12 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar with Cricut

Counting down to Christmas is even more fun when you get a little surprise each day!

I made this 12-box advent calendar SVG so you can make your own with cardstock and your Cricut. It's easy to use and helps the project go smoothly.

This is a great way to make something special for your kids, grandkids, or anyone who loves Christmas. Or make one just for you!

There are a few pieces to put together, but I'll walk you through each step. You can do it!

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Supply List

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• Cricut Cutting Machine
• StandardGrip Mat
• 12 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar SVG
• Scoring Stylus or Scoring Wheel
• Patterned Cardstock
• Metallic Cardstock
• Brayer
• Bone Folder
• Liquid Craft Glue
• Double-Sided Adhesive Tape
• Candy or Small Gifts (to fill the drawers)

Grab the SVG

I made this SVG to help you cut and put everything together easily. The file has all the pieces you need: drawer boxes, numbers, frame pieces, and dividers.

How to Make a 12 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar

This DIY advent calendar is made from cardstock. It has 12 small drawers, set up in three rows of four.

The outside frame holds all the drawers in place. You get to pick the paper, so you can make it look as festive as you want.

You can use the colors and patterns I picked, or choose your own favorites. That's one of the best things about paper crafts!

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Upload the Advent Calendar SVG

Open Cricut Design Space and start a new project with a blank canvas.

Click Upload, then Upload Image. Drag the advent calendar SVG file into the upload window.

Select Continue, then Upload to add the file to your uploaded images.

Add the design to your canvas and click Ungroup.

You should now see all the pieces in the Layers panel.

You'll notice red text next to some of the shapes that says things like "Cut 12" or "Cut 2."

These remind you how many copies you need. They are not part of the finished design.

I set up the file this way so you only have to set up each shape once, then make as many copies as you need. This way, you don't have to change the same score lines again and again.

The colors in the SVG help you plan your cuts. Light blue is for solid cardstock, dark blue is for patterned paper, and yellow numbers are for metallic cardstock.

You can change these colors to match your own Christmas theme. Make it your own!

Change Cut Lines to Score Lines

Before we cut the cardstock, we need to set up the score lines.

Since I made this SVG outside of Cricut Design Space, the score lines are set to cut when the file is first uploaded.

We need to change them so the Cricut knows where to fold the paper instead of cutting through it.

Start at the top of the Layers panel and work your way down.

Select the first set of score lines.

Under Operation, change Basic Cut to Score.

The solid lines will change to dashed lines on your canvas.

Next, select the score lines and the shape they belong to. Click Attach.

This step is very important!

Attaching keeps the score lines in the right place when your Cricut cuts and scores the paper. If you skip it, the lines may move to a new spot on the cutting mat.

Once the first drawer box is ready, select the attached shape and duplicate it until you have 12 boxes.

You can now delete the red "Cut 12" reminder.

Next, find the dark blue shape used for the front of each drawer. Make 12 copies of that piece, too.

Continue working down the Layers panel.

Change each set of fold lines to Score, attach them to the right shape, and make the number of copies shown in red.

Some pieces need two copies, while others need three.

Be sure to change and attach the score lines before you make copies. That way, you only have to do it once for each shape.

When all the pieces are ready, delete the red reminders and save your project.

Now we're ready to cut!

Cut the Cardstock with Your Cricut

Click Make to open the mat preview.

Look through the mats to make sure all the pieces are in the right place.

Load the mat into your Cricut and start the cut.

Follow the prompts in Cricut Design Space. It will tell you when to switch between the Scoring Tool and Fine-Point Blade.

Once the cut is done, unload the mat.

Tip: Turn the mat over and peel the mat away from the cardstock. Don't pull the paper straight up. This helps keep your cut pieces flat instead of curled.

Repeat until all the cardstock pieces are cut and scored.

Add Numbers to the Drawer Fronts

Lay out the 12 decorative drawer fronts and the numbers from 1 to 12.

I'm using two kinds of adhesive for this project: liquid craft glue and double-sided adhesive tape.

Liquid glue takes a little longer to dry, but it gives me time to move a piece if it isn't lined up just right.

I like using it for the numbers because I want them to stay in place.

Add a small amount of glue to the back of the first number and center it on the front panel.

Press it down and repeat with the rest of the numbers.

Make sure your glue dries clear. A little glue may squeeze out around the edges, and you don't want it to leave a mark.

Next, glue each numbered panel to the front of a drawer box piece.

Line up the panel, press it into place, and let the glue set.

If you'd like, you can add small paper shapes or other fun details to the drawer fronts.

Fold and Glue the Drawers

Take one drawer box piece and fold along all the score lines, using a bone folder to press each fold and create nice, crisp edges.

Apply liquid glue to the small side flaps.

Fold the flaps inward so they sit behind the adjoining side panels, and hold each corner in place.

Repeat these steps for all 12 boxes.

Take your time with the folds. The better the boxes hold their shape, the easier they will be to slide in and out of the finished frame.

Assemble the Advent Calendar Frame

The frame has more parts than the drawers, but we can make it one step at a time.

The finished frame has three rows and four columns. This gives us 12 spaces for our drawers.

It helps to lay out the pieces before you start gluing so you can see where everything goes.

Fold the Outside Frame Pieces

Find the four pieces that will form the outside walls of the advent calendar.

Two pieces have three square sections, and two have four square sections.

Fold each piece inward along its score lines, using a bone folder to make crisp folds.

At the end with the connecting tab, fold the small rectangular section inward and then fold the tab in the opposite direction.

Repeat for all four outside pieces.

These folds will help us connect the walls and create the finished frame.

Prepare the Inside Dividers

Next, find the three divider pieces that fold down the center, fold each piece along its center score line, and then fold the small tabs on both sides outward in the opposite direction.

Apply double-sided adhesive tape along the center section, keeping the adhesive off the tabs.

Fold the center together and press firmly.

Repeat for all three pieces.

Now find the two remaining divider pieces with small rectangular sections in the center.

Fold each piece along the center score line and fold the tabs in the opposite direction.

Apply double-sided adhesive tape to the center and press the folded sections together.

You should now have all five divider pieces prepared.

Connect the Outside Frame

Arrange the four outside pieces in the following order: 3 sections, 4 sections, 3 sections, 4 sections.

This creates the rectangular frame needed to hold the 12 drawers.

Start with a three-section piece and a four-section piece.

Fold the connecting tab inward and apply double-sided adhesive tape.

Line up the two pieces so the score lines meet, then fold the tab over to secure them together.

Continue attaching the remaining pieces in the same order.

Once all four sides are connected, bring the two open ends together.

Apply adhesive to the final connecting tab and press it into place.

You should now have a rectangular frame with space for three rows and four columns.

Add the Inside Dividers

Now we'll create the 12 individual spaces that hold the drawers.

Start with the two longer dividers that run lengthwise through the frame.

You may need to temporarily fold some of the outside flaps backward so you can see where the dividers will attach.

Apply liquid glue to the divider tabs.

At the corners, tuck the tabs underneath the folded sections of the outside frame.

Press the glued tabs into place, making sure each divider is centered between the appropriate sections.

I prefer liquid glue for this step because it gives me a little time to adjust the placement.

Repeat with the second long divider.

Tip: Before the glue dries completely, slide a couple of your finished drawers into the openings. This is an easy way to check that the dividers are spaced correctly.

Once the two longer dividers are attached, add the three shorter dividers across the frame.

Apply glue to the tabs and secure them to the inside walls.

Some tabs tuck underneath folded sections at the corners, while the center tabs glue directly to the frame.

Keep each divider centered and press the tabs firmly into place.

Continue until all five dividers are attached.

You should now have 12 individual compartments!

Finish the Frame and Attach the Back

With the dividers in place, we can finish securing the outside frame.

Apply glue to the remaining flaps around the outer edges and fold each flap inward to reinforce the frame.

Use your bone folder to press the folded edges firmly into place.

Continue around the entire frame until all the outer flaps are glued down.

Next, turn the frame over to work on the back.

Fold the remaining back flaps into position.

Apply a small amount of glue to the corner flaps and secure them together.

Try to keep the corners as square as possible while the glue dries.

Once the corners are attached, find the large rectangular cardstock piece that covers the back.

Apply glue to the back of the frame, including around the outer edges, and place the rectangular piece over the back and press firmly.

Turn the frame over and apply even pressure to help everything adhere.

This gives the advent calendar a nice, clean back and hides all those little tabs.

Add the Decorative Strips

The last part of the frame is adding the decorative strips around the outside edges.

Apply double-sided adhesive tape to the back of each strip.

Line up the strips with the outside walls and press them into place.

Continue until all four sides are covered.

These decorative pieces give the advent calendar a finished look and are a fun way to use coordinating Christmas paper.

Fill the Advent Calendar

Slide all 12 numbered drawers into the frame.

You can arrange the calendar horizontally or stand it vertically, depending on how you want to display it.

I'm filling my drawers with candy, but there are lots of other fun options!

You could add small gifts, handwritten notes, little sayings, or other tiny surprises.

The drawers are large enough to hold small treats, so you can get creative with what goes inside.

And that's it! Your handmade 12 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar is ready for the holiday countdown.

If you love this 12-day calendar but want one with 25 drawers, I've got you covered! I also have a 25-box advent calendar SVG.

Frequently Asked Questions

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