DIY Reindeer Advent Calendar

Okay, I have shared many advent calendars over the years and many reindeer crafts. Store-bought advent calendars and DIY advent calendars. This time around I wanted to combine some of my favorite Christmas crafts into one epic craft project. So, I hope you love this toilet paper roll reindeer advent calendar as much as I do!

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I mean, how cute are these reindeer? Each reindeer is a little box that is holding a Christmas treat for each day of December, counting down to Christmas. Yes, you will need to save up those toilet paper rolls, or do what I did and slide them out from inside the rolls. Okay, get ready because this refillable DIY advent calendar is going to be an absolute favorite.

Toilet Paper Roll Reindeer Advent Calendar

24 toilet paper rolls
24 brown pipe cleaners
googly eyes
black pom poms and 1 red pom pom
black and brown markers
glue gun
single hole punch
Christmas ribbon
scissors
little clothes pins

supplies for reindeer advent calendar - toilet rolls, glue gun, googly eyes, pipe cleaners

First up, we need to make all of the reindeer. Start by pressing the toilet paper rolls flat. I pressed them with my hands and then ran a ruler over them, to really press them firmly. Next, you need to use the single-hole punch to create two holes in the "top" of the reindeer head, this is where the antlers will go. I also trimmed the sharp edges of the reindeer's head.

toilet paper roll trimmed and two holes punched in top

Now, you are going to turn the toilet paper roll into a box. Run a line of hot glue along the inside "bottom" edge of the toilet paper roll. Again, use your fingers to press the roll together. Hold it until the glue cools and holds the seal. You can now add a strip of festive Christmas ribbon to the reindeer's neck. I found a cute spool of pom pom trim. Glue the trim in place, wrapping it around the reindeer.

reindeer face drawn on toilet paper roll rudolph with googely eyes and pom pom nose

It's time to give this reindeer a sweet little face. Use the brown marker to add the forehead of the reindeer. Use the glue gun to adhere the googly eyes and pom pom nose. Finish with eyebrows and a quirky little smile. You are going to need to make 24 reindeer. I found it was fun to make them in an assembly line. The kids can help add the faces. Have fun and don't forget to have one red nose for Rudolph.d

pile of toilet paper roll reindeer boxes filled with treats

Once all the reindeer are made it is time to fill them with treats. I filled ours with little candy canes and a couple of chocolates. What will you fill your advent calendar with?

pipe cleaner antlers made with long and small pieces of pipe cleaners

It's time to close the reindeer boxes by adding the pipe cleaner antlers. Poke the pipe cleaner through the holes, from the front to the back. Then twist the pipe cleaner on the back side of the reindeer. Trim about 1 ½ inches of pipe cleaner from each end. Then wrap the smaller pieces around the longer pieces. This will give the pipe cleaners a fun antler look. Alternatively, you could wrap the pipe cleaners around a pencil and have curly antlers.

toilet paper reindeer advent calendar boxes being clothes pinned to ribbon on board

Your reindeer advent calendar is ready to hang. I made a base to hang our reindeer advent calendar. I wrapped a sheet of foam core with white polar fleece, securing it with the glue gun. Then I glued 4 strips of festive ribbon to the board. Each ribbon will have 6 reindeer clipped to it, using little clothes pins.

close up of reindeer advent calendar with rudolph in the middle

I also thought about hanging my reindeer along a long garland of ribbon that could be hung on a mantle, or maybe along a staircase. I'm sure there are many other ways you could display this advent calendar. However you choose to display your reindeer advent calendar make sure the boxes are easily accessible so they can be opened each day.

full view of toilet paper roll reindeer advent calendar on white board

Well, what do you think? Is this a cute DIY advent calendar? I think we will be using this reindeer advent calendar for many years to come! And, I love that is was easy to make, inexpensive and we made memories making it. I hope you do too!