Create an Advent calendar

Counting down the days till Christmas is a valued tradition in many cultures. If you’ve got an Advent calendar, as you open each window to unravel sweets and messages, each day leading up to the event is increasingly exciting.

Of course, you can count down to many things – birthdays, Ramadan, weddings, Chinese New Year – and the advice here is useful for creating any countdown calendar. With Canon's Creative Park and Canon printers – including any from the PIXMA range plus the SELPHY CP1500 to customise it with stickers – you have the power to create your own personalised Advent calendar.

To start, let's consider the simplest option – printing a templated Advent calendar using Canon Creative Park. These come in a few shapes and sizes – including a Christmas tree and this house-shaped Advent calendar.

To print an advent calendar shaped like a tree from Canon’s Creative Park using a PIXMA printer, start by visiting the Creative Park website and finding the relevant template. Once you’ve located the advent calendar template, download the PDF file to your computer. Ensure your Canon PIXMA printer is ready, with ink and high-quality paper. For the best results, follow the instructions on the paper type and use Canon Matte Photo Paper or Canon Glossy Photo Paper, which will provide a vibrant and sturdy finish for your advent calendar.

You can also print out the instructions on plain paper so it's easier for you and your family to put the template together. Print all the necessary pages, including the tree-shaped structure and the numbered slots for each day.

After printing, follow the instructions provided to carefully cut out and assemble the different pieces. You’ll glue the components together to form the tree-shaped advent calendar, which you can fill with small gifts, stickers, or messages. Once completed, your advent calendar will be ready to display.

Canon offers a range of template and customisation options that allow you to combine the use of different printers for a personalised result. Once your calendar is printed and assembled, you can then customise it further by using the SELPHY CP1500 to print out stickers. These stickers can feature anything from festive images, such as Christmas trees or reindeer, to modern designs like geometric patterns or meaningful quotes. This combination of using both the PIXMA and SELPHY printers together lets you easily create a unique advent calendar that reflects your style.

What’s also great is that you can add a personal touch to your calendar by including your own pictures – whether that be pictures of family fun, your beloved pets or some memorable holiday snaps. With the SELPHY CP1500 and Canon’s sticker paper, you can use stickers both inside and outside of the calendar – making the creation extra fun for the little ones.

If you’re thinking about how to use your calendar in fun and exciting ways for all the family, you could consider including some mini surprises behind every door.

These could be:

• Heartfelt messages: Include kind notes or positive affirmations to spread warmth and joy each day.
• Daily quiz questions: Spark some friendly competition with trivia or brainteasers to challenge everyone.
• Photo memories: Add personal photos, such as a timeline of family moments or cherished events, for a nostalgic and meaningful touch.

Aside from the design aspect, there’s also the option to add excitement to your calendar through moving parts. This includes pull tabs, hidden pockets and interactive doors, which can render your design more exciting, distinctive and personal. Canon also offers a range of different paper options, meaning you can tailor your calendar to achieve your own creative vision.

Why not make the picture selection and design process a fun family event? It’s a great way to get everyone together, children and adults alike. Using your Canon printer, you can see your designs come to life alongside meaningful messages.

Presentation is key. Once you’ve created your ideal calendar, you have the chance to dress it up using other holiday-themed accessories. From ribbons to embellishments, these finishing touches add polish to your calendar. Perhaps you could even add your finished Advent calendar to a seasonal hamper or gift basket. Adding these small touches makes your calendar more meaningful and personal – an extra special gift. You can also match the colours and shapes with other items, such as Christmas cards for an all-together cool package.

While the Canon SELPHY CP1500 and Canon PIXMA printers are amazing for creating Advent calendars, we've only scratched the surface of what's possible. Whatever the time of year, they're perfect for creating countdown calendars for every special occasion.

For example, you could create a personalised birthday countdown calendar filled with memories and messages. Each day leading up to the big day, you could open a door to reveal a cherished photo, a heartwarming message or a fun surprise, building that sense of excitement. The high-quality prints from the Canon SELPHY CP1500 and Canon PIXMA printers ensure the image shines with maximum clarity, adding something extra special to the birthday countdown.

• Creative Park: Exclusively for Canon printer owners, Canon's Creative Park is filled with creative project templates. You can access a range of customisable printable designs, including calendars, cards and decorations. Creative Park offers Advent calendar templates you can personalise with your own photos and themes, which can then be printed on your Canon PIXMA printer.
• SELPHY Photo Layout app: This free app provides user-friendly tools for creating custom photo layouts. You can adjust the size and position of your photos, add text, and apply filters to enhance images printed on SELPHY printers.
• Canon Easy-PhotoPrint Editor: This free app, available for both desktop and mobile, allows you to create custom prints. It features many different templates and layouts, including calendars, collages and greeting cards, which you can personalise with your own images.

Designed with simplicity and functionality in mind, these apps ensure a smooth and creative design experience for making your perfect calendar.

You have the power to transform your cherished memories into amazing prints, all while sharing precious moments with loved ones. Start exploring the endless possibilities with the Canon SELPHY CP1500 and Canon PIXMA printers today and add a personal touch to your celebrations.