A search on Etsy for Advent Calendars yields over 400 results. That’s a lot of creative, hand crafted advent calendars. I love this vinyl wall tree advent calendar ($39.95 US) from Willow Creek Signs. The tree looks like a modern holiday decoration in the room. This fabric countdown chain from Sugar Owl Design features 25 fabric strips with festive red and green material with the numbers 1 to 25 on them. The chain can do double duty as a garland on the tree or in the room too. This advent calendar tree ($31.49USD) from Artistic Gifts 4U features a box of 24 envelops, each containing a nativity themed ornament and corresponding scripture. Each ornament can be placed the small tree also included in the kit.

Maybe you want to make your own advent calendar but aren’t sure what to do or where to start. EcoMonster has a great 12 Days of Christmas Countdown kit ($28.00 US), providing you with everything you need to make your own 12 bags to hold treats or notes.

Who said the pre-Christmas excitement has to be contained at home. Each of these printable notes ($3.00 US) include a countdown to Christmas and give you room to add your own personal festive message.

Advent calendars don’t have to be just for kids. Blue Moonstone has wonderful tea countdown wall hangings ($15.00 US). Whether you prefer assorted tea or herbal tea, you’ll enjoy each individually wrapped tea as you count down the days. Each little package is tied onto a felt tree that can hang as a decoration to enjoy.

Not all advent calendars need to have chocolates waiting for kids behind the doors. Lego and Playmobile offer some great toy advent calendars. Each door reveals a new item to add to the scene kids build. And when the calendar’s done the kids have a great set to play with. Lego and Playmobil are great for boys and girls but if you’re looking for something very girly Polly Pocket and My Little Pony also have advent calendars.

You can involve your kids by getting them to help create their advent calendar. Printables4kids.com consists of a tree and a set of ornaments that can stick to it. Print them out and kids can colour and cut and adhere the ornaments with tape. Netmums.com offers two printable advent calendars. One has the kids colour the numbered area on the picture for that day (Christmas tree or Nativity scene). The other is a two-layer calendar. The back layer has the pictures that are only revealed when the front layer windows are opened.

Many families rely on their computer for information, education and entertainment, why not an advent calendar. Kids will love clicking on the appropriate number to reveal the surprise. Kids can click on Christmas stockings on the Boowa and Kwala run-up to Christmas calendar. Kent Trust Web from the UK offers a fun advent calendar for kids. First they have to hunt to find the number, then clicking on it reveals a fun online activity. For a fun story (and if you like cats) checkout Cat Who Laughed. Each day reveals another part of this interactive story involving a cheeky Calico Cat.

Instead of chocolate or a toy or a note why not count down the days until Christmas with a family activity. That’s the idea behind The 25 Days of Christmas from Andrea Tomkins (aka Quiet Fish). Create your own calendar making each day an activity you do as a family together, from watching Christmas movies to baking cookies to going for a nighttime stroll. Now that's the way to celebrate the Christmas season.