Make Your Own Holiday Advent Calendar using a Shoe Organizer with Allie!
Hey friends, Allie from Allie Scraps here to show you a really fun way to do an EASY Advent calendar! I wanted a fun advent calendar this year that wasn’t just our beloved LEGO calendar (but we still got one of those, for sure!) I wanted this one to be fun AND decorative, and maybe something we could use year after year. The best part? This entire idea started with a simple over-the-door shoe organizer.
Yep… those clear-pocket organizers that usually live in closets can become the perfect little home for 24 days of Christmas magic!
Why a Shoe Organizer?
I love projects that are easy, colorful, and totally customizable. This shoe organizer project checks every box:
24 pockets ready to decorate to lead up to Christmas Day
I can hang it anywhere with a door
Big enough for notes, treats, activities, mini devotionals… anything!
Affordable and available at most stores (I got mine on Amazon, but I know Walmart has a sturdy option too!)
I used a teal organizer because it matched the new Make Merry collection perfectly (and honestly, the pop of color made me so happy!). But white or clear would work too.
How I Made Mine
This project truly came together in an afternoon — and you can make it as simple or detailed as you’d like.
Here’s what I did:
1. Print Your Pocket Cards
I wanted each pocket to have its own cute “number card,” so I printed out a mix of the patterned paper cards from the Make Merry collection-- I love how Traci includes these already formatted to the right size, as well as different directions! Walgreens happened to be having a killer sale on photo prints, so I printed the designs as 4x6 photos for a quick, cheap option.
If you prefer printing at home, cardstock works great! My printer was just throwing a fit.
I also cut down a couple of sheets of plain 12x12 cardstock (kraft, lime green, and red) into 4x6 cards that I put the prints onto.
2. Trim & Assemble
I cut the patterned photos in half, and used glue dots to stick them to the plain cardstock cards-- I tried to give some variety to the different cards! I used a circle punch to punch out the numbers (using the cute alpha set!) I printed on a white background, and then put that in the middle of the card.
Each pocket got its own 4x6 card slipped right into the front of the organizer. Since the organizer is clear, it was an instant transformation!
3. Add Your Daily Surprises
There are so many creative ways to fill your Advent calendar depending on your family and traditions. Here are a few ideas I’ve done or seen:
Memory Verse Cards:
This is what I’m doing this year — the pockets will hold the verses from our church’s Advent study. The kids can flip them over, memorize them, and follow the story as we count down to Christmas.
Daily Story Snippets:
Add a portion of The Grinch, The Night Before Christmas, or your favorite family Christmas story to read together each day.
Simple Daily Gifts:
Stickers, candies, small toys, or little acts of kindness prompts all fit perfectly.
No matter how you use it, the decorated pockets make it feel festive and intentional.
Why I Love This Project
It’s quick. It’s customizable. It uses supplies you probably already have, or can print easily.
And thanks to the new Make Merry collection, it’s beautifully unified and totally display-worthy.
If You Want to Make Your Own…
Grab an inexpensive shoe organizer, print your favorite TRD holiday collection, and start filling those pockets with whatever will bring your family joy this season. Whether it’s verses, stories, treats, or activities, you’ll have a meaningful(and super cute!) Advent tradition ready to go.
