clip on the pencil mark and hold it in place for 20 seconds.
6. Repeat this process for all the clips.

Print Out DIY Advent Calendar Numbers

Download the calendar number templates I’ve designed for you on an 11×17 sheet of cardstock. Use detail scissors to cut them out carefully. Alternatively, you can buy advent sticker sheets, stick them to cardstock, and then cut them out. 

Be sure to download and print (free download below) in the pre-Christmas season to be ready to start your own advent calendar when December 1st arrives.

How To Make a Photo Advent Calendar

Planning an extra special photo each day doesn’t have to be another stressful thing to add to your holiday list. You can simply take a photo each day of the new memory you made to create a unique photo collage for your own picture advent calendar. Download my free idea list below with 30+ photo prompts to inspire your countdown.

Magnetic Frame or Corkboard Option

If DIY crafts aren’t your thing and you want to make this the quick way, you can still create an impressive Christmas countdown using a stylish corkboard with snowflake pushpins, or a decorative magnetic board with Christmas-themed magnets. These options let you fully customize your countdown to the big day, proving there are endless possibilities for a unique advent calendar!

Taking Daily Photos for The Advent Picture Calendar

To ensure you capture daily photos for your custom advent calendar, setting a phone reminder or making a checklist can be a game-changer. These simple habits help you stay on track, ensuring you don’t miss any of the precious memories that will fill your countdown. Whether you’re snapping spontaneous shots or planning specific moments, taking the time each day allows you to create a fully customized countdown that reflects your unique holiday journey. By the time Christmas arrives, you’ll have a collection of personal photos that make your own advent calendars truly special!

Inspiration For Personalization And Creativity

To create a fully customized countdown, add more than just your favourite photos. Enhance the advent numbers with scrapbooking embellishments like enamel dots, pearls, snowflakes, holly berries, or other tiny Christmas decorations. For an extra festive touch, paint a sentiment like “Merry Christmas” or “Family Christmas” at the top of the sign. Let your creativity shine!

Fun Ways to Involve Children in Creating and Maintaining the Advent Calendar

Involving children in the creation and daily maintenance of the advent calendar can be a fun and engaging way to build excitement for the holiday season. Here are a few ideas:

• Craft Together: Let children help design their own advent photo calendars by choosing the numbers, colors, and Christmas decorations. 
• Daily Photo Selection: Have kids choose or take the daily photo for the countdown. This gives them a sense of ownership and makes it fun to look forward to each day’s activity.
• Numbering the Days: Encourage them to number the days using stickers or by hand. They can also embellish the numbers with glitter, colored pens, or holiday-themed accents. For older kids have them create their numbers using one of the advent calendar design templates in Canva. 
• Personalized Notes or Drawings: For a personal touch, children can add small notes or drawings behind each photo, creating a unique memory for each day. 
• Make it a Game: Put all the photo prompts into a jar. Each day have someone pull an idea from the jar. Then use that as an activity for the day and take a photo of the fun!

Involving children makes the advent calendar not just a decoration, but a hands-on family tradition!

Enjoy Your Unique And Memorable Advent Calendar beyond the Holidays

When the holidays are over, easily pop the photos into a little Instax album (like this one), preserving those special moments. Or, I can leave the arrangement on display to enjoy long after the season has passed. It’s a perfect way to remember the magic of Christmas, and the photos can even become a unique gift for someone special. Whether you’re creating it for yourself or gifting your own advent calendars, this makes for a thoughtful and personal gift that lasts beyond the holiday season.

Creating custom advent calendars is a wonderful way to capture the magic of the holiday season. Whether you fill it with mini photographs of special moments or cherished memories, it becomes a perfect gift that lasts long after Christmas. These personalized touches make your advent calendar a truly unique and thoughtful keepsake for you or your loved ones.