You’re here because you’re looking for a creative, handmade advent calendar idea, right? Well, you’re in the right place because I’m about to share how I made an adorable felt tree advent calendar that’s become a new favorite in our home. It’s cute, easy to make, and a fun way to count down to Christmas—without the overly bright, store-bought look.
Why I Decided to Make an Advent Calendar This Year
Advent calendars have been a big deal in our family for years. My kids wake up on December 1st with this excited buzz, knowing it’s time for the first surprise. Whether it’s a sweet treat or a little scavenger hunt clue, the tradition makes the whole Christmas season feel magical.
But let’s be honest—those store-bought calendars don’t always hit the mark. Either they’re too gaudy, or the treats inside aren’t anything special. So this year, I decided to make something myself. I wanted it to be charming, natural, and subtle enough to hang on the wall all month without clashing with our decor. That’s how I landed on this felt tree design.
What You’ll Need
Here’s what I used to pull this off (most of it I already had lying around):
- Felt in varying shades of green (I went for earthy tones instead of bright neon).
- Templates: I cut three triangle sizes—14 cm, 11 cm, and 8 cm tall. (You can download my template below)
- Sewing machine (but you can hand-stitch if you’re feeling ambitious).
- A branch: This will be the base to hang everything—bonus points if it’s a funky, natural shape.
- Macrame cord: Any sturdy string will do, but the natural white color of macrame cord looked so pretty.
- Wooden mini clothespins: To attach the numbered tags.
- Kraft paper and a hole punch for the numbers.
- Hot glue gun for quick assembly.
Download and print the template.
How To Make The Advent Calendar
First, I created my templates—three triangles in different sizes. I wanted a mix of big and small trees, so I cut out: 10 dark green trees, 8 medium green ones, and 6 light green. Each tree needs two triangles (front and back). If your triangles aren’t perfect, don’t stress; the stitching hides a lot of imperfections.
Now comes the sewing! I used my machine with a decorative stitch for some extra flair, but you can hand-stitch if you have time. Start by stitching the left side of the first triangle. Then, sandwich the second triangle behind it and sew the right side and bottom, leaving the top open. Ta-da! You’ve got a little pocket for goodies.
A quick tip: test your stitch settings on scrap felt before starting. My first few stitches were way too tight, and it puckered the felt—it looked terrible. Once I adjusted, it went smoothly.
With all the trees sewn, I laid them out on the table in a sort of staggered pattern. I alternated colors and sizes to keep it visually balanced. Then, I grabbed a branch I’d picked up during a family walk (yes, I’m that person who drags sticks home). It had this lovely curve that added a natural touch.
This part can feel a bit fiddly, but trust me, it’s worth it. I flipped the trees over and hot-glued them to macrame cord, row by row. The key here is to keep everything spaced evenly so it looks intentional. I tied each row of cord to the branch, then added an extra piece of cord at the top for hanging.
To give it that classic advent calendar look, I punched out little circles from kraft paper and wrote numbers (1–24) on them.
The numbers are attached to each tree with mini clothespins—it’s such a simple detail, but it makes the whole thing feel polished.
Finally, the fun part! Each tree pocket got a little surprise—tiny chocolates, festive notes, or clues for a scavenger hunt. The kids are going to have a blast opening these every day.
Here is how the calendar looks on a wall.
Lessons Learned
If I could go back and do one thing differently, it’d be to use a slightly sturdier branch. Mine is cute but a little uneven, which made hanging the rows tricky. I also learned (the hard way) to triple-check the spacing before gluing. Once that glue sets, it’s not coming off!
Why This Project is Totally Worth It
Not only is this calendar a fun family tradition, but it’s also a decor piece that I actually love looking at. The mix of green felt and the natural wood makes it feel cozy and wintery, without screaming “Christmas overload.” And let’s be real—there’s something so satisfying about making something with your own two hands.
So, if you’ve been on the fence about crafting your own advent calendar, take this as your sign to go for it. It’s easier than it looks, and the end result is 100% worth the effort.