What's better that getting an Advent calendar filled with chocolate or treats? One filled with booze! This DIY alcohol Advent calendar is a fun way for grown ups to celebrate the holiday season. Feeling stressed this Christmas? Not to worry, this calendar is filled with a different miniature alcohol bottle for every day from December 1st- 24th. From gin to vodka, whiskey and wine, reveal a different bottle and mix yourself up a special drink after work because the tree isn't the only thing getting lit this year.
Alcohol Advent Calendar Tutorial
When I was a kid, I lived for my chocolate Advent calendar every December. One of my earliest memories is being very young (2 or 3 years old) and my older sister sneaking extra chocolates out of her calendar. She got busted by my mom and the calendars were moved out of reach for the rest of the season.
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My daughter gets a chocolate Advent calendar of her own every Christmas but I wanted to make something fun for the grown ups in the family. Alcohol Advent calendars have been trending for a few years now and you can buy a booze filled advent calendar with every kind or beer, wine or hard liquor imaginable.
This year I decided to make my own calendar. This is a great gift for your loved ones who could use a drink, or maybe just save it for yourself during this crazy holiday season.
What is Advent, Anyways?
For those who aren't familiar, an Advent calendar is a special calendar used to count the days of Advent in anticipation of Christmas. Advent is the period beginning four Sunday's before Christmas and ending on December 25th.
The origin of the Advent calendar can be traced back to the 19th. Century. The first styles came from the protestant area. Religious families made a chalk line for every day in December until Christmas Eve.
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What would Protestant families think of modern Advent calendars filled with booze, candy and everything else? Probably not much. But hey, they would probably be shocked at the entire commercialization of the Christmas season- but that's not what we are talking about today.
Instead, grab a drink, and learn how to make your own fancy alcohol Advent calendar.
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Supplies for Alcohol Advent Calendar
- Adustable wood shelf organizer - Make sure it has 24 spaces for each day of Advent.
- Red spray paint
- 24 mini alcohol bottles- You can get the mini's at most liquor stores.
- White school glue
- Wrapping paper
- Electrical splicing tape- I used black but it comes in almost every color to match the wrapping paper you choose.
- Number stickers
- White card stock
- Paper punch
Directions for Alcohol Advent Calendar
- First, I began with a simple wooden crate from the craft store that had 24 slots in it for the little bottles. The main thing to keep in mind is that the bottles need to be able to fit into the slots. I had to place my mini's diagonally but they still fit fine.
- I painted the crate with two coats of red spray paint.
- After letting the paint dry for 24 hours I traced it onto a sheet of wrapping paper. I cut the rectangle out of the wrapping paper and set it aside.
- One mini alcohol bottle was placed in each space in the crate.
- I brushed white glue onto the edges of the grid so that the wrapping paper would stick to it and help separate the squares. This way when you punch through the paper to get your bottle it won’t tear into the next square.
- I placed the cut out wrapping paper over the open side of the crate covering the bottles and gently smoothed it down.
- I used electrical tape to tape the wrapping paper to the sides. I also tried clear packing tape but it didn't stick to the wood well enough. When you press the tape to the wood use a credit card to smooth the tape down and really press it down so that it will stay in place.
- A paper punch was used to cut card stock into little squares and I used number stickers on the squares to mark the dates. I bought the stickers at the dollar store.
- The squares were glued onto each space that holds a mini bottle behind it. If you look closely you will notice I screwed up and somehow put one of the numbers on sideways. I didn't notice it until I started editing my photos.
- Now your alcohol Advent Calendar is ready for gifting. Simply find the number that corresponds with the date, peel off the label and poke through the paper to get to your mini bottle.
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The crate can be used after the holidays to store ornaments or other objects or you can save it for next year and make another Advent calendar.
What do you think of the alcohol Advent calendar? What would you fill it with?
DIY Alcohol Advent Calendar
Make this fun booze filled alcohol calendar with mini liquor bottles and a wooden crate.
Materials
- Wood bottle crate
- Red spray paint
- 24 mini alcohol bottles
- White school glue
- Wrapping paper
- Electrical tape
- Number stickers
- White card stock
Tools
- Paper punch
- Scissors
Instructions
- Begin with a simple wooden crate from the craft store that has 24 slots in it for the little bottles. The main thing to keep in mind is that the bottles need to be able to fit into the slots. I had to place my mini's diagonally but they still fit fine.
- Paint the crate with two coats of red spray paint.
After letting the paint dry for 24 hours trace it onto a sheet of wrapping paper. Cut the rectangle out of the wrapping paper and set it aside. - One mini alcohol bottle is placed in each space in the crate.
- Brush white glue onto the edges of the grid so that the wrapping paper sticks to it and helps separate the squares. This way when you punch through the paper to get your bottle it won’t tear into the next square.
- Place the cut out wrapping paper over the open side of the crate covering the bottles and gently smooth it down.
- Use electrical tape to tape the wrapping paper to the sides. I also tried clear packing tape but it didn't stick to the wood well enough. When you press the tape to the wood use a credit card to smooth the tape down and really press it down so that it will stay in place.
- A paper punch is used to cut card stock into little squares and number stickers on the squares to mark the dates.
- The squares are glued onto each space that holds a mini bottle behind it.
- Now your alcohol Advent Calendar is ready for gifting. Simply find the number that corresponds with the date, peel off the label and poke through the paper to get to your mini bottle.
Notes
Reuse the crate after the holiday season for other items or save it and make another calendar next year!
Lynnie says
I would love to check out the Christmas printables … but it says to “Fill out the form below”, and this is the only form I can find!! So, I’m filling it out and hoping for the best! (I really enjoy your site, by the way!!) 😉
adrienne says
IT should work. If not email me at info@craftylittlegnome.com and I will send them to you!
Kimberly Mc says
will the mini (single serve) bottles of wine fit in this? I've been dying to do a wine advent calendar.
adrienne says
Those bottles will probably be a little bit too big. I had to use the airplane sized little alcohol bottles. With a different crate you could get the wine bottles to fit
Anne says
I love this! It came together so well. I'm amazed that all the bottles fit so nicely into it. Nice work.
adrienne says
Thank you! It was a lot of fun to put together.