Make a simple stone Christmas advent calendar to get ready for the holidays this year. This homemade Christmas countdown calendar uses stones or rocks as an easy way to countdown to Christmas. Children love to countdown till Christmas with this easy DIY advent calendar!
This simple stone advent calendar is a great way to remember the true meaning of Christmas. Put one together with your children and use to countdown to Christmas this year!
Related: Meaningful Christmas Traditions for a Magical Holiday
Related: Easy Wooden Peg Doll Holy Family Nativity
DIY Advent Calendar Christmas Countdown
This homemade advent calendar is a great way to remember the true meaning of this holy day. It can be used to count down to Christmas or the coming of Christ. Advent means ‘coming’ in Latin and it represents the coming of baby Jesus into the world.
The stones are representative of the journey of the wise men. They are used to count down to Christmas starting on the first of December. Take away one rock per day until the last rock is removed on Christmas Eve.
We decided to use plain wooden peg dolls and make a stable to go with it. Click on the link for our directions to our DIY Craft Stick Nativity Stable, or you can use any one of these lovely stables or nativity sets.
This nativity is my favorite, but being a DIY mom that loves to decorate peg dolls, I just had to make my own.
Related: Rustic Walnut Shell Manger Christmas Ornament
Stone Advent Calendar Nativity Scene Supplies
First, go on a nature hunt to find some stones or rocks to use. You can also find stones at your local landscaping or gardening store.
You could also use raw gemstones
- 24 Stones
, rocks, or gemstones
- Wooden Peg dolls
The bag of wooden peg dolls listed above will give you enough to make an easy holy family nativity set, rainbow peg dolls, and elf ornaments! Rainbow peg dolls make a great homemade Christmas gift idea for kids!
Related: Ultimate Family Gift Guide with DIY and ready-made options!
How to Make a Stone Advent Calendar Christmas Countdown
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. Make sure you pop over to have a look at how Explore and Express made and used their stone advent calendar!
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 stones or rocks to create a Christmas countdown
Find a table, windowsill, counter or mantle that has enough room to lay out your rocks or stones. Spirals and also circles work well and would be equally gorgeous!
Step 2 – Place three peg dolls as wise men behind the first stone in the advent calendar
If you will be using peg dolls as your wise men, select three wooden peg dolls to use as wise men. Place the wooden peg doll wise men behind the first stone of your advent calendar.
Step 3 – Place Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus into the Nativity Scene at the end of the Christmas countdown
Next select 3 peg dolls to use as the holy family (Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus) and place them at the other end of the 24 stones in your stone advent calendar.
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 walnut shell manger.
Related: Walnut Shell Manger Christmas Ornament
Step 4 – Countdown to Christmas: Remove one stone per day from the advent calendar
Beginning on December 1st, remove one stone per day and move the wise men one step closer to Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus each day until the last stone is removed on Christmas Eve.
Related: Fingerprint Christmas Tree Cards
DIY Advent Calendar Kids Can Make
That’s it! Easy-peasy 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 that make the holidays magical for more fun ideas!
You might also want to have a look at our winter bucket list seasonal activity 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.