Every year we do an advent calendar as a countdown to Christmas! I fill the packages with treats, toys, and activity cards to mix it up and keep it interesting. I came across this, this, and this on Pinterest and decided that building a wooden advent tree as our calendar would be perfect this year! 
To build the tree, I sourced scrap wood from old pallets and cut them from large to small—you can cut the wood any size you'd like. I then sanded wood and covered it with a matte sealer. The beauty of this project is that you can make the tree as straight and clean or as wonky as rough as you'd like. After the tree was built, I wrapped up small prizes and treats and made activity cards to hang from push pins.
Now we are just eagerly awaiting December first so our countdown can officially begin! xo. Katie
96 Comments
So beautiful!! I think it only needs a big star on the top.
Thanks so much for sharing this! I loved it so much I shared it in a blog post today 🙂
http://agirlnamedleney.blogspot.com/2012/12/christmas-inspiration.html
Merry Christmas!
<3 Leney
I absolutely love this idea!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wonderful idea! Looks great!
http://messperfectblog.blogspot.com.au/
Ahh!!! This would be perfect to hang the gorgeous one I purchased from etsy!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/115230005/advent-calendar-pdf
(my internet is being dumb… sorry if this is a duplicate…)
I simply love it!!! I`ll make it tonight:)
That is so beautiful.
Looks great.Really love the idea of making somebody an advent calendar.
A really nice and cool gift…
xoxo
This is so cute and fun!! Thanks for sharing.
this is really awesome! I’ve been meaning to come up with ideas for the INSIDES of the advent calendar!
I will definitely be trying this.
What a fun project! I won’t have time to work on this this year but this is definitely going on my list for things to do next year! 🙂
Oh my goodness! This is so beautiful!! I am obsessed with advent calendars and this might be my favorite ever!!
Now, to see if I can get one made by Saturday… 🙂
I love having an advent calendar but I’ve been searching for non candy ideas to put in this year, you’ve given me some great ones.
This is so cute! You are so talented. I would love to make something like this!
Katie, I love your creation! Thanks for linking to my scrap wood tree. I might just have to turn it into an advent calendar this year!!! 😉
Great idea, I love this Advent calendar.
So cute! I love it!
X
http://kendra-genevieve-rose.blogspot.com
What a great idea! Very rustic looking! I like it!
Cx
http://mixedmediumstheatre.blogspot.co.uk/
How cute! I love advent calendars but get bored with the cheap chocolate inside.
Strive to Thrive,
Nic
www.Thriving-Wives.com
So cute!! Great idea! xx
www.creativityandchocolate.blogspot.com
SOOO adorable! <33
birdiewearsatie.blogspot.com
I showed another options here:
http://tofudedamasco.blogspot.pt/2012/11/natal-pote-da-contagem-regressiva.html
http://tofudedamasco.blogspot.pt/2012/11/natal-arvore-da-contagem-regressiva.html
http://tofudedamasco.blogspot.pt/2012/11/natal-contagem-regressiva-em-caixinhas.html
I love how rustic this looks! It would be a great way to display special ornaments too.
That’s so cute! 🙂
This is awesome! I’d love to use something like this for a craft fair display too.
I love this idea!
This has got to be one of the most beautiful things ever! What’s great is that it’s so customisable! xo
http://www.jenventure.blogspot.co.uk
So pretty!
Amazing! What a great idea.
A really cool idea, i love the rustic look of it.
Zoe
http://gypsiesister.blogspot.co.uk
Another great DIY post on ABM. What a shocker 😉
http://viennawaitsblog.blogspot.com/
It looks really good!! and seems easy to do
Kisses
<3 Val
www.beautyval13.blogspot.com
Very clever!! I love that gifts can be different sizes you just hang on a peg/push pin, they don’t have to all be teeney-tiny… Thank you for sharing this great idea!
beautiful idea!!! I love it!!
www.thestelstyle.com.com
That looks amazing! 😀
This is all too cute! I love the white, gold and red theme going on here too 🙂
This is actually amazing i love it! So glad to have stumbled across your blog its fab and i am now following!
Great holiday Idea!
So beautiful!! I think it only needs a big star on the top 😛 Can’t wait for Christmas!!!! 😀
just love this <3
http://standoutfashionblog.blogspot.it/
maybe this is an advent i can make this weekend! thanks for the idea!!!
www.mamajulesbrussels.blogspot.com
A really cute idea! I already made a wooden tree like this last year in a smaller version and I’m really looking forward using it for Christmas decoration again this year. So if you make this tree as an Advent calendar but love to make a different one every year like I do, this tree will still be lovely with some fairy lights on it! Great!
http://higgledypiggledywonderland.wordpress.com
This is so lovely! I love the idea of the cue cards. I really want to make one as I never appreciate the chocolate ones from the shops!
nice!
This is such as amazing idea!
Hannah
x
www.daintyandivory.blogspot.com
I Loved! Great Idea!
;*
www.boldbravefree.blogspot.com.br
This is such a great looking advent calendar. So unique and pretty looking. Your girls must be so curious to know what treat lay in wait for them!
Loulou
This is such a great idea! My mom always hung our advent calendar along the banister of the stairs and it was so exciting to feel all the little bags and guess what was in them! This year I’ve made my boyfriend an advent calendar because he’s far too difficult to buy for, and I wish I had time to build a tree like this…so creative 🙂
Love, love love it! This is how my advent calender is this christmas: http://blogg.amelia.se/julhoshelena/2012/11/18/smallig-paketkalender-till-barn/
ah! thank you so much for this!
so bored of buying the chocolate advent calenders!
love
www.amazine.com
x
What a great idea!
It looks so cute!
x
http://dipitblack.com
What a wonderful idea!!! xxx
Love it!!!!
New outfit in http://cravingforbarneys.com
Very nice idea and easy to do. Great job. Have a nice day.
http://www.fashiondenis.com/
This is a great idea, Katie. Thank you for sharing.
www.zadinblog.com
Love the tree and this blog!
Emma, I have to know, what’s the name of the Nike running shoes you recently posted on your own blog? I need to have them!!! 🙂 Thanks
So pretty!
Great minds think alike. Check out the tree that Isabelle made for dosfamily http://dosfamily.com/2012/11/christmas-calendar-diy/
SUCH a very cute idea, I love it!!
Maria xx
www.cheekypinktulip.blogspot.com
Beautiful. I love it !
Bright idea!
Looks very cute, love how simple it is! 🙂
great inspiration!
x
www.ireneccloset.com
Hi! I love wood + red colour, it looks fantastic, Christmassy and cozy! I still haven’t started making our advent calendar this year, oops!
such a cute idea!
xo, cheyenne
Such an adorable idea!! I love the little “hot cocoa party” tag. So cute!
Gahh! I love this idea so much! We are thinking of getting a traditional tree, but this would be an awesome project for the basement where our family gathering will take place.
Thanks, Katie!
xoxo
Kim
www.fashionlovesdetroit.com
this is so easy cute and simple ! why didn’t i think of this! lovely post 🙂
http://birdsandoxfords.blogspot.com/
-deana
little trinkets and ‘movie night’ treats are so much better than chocolate! what a great idea! we’ve been looking for something a bit non-traditional for our advent calendar, thigh just might be it.
socal mama
bri
This is so adorable!! Probably one of my favorite DIY’s you ladies have made. i am pinning this right now to never forget this!! Have a happy monday ladies. xx. McKenna Lou
p.s. Tomorrow is the last day to enter in our H&M giftcard giveaway on our blog. I hope you can check it out here: http://lynnandlou.blogspot.com/2012/11/polka-dot-pants.html
This is so lovely!
Valentina
http://valentinaduracinsky.blogspot.com/
Ali, there are 24 prizes so you could either go in order or pick them randomly! For this type of advent it doesn’t matter as much, but numbers can always be added if you like!
What a fun spin on the classic advent wreath. Adorable little packages!
http://developingapattern.com/
Oh. My. Word! I love this! It is absolutely adorable. I love the packaging too. We only ever had the chocolate calenders growing, but I think this is so much more fun!
Very cute idea.
what a fun idea! you guys are so creative!
this would be perfect for kids!
lovely!
This is awesome! Love it Katie!
so cool!
x Jennifer
http://seekingstyleblog.wordpress.com
Ooh I love it! I totally want to make this.
http://acreativecookie.blogspot.com/
This is awesome! I love this idea and advent calendars are the best. Your girls are lucky!
Carlee
http://almostendearing.blogspot.com/
I love this! The little cue cards for movie nights and hot cocoa are such a cute idea! Plus after christmas you could nail on some cut little pots with some plants and pop it in the gardnen!
Becky
http://pixiwishesforeheadkisses.com/
cute!
love, rach.
www.so–hi.blogspot.com
cool christmas tree.. so love it 🙂
http://lovesimplegreen.blogspot.com/
Ahh! I absolutely LOVE this!
http://vivikstyle.blogspot.com
I love this! I’ve been wanting to DIY an advent calendar, but couldn’t find one I liked or had the supplies for. But I’ve got a bunch of old wood sitting out back. This is perfect! Thanks!
this project is inspiring. i love how creatively the thumb tacks are used, but i wonder where the numbers are?
This is so many shades of awesome. Won’t be able to try it this year but definitely on my list of things to do next year!
what a lovely idea! i love that it’s kind of rustic! 🙂
xo eden
http://edenmarie44.blogspot.com
SO CUTE.
what the what! this is brilliant. thanks for sharing katie!
this is too cute!
xo the egg out west.
I love it! That is such a cute take on an advent calendar.
Cute!
This is such a fun idea! I remember having a little chocolate advent calendar every year when I was little. One year my brother and I got Playmobil calendars as a special treat 🙂
That is adorable, Katie! It looks great just like you did it- and you’re right, it would also be super- cute painted with crooked layers. Thanks for a great project (with enough time to make it)!
This is so fun! We are doing mini-dates in our advent calendar this year! 🙂