Mini Bottle Advent Calendar Template for Cricut

Download the Advent Calendar Template

You can download this free Advent Calendar Template from my members only free library (design #2 under Christmas Crafts or search “Mini Bottle Advent Calendar Template”).

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 advent calendar, you will need:

• Medium or Heavy Weight Cardstock (I am using 9 red sheets for the base and 1 lime green sheet for the front)
• Cricut Pens – I am using Red and Black from this Fine Point Set
• 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!

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1: Modify Template & Cut Everything Out

Upload the mini bottle advent calendar template to Cricut Design Space. If you need help with uploading SVG files, 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 39.664″ and the height 35.828″.

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”. Select the next layer, change the operation to “Pen” and select the pen color.

Next, open the drop down menu for the next layer and change the operation of each layer to “pen”, selecting your pen color as you go. If you want the advent calendar to say something else, delete these layers instead and add your own writing. For help with adding writing text, check out my full Cricut writing tutorial here (with my favorite free writing fonts).

Next, go to the second grouped layer and click the drop down arrow to open it. Select the square on top and change the operation to “score”. Then click the group of the 2 layers and select “attach” to attach the score line. Repeat this for each of the layers that have lines (or a rectangle) on top of them.

Once all layers are ready to go, select “Make” and cut everything out. Follow the prompts so you know when to add your scoring tool and pens.

Step 2: Glue the Sides to the Advent Calendar

Start with the 4 pieces that do not have slits cut in them. Fold on the scores lines and then attach them to the sides of the advent calendar front. Make sure the edges line up with the edge of the frame.

2 of the sides have 4 score lines. Make sure those pieces are across from each other. The extra side pieces are to attach to the top and bottom.

Step 3: Add in the Middle Pieces

Next, grab the long piece with 4 slits in it and fold on all of the score lines. Attach this to the bottom section in-between the square cut outs. Make sure when you glue this down that you can still told both sides up.

Continue to glue each piece on working your way up. The next piece will have 7 slits cut in it. And then the other 3 pieces are identical.

When gluing these on, I like for them to face the same way with folding the tab piece down and gluing it this way because this gives a flat surface for adding in your items. But, it really doesn’t matter which way these face.

Next, grab the 4 identical pieces and fold on all of the score lines. Use the slits to line these up with the bottom 2 rows. Once these are in place, glue the top tab pieces down, but leave the ones at the bottom unattached for now.

Then slide the last 3 pieces in, lining the slits up together. The smaller piece will go in the middle. Glue both the top and bottom tab pieces down. Because the box is wide, it helps to glue half of it down and flip the box over to glue down the other side.

Step 4: Attach the Sides and Back

Once all of the middle pieces are assembled, add glue to the folded tab pieces to attach the sides and bottom of the box. Make sure to attach the sides to the top and bottom as well with the tab pieces.

Then add glue to all of the tab pieces on the back of the advent calendar and attach the back which is the solid square piece.

Step 5: Fill the Advent Calendar

Before attaching the front of the advent calendar, make sure to fill the advent calendar first. This is very important because you will not be able to add anything after the top is on.

Step 6: Glue on the Front

Once the calendar is full, glue the front down. I recommend using a glue that dries clear, like this Bearly Art Craft Glue that I am using. This way, you see the red behind the circle cut outs instead of the glue. And just like that, the advent calendar is finished and ready to give!