Tear Open DIY Advent Calendar
Advent calendars have become a favorite tradition in our house to count down the days until Christmas. And with this DIY advent calendar, you’ll be able to customize the gifts each day, making this calendar perfect for anyone or any age.
This gingerbread advent calendar has doors that tear open so there’s no peeking aloud, making for a fun surprise each day. And the box frame is the same size as my Santa’s Workshop Advent Calendar, so you can mix and match the fronts as well.
Download the Advent Calendar Template
You can download this free DIY Advent Calendar Template from my members only free library (design #1 under Christmas Crafts or search “Gingerbread Advent Calendar”).
Don’t have a password? Unlock my free members library by entering your name and email in the form below or click here.
Supplies Needed
To make this DIY advent calendar, you will need:
- Medium or Heavy Weight Cardstock – I am using this heavy weight brown cardstock for the base and this white diamond glitter cardstock for the frosting (white). The rest of the colors are from a variety pack.
- Cricut Maker or Explore Cutting Machine and your standard cutting mat.
- Scoring Stylus (which is what I will be using in this tutorial) or Scoring Wheel (Maker only). If your cutting machine doesn’t have the scoring feature, this scoring board and stylus is great to use.
- Glue – I highly recommend this Bearly Art Craft Glue. I do not recommend using hot glue as this is a thicker glue and dries too quick to assemble.
Share the love and easily come back to this tutorial anytime just by saving this on Pinterest by clicking the picture below and then hitting “Save”… Plus this helps to keep my SVG files and Cricut tutorials free!
Video Tutorial For DIY Advent Calendar
Watch the step-by-step video tutorial to learn how to make this gingerbread advent calendar here:
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Modify and Cut Advent Calendar
Upload the gingerbread advent calendar SVG to Cricut Design Space. If you need help with uploading SVG files, then check out my tutorial here. Make sure to check the size of your project and adjust if needed. Click on the image and the width should be 38.953″ and the height 31.028″.
After resizing your project (if needed), click on “ungroup” to ungroup your layers. Click the drop down arrow for the first layer. Then click on the first layer and change the operation to “Score”. Then select the group with the 2 layers and select “attach”.
Next, you’ll need to change all the lines on the base pieces to score lines. You’ll need to do this each group at a time. Select one of the base pieces and open the group. Then select the lines and change the operation to “score”. Then select the 2 grouped layer and select “attach”. Repeat this for each of the base pieces. Once all of these are adjusted, select “Make” and cut your project.
Step 2: Glue on Details
I like to start by gluing on all the small pieces. This way I don’t have to worry about losing any of them. Look at the picture below to see how to assemble the front of the gingerbread house. Or assemble the decorations however you want!
Next, glue the numbers together and place them on each of the doors. You can place these numbers however you like. I like to randomly glue them on.
Step 3: Assemble the Base
To assemble the base, start by gluing on both sides and the bottom to the house frame. Make sure the numbers are facing down. When attaching the sides and bottom, make sure to take your time and line these up with the edge of the house frame so they don’t overlap over the perforated lines.
Next, attach the 5 middle pieces. When attaching these, the cut out slots need to be facing up. Also, make sure to place each one in the correct place. The bottom 3 are identical with the 4 cut out slots. Next, add the piece with the 6 slots and then the one with 2.
When gluing these down, make sure that you line them up in-between the boxes so that the piece glued down doesn’t overlap over any of the perforated cut outs.
Find the other identical pieces (there should be 4 of them). Slide these into the slots so they attach with slots in the horizontal pieces. Then glue the top tab pieces onto the shelf.
Insert the smaller 2 pieces to the top row and glue the top and bottom tab pieces on each to the shelf.
Finish up the base by gluing the sides and bottom in. You will attach these pieces by adding glue to the tab pieces and attaching those. Add on the roof and then glue the bricks to the 2 sides of the advent calendar.
Step 4: Fill the Advent Calendar
Before finishing the advent calendar, make sure that you fill it. Add a fun treat or surprise in each slot. Cash or a gift card for the top are always a big hit. You can find more advent calendar ideas here.
Once each day of the calendar is full, then glue on the front by adding glue to all of the front tab pieces. Last, add on the roof top and your advent calendar is ready to go!
Thanks so much for checking out this fun Christmas craft. When you’re done, make sure to post these in my crafting group here or tag me if you post them on social media. I absolutely love seeing your crafts and can’t wait to see your Christmas Advent Calendar and ideas you have for filling them!
