Add a rustic touch to your Christmas home decor with a natural advent calender. This easy homemade Christmas countdown calendar uses stones or rocks as an easy way to countdown to Christmas.
Countdown to Christmas with this easy DIY advent calendar! An advent calendar with a Nativity scene can provide a great way to remember the true meaning of Christmas.
Make a stone Christmas countdown calendar with children at home or in the classroom, and use them as a fun and easy way to countdown to Christmas… no candy or gifts necessary!
Related: Meaningful Christmas Traditions for a Magical Holiday
DIY Advent Calendar Christmas Countdown
Advent means ‘coming’ in Latin and it represents the coming of baby Jesus into the world. This homemade advent calendar is designed to be used to count down to Christmas, or, the coming of Christ.
My daughter has always had a thing for rocks. Our fall nature table has become littered with them!
When I saw THIS advent nature table by Explore and Express I knew it was perfect for my daughter so I decided to give it a try.
We made a homemade popsicle stick nativity stable with a nativity scene to go with this stone advent calendar. Alternatively, you can use any one of these lovely stables or nativity sets.
This nativity is my favorite, but I also love the simple look that our wooden peg dolls
create.
Related: Rustic Walnut Shell Manger Christmas Ornament
Christmas Advent Countdown Calendar Supplies
First, go on a nature hunt to find some stones or rocks to use. You can also find stones that will work HERE
or at your local landscaping or gardening store.
If you can not find any rocks that will work, try another natural object such as raw gemstones
, pebbles
, shells
, pinecones
or acorns
. Or, try rainbow blocks, lego bricks
, or toy cars
. Any material that is not likely to perish will work.
Related: Baby Jesus Christmas Ornament
To make this Christmas Countdown Calendar You will Need:
- 24 stones or other items that can be used to countdown to Christmas.
- Nativity stable with a nativity scene (optional)
Related: Angel Christmas Ornaments
Related: Ultimate Family Gift Guide with DIY and ready-made options!
How to Countdown to Christmas with a Stone Advent Calendar
- Layout 24 rocks or stones in a straight or curved line across a table, shelf, or windowsill.
- Place a nativity stable with the holy family nativity scene at one end of the line of stones. (optional)
- Use the stones to countdown to Christmas starting on the first of December.
- Simply take away one rock per day until the last stone is removed on Christmas Eve.
Related: Christmas Gifts Kids Can Make Your Family Will Love!
Stone Advent Calendar Step by Step Directions
Related: Christmas Ornaments Kids Can Make
Step 1 – Layout 24 stones or rocks to create a Christmas countdown
Layout 24 rocks or stones in a straight or curved line across a table, shelf, or windowsill. Spirals and also circles work well and would be equally gorgeous!
Step 2 – Add Wise Men (optional)
Place wise men
, or three wooden peg dolls
, behind the first stone of your advent calendar.
Step 3 – Create a Nativity Scene (optional)
Place Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus into the Nativity scene at the end of the stone Christmas countdown.
Be sure to pop over to have a look at our easy wooden peg doll holy family nativity scene tutorial. There you can find directions for making a simple walnut shell manger.
Related: Walnut Shell Manger Christmas Ornament
Step 4 – Countdown to Christmas
Remove one stone each day from the advent calendar in order to countdown to Christmas.
Beginning on December 1st, remove one stone per day until the last stone is removed on Christmas Eve.
Related: Fingerprint Christmas Tree Cards
DIY Advent Calendar Kids Can Make
That’s it! Quick and easy right? I knew you’d love it! 🙂
You can make a handmade nativity stable to go with it, or you can use any one of these lovely stables or nativity sets.
Make sure you have a look at 27 Christmas traditions for a magical holiday for even more fun ideas!
You might also want to have a look at our winter bucket list seasonal activity guide.
Learn more about Rhythms of Play HERE!
More Christmas Ideas
- Best Christmas Art Projects
- Angel Christmas Ornaments
- How to Make Beaded Snowflake Ornaments
- Christmas Handprint, Footprint, and Fingerprint Crafts for Cards
- Ultimate Family Gift Guide
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Hi Nell, I love this post! So glad that you have been able to use this idea, and thank you for linking back to Explore and Express.
Hi Sheila!
I fell in love with your idea the minute I saw it and knew it would be perfect for my daughter. I love the idea of the stones symbolizing the journey of the wise man. Not many advent calendars these days can bring the meaning of Christmas to life quite like this one can. Thank you for the inspiration to create such a beautiful nativity scene on our Nature table this year.