DIY Advent Calendar: A Kraft Bag Garland You Can Make in an Afternoon

December 1 is closer than it feels, and a handmade advent calendar is one of the easiest ways to make the countdown to Christmas feel special. This version uses plain kraft bags, a length of twine and a handful of clothespins, so it costs very little and can hang almost anywhere, from a mantel to a hallway wall to a bare window frame.

Choose fillings appropriate for the recipient and use activity notes if you want to avoid buying small gifts. Fill it with small treats, tiny gifts, or free activities like a family movie night, and refill it next year with something new. If you set it up this week, you will have plenty of time to fill it before the first door opens.

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Project note: The images are AI-created illustrations of the design, not photographs documenting a personally tested installation. Measure your actual bags and check your supports before making a full display.

What You Will Need

• Kraft paper bags: You need 24 small flat-bottom bags. These kraft paper bags are about 7 x 3.5 inches and come in a pack of 50, so you will have spares.
• Jute twine: Measure your planned rows before cutting; two rows of twelve bags are easier to fit than one long row. Allow extra twine for end ties and a gentle drape. A spool of jute twine gives you plenty to work with, and any leftover is handy for gift wrapping.
• Mini wooden clothespins: Use one per bag. This mini clothespin set comes with 200, which covers the garland and a few extra projects.
• Number stickers: Round stickers numbered 1 through 24 are the fastest way to label the bags. These red, green, and navy advent number stickers stand out nicely against kraft paper, and the pack has 96 stickers, so you will have plenty to spare. A set of number stamps and an ink pad works too.
• Adhesive wall hooks: Use supports approved for the surface, finished weight and direction of pull. Two rows normally need separate supports at both ends of each row. A 6-pack of clear adhesive hooks is handy for the rest of the season too. Follow the hook manufacturer’s surface preparation, curing and loading instructions. Do not assume a hook rated for a downward load is suitable for a tightly stretched line.
• Faux pine sprigs with red berries: Optional, but a few mini berry pine picks (about 3.5 inches long, so they fit the small bags) tucked between the bags add texture and a pop of red.
• Brass jingle bells: Optional. A 50-pack of gold jingle bells can be tied onto the twine for a little sparkle.
• Fill-ins: Small treats, notes or activity cards (see the ideas below).

Step 1: Choose Where It Will Hang

Pick the spot before you cut anything. A mantel, a bookshelf edge, a window frame, a stretch of wall by the kitchen table or the back of a door all work. Measure the space, then plan for the twine to be a little longer than the width so it has a gentle curve.

Lay twelve actual bags flat in a row before cutting any twine. Measure the bags across the face, not their height. For example, twelve bags each 3.5 inches wide with eleven 0.5 inch edge-to-edge gaps occupy 47.5 inches. Add room for end ties and a gentle drape. If your space is narrower, use three rows of eight bags and measure again. The distance between bag centers is the bag width plus the gap; it is not the same as the empty space between bags.

Step 2: Number the Bags

Place a number on the front of each bag, 1 through 24. Stickers are the fastest option, while stamps give a more handmade look. Keep the numbers in the same spot on every bag so the garland looks tidy from across the room.

A fun tip: skip the numerical order when you clip them on. Mixing the numbers up turns each morning into a small treasure hunt and keeps little ones from guessing what is coming next.

Step 3: Fill the Bags

Fill each bag before you hang it, and fold the top over once so the contents stay put. The next section has a full list of ideas. Keep the filling flat or small so the clothespin can grip the bag without tearing it.

Step 4: Hang the Twine

Install suitable supports according to their instructions and allow any required curing time. Tie the twine with a gentle drape rather than pulling it tight. Add empty bags first, then a few light notes, and check for slipping or lifting supports. Painter’s tape is not a reliable support for a loaded Advent calendar. If the mounting method is uncertain, arrange the numbered bags in a stable basket instead.

Step 5: Clip On the Bags

Use one clothespin per bag, centered on the folded top. Space them evenly, working from the middle outward so the garland stays balanced. Tuck a sprig of greenery or a bell between a few bags for a little extra texture.

24 Things to Put in the Bags

Small treats

1. A wrapped chocolate or peppermint stick
2. A single hot cocoa packet
3. A tea bag with a note about when to drink it
4. A mini candy cane or two
5. A note promising a freshly baked cookie on that day

Tiny gifts

6. A pair of cozy socks (roll them tightly and use a larger bag)
7. A lip balm
8. A pretty pen or mini notepad
9. A set of stickers
10. A small ornament for the tree

Free or nearly free activities

Write each one on a card and slip it in.

11. Watch a favorite holiday movie
12. Drive around and look at holiday lights
13. Bake cookies together
14. Write a letter to someone you miss
15. Make paper snowflakes
16. Take a walk after dinner
17. Play a board game by the tree
18. Have breakfast for dinner
19. Pick one decoration for each person to place
20. Read a Christmas story out loud
21. Make hot cocoa and drink it by candlelight
22. Send a holiday card to a neighbor
23. Wrap gifts while listening to holiday music
24. Open one small gift early on Christmas Eve

Mix the three categories so there is always something to look forward to, and save the best surprise for the 24th.

Choose Fillings and Placement Carefully

Use only shelf-stable food in intact, food-safe packaging and follow its storage and expiry instructions. Paper gift bags and parchment alone do not preserve food for a month. Keep ingredient and allergen labels with treats. Choose age-appropriate contents; small bells, clips, ornaments and other loose pieces are choking hazards. Keep long cords and hanging loops out of reach of young children and pets. An adult should retrieve a child’s daily bag.

Keep the paper display away from candles, fireplaces, heaters, cooking areas and damp windows. Do not place it where a door will catch the bags or where it blocks a walkway. If clips slip, bags tear or supports move, take the display down and switch to lighter note cards or the basket arrangement.

Tips to Keep It Looking Good

• Use a sturdy bag. Thin lunch bags can rip under a clothespin. Flat bottom gift bags are the safest choice.
• Keep filling light. Heavy items add load wherever they hang. Leave them on a stable surface and put a collection note in the bag instead.
• Plan for next year. Store the bags and twine in a flat box so you only have to refill them.
• Make it your own. Swap the kraft for white paper bags, brush the edges with metallic paint, or add a tiny paper tag with a name to each one for a shared calendar.

Finish the Look

Once the garland is up, you can build the rest of your Christmas decor around it. A few handmade ribbon bows or some no-sew felt ornaments would look lovely nearby.

Keep the Countdown Simple

A DIY advent calendar does not have to be fancy to be meaningful. With a pack of kraft bags, some twine and a little planning, you can make a countdown that looks charming on the wall and gives everyone in the house something to look forward to each morning.