Here’s How to Make a Christmas Tree Advent Calendar

Counting down the days to Christmas with an Advent calendar has become a highlight of many kids’ holiday season. Traditional Advent calendars are rectangular cards or boxes with small sealed doors or windows meant to be opened each day. Chantelle Lourens’ DIY Christmas Tree Advent Calendar injects even more Yuletide spirit into this wonderful tradition. Follow her easy steps to build your own this Christmas.

Here’s What You Need*:

• (2) 1”x4” Spruce (8-foot lengths) 

• (1) 2”x4” Spruce (8-foot length) 

• (1) 2”x2” Spruce (8-foot length) 

• 1¼” Screws 

• 3” Screws 

• Wood Glue 

• Minwax Stain 

• Advent Bags 

• Wood Star 

• Drill 

• Table Saw 

• Mitre Saw 

• Stapler 

• Clamp 

• Countersink Bit (countersink all screws for this project) 

*Lumber may vary depending on your location. To see all your options, use our Store Locator to find the Home Hardware Building Centre or Home Building Centre closest to you.

Here’s How to Make It:

We were in the market for an Advent calendar this year for our 5-year-old and nothing was standing out. She either already had something similar, or it was just more stuff she didn't need. So, we decided this year we would create our own customizable calendar! A quick trip to our local Home Hardware was all it took to find all the materials we needed.

Step 1: Sizing Our Tree

We determined the dimensions of the tree by running a string line along the 2”x2” support beam and a temporary base. 40” high with a 27½” base seemed about right.

Step 2: Building Our Tiers

Using our mitre saw, we cut our 2”x2” support beam to 40” for the height of the tree. Then starting with the lowest tier, we cut out all our tree tiers with 20-degree angles at the ends. We drilled pilot holes and attached the pieces with 1¼” screws, spacing each tier 1” apart from the previous tier. Here’s the length of our tiers: 

• Tier 1: 27 ½” 

• Tier 2: 24” 

• Tier 3: 20 ¾” 

• Tier 4: 17 ½” 

• Tier 5: 14 ¼”

• Tier 6: 11” 

• Tier 7: 7 ⅝” 

• Tier 8: 4 ⅜”

Step 3: Adding the Star

We found a wood star we liked and used wood glue to secure it to the top.

Step 4: Making the Base

We created the base of the tree by cutting two 2”x4” pieces to 20” lengths. We half-lapped the pieces by notching out each one 3½” wide and approximately ¾” deep in the centre. We used our table saw for this, but you could also use a hammer and chisel. Once notched out, we glued and clamped the pieces together.

Step 5: Attaching the Base

Once fully dry, we attached the base to the bottom of the 2”x2” support beam with a 3” screw.

Step 6: Applying Stain

We stained the tree with two coats of Minwax Simply White stain. Once dry we attached Advent calendar bags to the tree using a stapler.

I love how this turned out, and I'm even more excited to fill it with things like random acts of kindness, activities that promote togetherness, jokes, and of course some treats! Our daughter is so excited to begin opening these bags in December and I'm looking forward to creating new ideas to fill up our DIY Advent calendar each year. As usual, the staff at our local Home Hardware were super friendly and extremely helpful.