12 best craft advent calendars 2023: From sewing and plasticine to stationery and felt

The best craft advent calendars to get get creative with this festive season

Best craft advent calendars a montage
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As best craft advent calendars go any keen crafters in your life will love our festive round up of - from felt and plasticine to sewing and painting.

It's fair to say that non chocolate advent calendars have evolved over the years, with demand through the roof for perfume advent calendars and the best toy advent calendars (though we are STILL fans of the classic and best chocolate calendars). And we've noticed a fair few craft-based advent calendars cropping up this year that are sure to keep both kids and adults entertained.

First, here's how we chose the best craft advent calendars;

  • Reviews: We try to review all products we deem 'best' but where we've been unable to test ourselves, we have dug deep into comments to check what consistently scored highly from verified shoppers who rated them for value for money and quality items.
  • Price: We have included calendars to suit all budgets. It's worth noting though that, craft advents can cost more than your average advent calendar. 
  • Variety: Crafting includes many different forms and techniques, from cross stitch to Hama beads. We have included something for everyone.

Whether you’re a seasoned pro after a 24-day sewing project, wanting to try something new - like a paint-along watercolour calendar - or looking for something unusual to keep the kids occupied during advent, there’s a whole host of options out there. Read on to discover our pick of the best craft advent calendars for 2022.

12 best craft advent calendars 2023:

Why you can trust GoodtoKnow. Our experienced Consumer Editor & parent reviewers spend hours testing products to help you make the best choice. Find out how we test and review products.

What to look for in a craft advent calendar

"The best craft advent calendars for kids aren’t always the most expensive ones,” says our consumer editor, Heidi Scrimgeour. “Very often the simplest craft activities are the ones that children find most absorbing. My top tip before you buy is to think about what kind of activities truly engage your child. If they lose interest easily in time-consuming crafts, for example, don’t waste your money on a calendar that might overwhelm them. Instead, pick one that plays to your child’s individual creative strengths and interests. For some kids the fun is in the crafting activity itself while others are all about the end result. And above all, to get your money’s worth, remember that the best craft advent calendar is one that you enjoy together. Even if it’s jus a few minutes of fun creating together, what kids really love about crafts, in my view, is that they slow us down and make us get involved too.”

And now it's time to get ahead for Christmas with Argos' latest Top Christmas toys to buy (most are under £30!) the best chocolate advent calendars and the LEGO discount codes you need to know about, not to mention the cutest Christmas traditions to try. 

Profile picture of Goodto Consumer Editor Heidi Scrimgeour
Heidi Scrimgeour

As a parenting specialist, Heidi has written for Prima Baby, Gurgle and Practical Parenting and was baby gear editor of Mother & Baby magazine for six years, looking after regular consumer features for the shopping pages as well as specialist consumer content such as buying guides and gift guides. 

Ellie Hutchings
Family News Editor

Ellie is GoodtoKnow’s Family News Editor and covers all the latest trends in the parenting world - from relationship advice and baby names to wellbeing and self-care ideas for busy mums. Ellie is also an NCTJ-qualified journalist and has a distinction in MA Magazine Journalism from Nottingham Trent University and a first-class degree in Journalism from Cardiff University. Previously, Ellie has worked with BBC Good Food, The Big Issue, and the Nottingham Post, as well as freelancing as an arts and entertainment writer alongside her studies. When she’s not got her nose in a book, you’ll probably find Ellie jogging around her local park, indulging in an insta-worthy restaurant, or watching Netflix’s newest true crime documentary.