Reusable Advent Calendars For A Conscious Christmas Countdown
Christmas is coming!
There’s no harm thinking ahead, especially if you want a low-impact celebration that doesn’t harm the planet.
What better way to kick off a conscious festive season than with reusable advent calendars?
As well as being a more eco countdown alternative, reusable advent calendars (filled with zero waste gifts, of course) can be a fun add-on to your family’s festive traditions and become a treasured keepsake.
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Reusable Advent Calendars For Adults & Kids
Seaside Metal Design’s innovative magnetic metal countdown is sturdy enough to be passed down for generations to come. Heirloom status guaranteed!
For reusable cloth adventure calendars that double as Christmas tree ornaments, check out KPort Gift Company.
Busy Puzzle’s wooden reusable advent calendar not only looks minimalist and elegant, but its block-inspired design will help engage the kids in using a more responsible advent countdown alternative.
All of these reusable Christmas advent calendars are on Etsy, so you can add to that warm festive feeling by knowing you’re supporting small, independent businesses and carbon-neutral shipping.
For ideas for reusable advent calendar fillers, as well as what we looked for behind each tiny door in terms of sustainability, jump to the end of the article.
The Best Reusable Calendars On Etsy Yule Really Love
1. Seaside Metal Design
About Seaside Metal Design’s Reusable Advent Calendars
For a unique advent calendar that you can pull out year after year, Florida-based Seaside Metal Design’s tabletop metal calendar is built to last.
Each 11-gauge, 20.5” steel Christmas tree comes with 25 hand-painted wooden magnetic ornaments.
Choose between a rustic, bare metal tree (ideal for creating a minimalist vibe) or a more decorative version that’s been hand ground and finished with a clear powder coat.
You can also purchase these as a DIY reusable advent calendar kit where you paint and assemble your own ornaments and stain the wooden tree base yourself.
Seaside Metal Designs is a small, family-run shop specializing in custom metal art. Each item is handcrafted to order by US army veteran Theo.
Available: Etsy
2. Hudson Valley Maker Co
About Hudson Valley Maker Co’s Reusable Nativity Advent Calendars
Made from maple and walnut wood, the advent calendar from Hudson Valley Maker Co is one of the best reusable advent calendars if you’re looking for a nativity-based theme.
Move the wooden angel along the little numbered houses toward the manger as you countdown to Christmas day.
The star above the manger also slides in and out so you can decide whether to display it all month long or just on the 25th.
Choose from 3 different lengths: 15 inches, 24 inches, and 32 inches.
All items are designed and crafted in a small Hudson Valley, New York studio by the shop owner.
Available: Etsy
3. KPort Gift Company
About KPort Gift Company’s Reusable Cloth Advent Calendars
The vintage-inspired advent calendar bag sets from KPort Gift Company are cute and simple.
They consist of 4” x 6” bags or 5” x 7” bags made from either 100% organic cotton muslin or sturdier 100% chemical-free cotton.
Once filled, the little bags can be displayed in endless ways. String them up along a mantelpiece, hang them like ornaments on your tree, display them in a basket, or hide one each morning for an advent surprise for the kids.
There are loads of different prints to choose from including a retro Santa set, a Jane Austen set, a Little Women set, and movie-inspired sets for Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story.
All items are handmade in Maine. Requests and custom orders are warmly welcomed.
Available: Etsy
4. Busy Puzzle
About Busy Puzzle’s Reusable Advent Calendars for 2022
Support a family-owned, Ukraine-based business by purchasing a wooden reusable advent calendar from Busy Puzzle.
These chunky, handcrafted calendars would make an adorable gift for younger family members to play with and they’re also sporting the scandi-minimalist vibe.
The basic set includes a wooden calendar and two wooden stars made out of elm and walnut wood. There is also the option to add hooks to your order (supplied loose) so that you can hang up little envelopes or paper bags.
The full set includes wooden nativity scene figures that can also be purchased separately from the calendar.
Available: Etsy
5. Falcon Ridge Designs
About Falcon Ridge Design’s Reusable Advent Calendars USA
Falcon Ridge Designs makes personalized wooden reusable advent calendars for your planet-friendly festive countdown.
The base of each calendar is 18” long and made from cherry wood. Choose between 3 different designs for the movable piece, each laser cut from three layers of maple, walnut, and cherry.
The movable pieces do have some fragile parts (especially the reindeer design) and need to be handled with care.
You can customize each wooden reusable calendar with your family name or a festive quote.
Each one is handmade to order in Wake Forest, NC.
Available: Etsy
6. My Papercut Forest
About My Papercut Forest’s Reusable Advent Calendars UK
For a reusable advent calendar that stands out from the Christmas crowd, My Papercut Forest offers tree-themed calendars to decorate your table or shelf.
Each one is made of additive-free cellulose fiber and is fully biodegradable and emissions-free.
The felt in the reusable felt advent calendar leaves is hand stitched by Kat from The Flat of Kat. These calendars are a collaboration between their shops.
All materials are FSC-certified and come in a recyclable box. However, we recommend holding onto the sturdy box to safely store your tree in-between holidays.
Because they fold flat, they’ll take up practically no space.
This Brighton-based shop is run by designer and paper artist Silvina De Vita. Alongside advent calendars, you’ll find a unique assortment of paper craft kits, miniature paper domes, greeting cards, and more.
Available: Etsy
7. Knotted Sage
About Knotted Sage’s Reusable Advent Calendars for Adults
For an alcohol-themed advent calendar that can be used year after year, have a look at Knotted Sage’s wine and beer holder calendar made from birch wood cut into the shape of a snowman.
Each wooden reusable advent calendar is essentially a festive wine/beer holder that can fit 12 bottles of beer or mini wine bottles. They also have a liquor advent calendar that can hold 24 miniature bottles.
Note the alcohol is not included!
For underage users, they also offer one that can be filled with lollipops.
All items are designed and handmade by shop-owner Maegan in Vancouver, a serious consideration if you’re after a reusable advent calendar in Canada.
Available: Etsy
8. Hunter Kouture
About Hunter Kouture’s Reusable Advent Calendars Canada
Hunter Kouture has a large selection of reusable cotton advent calendar bags featuring several different designs—including a bone design for furry family members.
While most designs use a heat transfer vinyl (HTV) sticker, some instead utilize wooden advent calendar tags for a plastic-free option.
The 2” round tags are numbered 1-25 with a festive bow design and are ideal for creating DIY reusable advent calendars.
They can either be ordered together with Hunter Kouture’s 5”x3” cotton drawstring bags or purchased separately for use with your own paper bags/envelopes/boxes.
Available: Etsy
9. The T Bird
About the T Bird’s Reusable Advent Calendar UK
The T Bird’s wooden reusable advent calendar moves a happy Santa day by day towards the 25th December.
Another fitting option if you’re looking for a reusable advent calendar in the UK.
Each 40cm x 11.5cm calendar is handmade using birch plywood and features said Santa figure behind the little houses for each day of December. No doubt he’s dropping off presents for the well behaved!
It can be personalized with a name, making this a cute reusable advent calendar for kids.
They also have a gonk version if you’re not a fan of Santa (or just love gonks more).
Available: Etsy
10. Global Gumnuts & Nursery
About the Global Gumnuts & Nursery Reusable Advent Calendars Australia
For Scandi-inspired reusable cloth advent calendars, have a look at the natural linen hanging calendars from Perth-based Global Gumnuts & Nursery.
Each 60cm x 29cm hand-sewn linen calendar comes with a set of loose wooden numbers (which you sew on or peg on yourself), a natural wooden pole, and twine for hanging.
While these calendars are designed to be reused year after year, they’re also completely compostable at end-of-life.
If you need some reusable advent calendar fillers for little ones, you can also order a 25-piece gift set suitable for ages 3-7.
All fillers—such as nature stamps, felt balls, wooden scoops, and little wooden toys—are made from natural materials and chosen to inspire play.
Available: Etsy
11. Cackleberry Designs
About Cackleberry Design’s Reusable Cloth Advent Calendars
Cackleberry Designs’ personalized cotton hanging advent calendar is another option if you’re looking for reusable advent calendars in Australia.
Featuring 25 stuffable pockets with white numbers, these reusable cloth advent calendars measure 60cm high and 40cm wide.
These calendars aren’t totally plastic-free due to the heat transfer vinyl. You can add your own name and wording to the calendar by choosing a font and color.
Available: Etsy
DIY Reusable Advent Calendars
If looking at all those beautiful reusable advent calendars has got your creative juices flowing and you’re wondering how to make a reusable advent calendar yourself, this section is for you.
But before you get stuck into reusable advent calendars DIY-style: what’s your skill?
If you can knit, crochet, or sew, there are plenty of reusable advent calendar ideas out there. From mini crocheted stockings to fabric wall hangings, a quick internet search will throw up a heap of patterns.
Etsy is also a good place to buy PDF patterns. Have a read of the reviews first to see if other crafters have found the pattern easy to follow.
Likewise, if woodworking is your thing, have a search for DIY wooden reusable advent calendars. Then put your elf hat on and get crafting!
If you don’t possess any of those skill sets, that’s okay, too.
There are plenty of DIY reusable advent calendar designs for the craft-challenged—like this one by Design Mom that only requires you to snip some fabric, operate an iron, and tie a bow.
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What To Put In A Reusable Advent Calendar
If you’ve opted for a pocket advent calendar, mini bags, envelopes, boxes, or advent stockings your next question might be “What do you put in a reusable advent calendar?”
The options really are limitless. It depends on who the calendar is for and what they’re into.
If you’re stocking up (pun intended) on reusable advent calendar fillers here are some ideas for small eco friendly gifts.
For Children:
- Found natural objects: Use special stones, pinecones, feathers, and other foraged objects to create a natural advent calendar.
- Activities: Little envelopes filled with activity ideas such as “baking cookies”, “making Xmas cards”, and “reading a Xmas story” help keep little ones entertained (whilst ticking some Christmas activities off your list).
- Eco friendly toys: Have a hunt for second-hand treasures in your local thrift store and if you do need to buy new, help support planet-positive brands.
- Puzzle pieces: Pick up a puzzle at your local thrift store and pop a few pieces into each advent pocket or envelope. If you make the puzzle yourself first, you can then add the pieces to the calendar in order so that children can build more of the puzzle each day, adding the final pieces on the 24th/25th.
- Beads: Add a bead to each day and by the 25th, recipients will have a new festive necklace to wear!
- Eco friendly school supplies: From plantable pencils to sustainable notebooks, stationary and art supplies are a useful gift for all ages.
For Teens and Adults:
- Eco friendly toiletries: Who doesn’t love some planet-friendly pampering?
- Flower and vegetable seeds
- Affordable organic makeup: Small compacts or singles of things like zero waste lip balm or non toxic perfume minis will fit easily in most reusable adventure calendars.
- Sustainable accessories: Clips and hairbands, anyone? We’re always losing them, after all!
- Fair trade and artisan jewelry
- Edible treats: Munchies are always a winning option, and you’ll still be responsible by choosing ethical chocolate or other snacks from sustainable food brands.
Final Thoughts On Reusable Advent Calendars For 2022
Disposable advent calendars are so 2020.
Let’s all switch to reusable advent calendars for 2022 and beyond.
Besides, we need a bit of festive cheer to look forward to—minus the eco guilt that inevitably appears during the holiday season.
Opting for eco friendly Christmas crackers and advent calendars that are reusable are ways we can ease ourselves into the low waste living spirit this Christmas.
Make or buy one that you really love. Pack it away carefully post-Christmas, making sure it’s clean and dry and then you can look forward to using it again year after year.
We ho-ho-hope you’ve been inspired by these reusable advent calendar ideas. Feel free to share them with your family and friends and help them create a conscious Christmas countdown.
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