12 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar with Paper Pinwheels and Clothespins
Twelve patterned paper pinwheels sit in a row on a wooden board. Each has a red circle in the center with a white number on it, and a clothespin on the back holds a small treat bag. This 12 Days of Christmas advent calendar is a keepsake version of the cardboard calendars with a little door for each day, and it can come out again every December.
It is not a quick project, but the steps are simple. Most of the time goes into cutting and gluing the pieces, which you can do in several short sessions.
What do you need to make it?
- A cutting machine such as a Cricut, with a pinwheel file, a circle file and a number file
- 2 sheets of patterned card stock, 12 x 12 inches
- 1 sheet of red card stock
- 1 sheet of white card stock
- 2 wood boards, 2 x 1 x 18 inches
- 12 clothespins
- 12 small treat bags
- Permanent adhesive
- A low-temperature mini glue gun and glue sticks
A low-temperature glue gun is the better choice here because it is gentler on paper and easier on fingers. An adult should handle the glue gun if kids are helping. The treat bags are also a choking risk for children under three if they hold small candies.
How do you make the pinwheels?
- Cut the pinwheel shapes from the patterned card stock, the circles from the red, and the numbers 1 through 12 from the white.
- Stick each number onto a red circle with permanent adhesive and set the circles aside.
- Glue five cut pieces together with permanent adhesive to build each pinwheel.
- Gently press the center inward so the shape curls into a pinwheel, and hold it firmly so it keeps its form.
- Run a ring of hot glue on the back of a numbered circle, press it into the center of the pinwheel, and hold it for a few seconds until it sets.
- Turn the pinwheel over, glue a clothespin to the back, and let it cool completely.
Take your time with the folding. A pinwheel that is held properly while the circle goes on will stay puffed and dimensional, while one that is rushed tends to flatten.
How do you put the calendar together?
Glue the finished clothespin and pinwheel pieces along the wood boards with the hot glue. Six pinwheels fit comfortably on each 18-inch board, which gives you two shorter calendars that take up less wall space. If you would rather have one long calendar, use a single longer piece of wood and line up all twelve in a row.
Space the pinwheels evenly so the clothespins have room to open and so each number is easy to read. Let the glue cure fully before you hang the boards or clip anything in.
What goes in the bags?
Each small treat bag gets clipped into a clothespin, one per day. You can fill them with:
- Wrapped chocolates or other sweets, like the surprise behind the door of a store-bought calendar
- A slip of paper with a family Christmas activity for that day, such as baking cookies, watching a holiday movie or driving around to see lights
- A mix of both, with treats on busy days and an activity on days when you have more time
Because the bags are separate from the board, you can refill and swap them each year. The calendar stays the same while the surprises change.
Can you customize it?
Yes. A few easy changes make it your own:
- Choose patterned paper in colors that suit your decor, from traditional red and green to soft neutrals or bright candy colors.
- Use a different color for the circles, or add a thin border around each number.
- Paint or stain the boards before you glue anything on, and let them dry fully first.
- Add a sawtooth hanger or a loop of ribbon to the back of each board for hanging.
Make the calendar early in the season so you have time to cut, fold and assemble without rushing. Once the glue has cooled, fill the bags, clip them on, and hang the boards where everyone passes by each day.
When the holidays are over, unclip the bags and store the boards flat or upright so the pinwheels are not crushed. Wrapped in tissue, they should be ready to hang again next year.
