Here are tips on how you can create your own advent calendar.

Making your own advent calendar is a way to make those you love look forward to Christmas a little extra and is a perfect surprise on the first of December.

The first step in making an advent calendar is to first of all decide how you want the advent calendar to look.

Do you want to use ready-made bags or do you want to wrap 24 packages from scratch and hang up?

Should they hang on a string in a branch, on a row of hooks, in the tree or in the window?

Maybe giving one package at a time is a good version if you don't have room on the wall.

The possibilities are many - the only limit is the imagination.

What does one need then?

A branch, or a broomstick, clothespins, string, small reusable cloth bags, paper bags or small boxes.

Tips for popular gifts to put in your advent calendar include: Beads, rings, schnapps horns, mulled mugs, earrings, bracelets, pendants, beard beads, horn combs, necklaces, whistles, muzzles, dice and much more.

Good luck with the advent calendar building!