VIDEO: Layered Cardstock Advent Calendar
Crafty Christmas Countdown
It’s hard to believe, but Christmas is just around the corner! This season of joy is all about anticipation, family gatherings, and creating memories that warm the heart. This Layered Cardstock Advent Calendar is a new one in our holiday home decor collection. Still, it focuses on what truly matters during this time of year: showing love and appreciation for the special people in your life.
Tools
Materials
- Cardstock in the colors - White (x2 sheets), Pine Forest (x2 sheets), Aquamarine, Jellybean Green, Beach Grass (dots), Ginger, Wine, Mauve, Cafe Ole, Chamois, Antique Gold.
- Colored Pencils - White, Yellow, Brown, Red, Green.
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The tradition of Advent calendars dates back to 19th century Germany. Originally, families would mark the 24 days leading up to Christmas with chalk on doors or walls. Over time, these markings evolved into paper calendars with small doors or windows concealing a treat. If you like this project, check out this eye-catching Advent Village or this adorable felt version.
So, in keeping with tradition, Emily’s beautiful hand-drawn design features 25 festive doors. Behind each is an invitation to create a new Christmas memory. Instead of “things,” each door of our Layered Cardstock Advent Calendar opens to a fun activity in anticipation of the big day. Tree decorating, and baking cookies are just a few of the holiday adventures that await you and your family.
To create your Layered Cardstock Advent Calendar, gather your tools and materials and follow our step-by-step instructions. For the sake of precision, we suggest using your cutting machine by downloading our SVG file. However, if you plan to cut your pieces by hand, use the PDF template instead.
We’ve chosen colorful cardstock from our collection to create this calendar but feel free to use whatever you have on hand. If you want to stick with a particular color palette, like red and green, for instance, then go for it!
Once your Layered Cardstock Advent Calendar is ready to go, stick it in a frame and begin your Christmas journey. With each flap you open throughout December, you’ll be reminded that the true spirit of the holidays lies in the memories we create together. We’d love to see your Christmas spirit, so be sure to give us a shout on Instagram with the hashtag #MadeWithLia. You can also share your memories in our crafters’ community so we can all celebrate the season together.
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Discussion
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38 Comments
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amy
December 5, 2025 at 8:43am
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Lia
December 5, 2025 at 9:46am
@amy
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amy
December 5, 2025 at 9:48am
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Lia
December 6, 2025 at 5:23pm
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Emily
December 5, 2025 at 10:27am
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amy
December 5, 2025 at 11:26am
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Ali
December 3, 2025 at 6:13am
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Lia
December 3, 2025 at 10:06am
@Ali
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Alexandra
November 25, 2025 at 7:59pm
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Lia
November 25, 2025 at 8:03pm
@Alexandra
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Grace
December 4, 2024 at 4:00pm
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Lia
December 5, 2024 at 8:54am
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Mary
December 1, 2024 at 12:01pm
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Lia
December 2, 2024 at 9:12am
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Emily
December 2, 2024 at 10:54am
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Mary
December 5, 2024 at 2:36pm
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Lia
December 6, 2024 at 10:27am
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Stephanie
November 12, 2024 at 7:33pm
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Emily
November 13, 2024 at 10:55am
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Stephanie
November 15, 2024 at 7:56pm
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Lia
November 18, 2024 at 12:41pm
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Rebecca
November 11, 2024 at 12:58pm
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Lia
November 12, 2024 at 8:20am
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Donna
November 11, 2024 at 12:27pm
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Lia
November 12, 2024 at 8:22am
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Kerstin
November 6, 2024 at 12:24am
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Lia
November 6, 2024 at 11:57am
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Nancy
November 3, 2024 at 8:04pm
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Lia
November 4, 2024 at 10:02am
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Michelle
November 2, 2024 at 9:18pm
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Emily
November 4, 2024 at 11:43am
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Emily
November 4, 2024 at 2:35pm
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Kelly
November 2, 2024 at 10:07am
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Lia
November 2, 2024 at 11:03am
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Miranda
November 1, 2024 at 7:21pm
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Lia
November 2, 2024 at 11:03am
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Beverley
November 1, 2024 at 4:51pm
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Emily
November 4, 2024 at 2:37pm
@Beverley
Leave a CommentHello! Help please! I cannot figure out how to cut this out on my cricket maker. My daughter has a cricket also and she is a UXUI designer. She could not figure it out either? What am I doing wrong? Obviously, it’s me because I see other people are making it successfully.
Oh wow! It looks like the Cricut software update has made this file unusable. Give us the day and we will do a workaround to make this compatible with their changes. Thanks for pointing this out so we can fix it.
Glad it wasn’t us! So excited to make it. I love tedious things 😂
Yes! We try to stay on top of these things, but it is so helpful when you all point something out so we can fix it. (We have a lot of projects). 🙂
Hi Amy! I fixed this project to work with the newest Cricut update (or glitch). Be sure to check the tutorial for instructions on setting up the cut file – its a little complicated.
Thank you so much!
This project is the reason I joined Lia Griffith and purchased a cricut. I would love to see even more cardstock projects of this level of intricacy!
Hello Ali, and welcome! We do have hundreds of SVGs for cardstock and add new ones every month. Your message inspired us to make a new category in our menu so you can find them more easily. In the meantime here is a search link (though this is not the complete list): https://liagriffith.com/search/?offset=72&orderby=relevance&order=desc&per_page=12&search=cardstock&relation=and
These projects are made from frosted paper, but you can also use cardstock: https://liagriffith.com/search/?offset=36&orderby=relevance&order=desc&per_page=12&search=frosted+&relation=and
Thank you Emily! I finished this today. It took longer than it should have – because I changed my mind a few times on colors and because I was stupid a few times. It is for our grandnieces and for each day they will get a little gift. Books, little things and 7 things I made. The first gift is the Nativity scene! It turned out beautifully.
Rather than frame I am putting it on foam board – so nice and light – will be great for shipping.
It was so fun. It makes me want to design one for them for next year. Since I have all of the templates now I can change things up and hopefully make something as nice as yours. Thank you again.
I love hearing this. They are going to be so delighted! 🙂
I just finished mine last night. I need to frame it but I love how it turned out. I was trying to use paper I had on hand so I had to be creative. I discovered using my colored pencils and PanPastels helped me add artistic touches that made the project more pleasing to my eyes. We crafters are our own worst critics. It was like putting a puzzle together and it was hard to make myself go to bed. The cutting is a bit of a chore. I lost little pieces and some got caught in my Cricut. There were some mishaps and recutting. I had to search for teeny tiny pieces that got brushed on the floor. But overall it was great fun and I’m so happy with the results.
Yay! I love hearing your story. I am guessing it turned out amazing! Be sure to share photos in the community platform. I want to see your added details.
Is there a reason that day 4 doesn’t have a number? Is this on purpose?
That was by design, but you can add a number. 🙂
There are 4 squares in the window!
Haha, I left the design as it. It was quite fun to put together but took me about 5 hours to assemble. I had to do some recutting of some of the numbers like the 24 I had to recut with the intricate cuts setting or it would not cut right.
Yay! I love to hear that it was FUN!! 🙂
What size is the “welded” doors in step 3? For some reason mine looks smaller at 7.64 x 8.64. is this the correct size? Looking forward to making this project!
The welded doors for the base should be about 10 inches, centered on the 12×12 canvas. Hope this helps! Can’t wait to see
I scaled up to the 10 inch measurement but now all the doors and parts are too small. Not sure how to scale up all these pieces to the right size, so for now I will just admire and appreciate the calendars other’s complete. May try to download the file again to see if it comes up the right size.
We went back in and added sizing notes. This should help. Sometimes Cricut will resize without asking first.
What size frame did you use? Can’t wait to start this one.
This is the Ikea 16×20 frame with a mat that has an opening of 12×16. It was a perfect fit.
I can hear Emily but there is not visual on the page for this. The URL I am on is https://liagriffith.com/craft-academy/tracks/12-days-of-craftsmas/ (2:27 pm CT)
Yes, the video is there. You can watch it on that page or in this post. It is both places.
Thank you for adding a pdf with the details which have to be cut out (see Beverlys comment 4th Nov). Some are easy to be cut by hand without template (doors, window squares), some fine and tiny details (bows, locks) can be painted (pen, brush) but some are easier by having a template.
Thanks again, this calender is a nice idea, not only for kids – my husband at the age of 70 years likes Advent calender, too 🙂
Yay! I knew you would love this one, Kerstin! 🙂
Lia I don’t have enough time in the day for all the projects I want to do! You have so many amazing crafts. My favorites are crepe flowers but Im finding myself branching out into felt and now this. So cute!
Mark your calendar for Nov 11 because Emily will be demoing this project LIVE. Of course there will be a replay.
Hi Lia and Emily, I am missing door key 19-25. It is very useful and it would be great help to have it. Also door number 19 has 12 as typo, not sure if it is correct in SVG. It really is a puzzle, but lovely one and it must have been a lot of work to create. Thank you, I love it! Michelle
Hi Michelle,
It looks like they are all there but the tutorial pages saved out of order, I fixed the order – so go ahead and redownload it!
I didn’t see a typo on door 12 and 19, feel free to email me at hello@liagriffith.com if you see them in the updated file.
Opp! I found the typo!! Fixed it.
I love it! So much detail! What a keepsake this will be!!
It is a beauty! More of this project coming. Stay tuned!
This is fantastic! I just may have to try this one this week!
Do! Think of it as a fun puzzle. Lots of details. 🙂
Can’t find PDF template for this card stock advent calendar?
This project is a doozy! I didn’t expect anyone to want to hand cut it. I added a PDF file that includes the templates as well as a black and white version you can just print and color. The biggest challenge with this PDF is the base is designed for 12×12 paper, so I had to chop it up to fit on printer paper. Hope it makes sense! If you hand cut this please share your results so we can see all of your hard work!
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