How To: DIY Christmas Advent Calendar for Self-Care

Practice the self-care you deserve each day leading up to Christmas with this festive DIY Christmas Advent Calendar for Self-Care! Each day includes a self-care activity, positive quote, gratitude note, and a DIY ornament with a good luck charm to hang on your Christmas tree.

Christmas Advent Calendars were always a childhood favourite of mines to make for this time of the year. This year I decided to focus on making the traditional DIY Christmas Advent Calendar with a Self-Care twist. As important as it is to give back to others, it’s also equally important to take care of yourself first before you can pour onto others.

This DIY project helps you to practice gratitude, reflect on your strengths, and practice self-care daily while attracting positivity with your own customized DIY Christmas Ornament. If you’re living alone or want to count down the days leading up to Christmas like an independent self-care queen, this DIY is perfect for you! Start 2023 feeling the best you could be with all these self-care ideas while making the last bit of the year count!

The materials needed for this DIY project are simple and accessible. Remember you can always use this tutorial to gain inspiration and find similar materials that you would like to use or change.

To make this DIY you will need:

• Christmas scrapbook paper 
• White paper
• Ribbon
• Pipe cleaners 
• Glue 
• Metal clips 
• Black pen 
• Mini ornament 
• Good luck charm of your choice 
• Copper wire 
• Scissors
• Rectangular box (e.g. shoe box)

Part 1: Christmas Envelopes

1. Cut 6 pieces of Christmas scrapbook paper into 6×12″
2. Fold the 12″ side, 1.5″ inwards and the top of the paper 1.5″ down
3. Glue the edges up to the top flap
4. Add advent number and metal clip on top middle

Part 2: Self-Care Tag

1. Cut 2 pieces of scrapbook paper, one being 1×3″ and the other 3×3″
2. Glue a small strip of white paper on the 1×3″ paper and write “self-care activity”
3. Write a self-care activity on the back of the 1×3″ tag and a positive quote on the 3×3″ paper
4. Hole punch both pieces together with self-care activity on top
5. Thread a Christmas ribbon and glue the edges of the ribbon only together

Part 3: Gratitude Note

1. Cut a 2×3″ paper
2. Write one thing you’re grateful for about yourself
3. Roll paper
4. Tie with a small piece of a pipe cleaner (approx. 2″ long)

Part 4: DIY Ornament

1. Cut 4″ of Cooper wire
2. String a mini ornament and a good luck charm of your choice (I used “key” charms)
3. Loop end of wire upwards and fold top of wire to hang

Video Tutorial