Advent Calendar Ideas for Adults: A Calm Coloring Ritual
A calm advent calendar idea for adults, no chocolate and nothing to buy: 24 free Christmas coloring pages, 10 minutes a day, and 3 chic holiday palettes.
Alvina Coloring
11/3/20264 min read
Every year, advent calendars for adults look the same: chocolate, beauty products, little things to store. What if this year, every day gave you a moment for yourself instead? I designed an advent calendar to color: 24 Christmas coloring pages, one a day, free to print. Here’s how to turn it into a small December ritual.
01 An advent calendar for adults, with no chocolate and nothing to buy
The idea stays the same: you open one day at a time, from December 1 to 24. But instead of a treat to eat or an object to store, today’s surprise is a page to color.
It’s free: you get all 24 pages as a PDF and print them at home.
Nothing piles up: no packaging, no extra stuff.
It’s time for yourself: about ten minutes a day, just for you, during the busiest month of the year.
02 The ritual: 10 minutes of coloring a day
Print one page each morning, or all 24 at once if you prefer. The pages are numbered: snowflakes on the 1st, gnomes on the 2nd, ornaments on the 3rd… all the way to the big Christmas tree on the 24th.
Pick your moment: with your morning coffee, at lunch, or in the evening before bed.
Use only 3 colors. That’s the secret to a page that looks polished, even as a beginner.
Stop whenever you like. An unfinished page isn’t a failure: you can finish it tomorrow.
Keep your pages together. On December 24, you’ll have a lovely set of 24 pages you colored yourself.
03 What you need
The pages: the 24 advent calendar coloring pages, printed on slightly thicker paper.
Markers or pencils: the designs have bold outlines, so they work with colored pencils, regular markers or alcohol markers.
A protective sheet under your page if you use alcohol markers: the ink bleeds through paper.
I’ve been coloring with Ohuhu markers for two years now. My top pick is the Honolulu 216-color set; on a smaller budget, the 48-color set is plenty. If you’re a beginner, start with the brush tip, it’s easier to control, and keep the fine tip for details. I explain it all in Ohuhu alcohol markers: which set should you choose?
04 3 chic Christmas palettes with your Ohuhu markers
For an elegant look, skip the overly bright red and green: go for deep tones and a touch of gold. Each palette goes from lightest to darkest. Make a small swatch chart first: the color on paper often looks different from the cap.
Pine green: G43 → G47 → G410. Light for the background, medium for the shapes, dark for the shadows at the bottom and on the right.
Velvet burgundy: R46 → R410 → R413. Perfect for ornaments, ribbons and hearts.
Gold and cream: Y45 Cream → Y55 Golden Champagne → Y410 Goldenrod. For stars, bells and little shiny details.
The finishing touch: a few dots or lines with a white gel pen on the ornaments and stars, for a glossy effect.
05 Color it together or share it as a gift
With family or friends: print two copies and color the same page side by side. It’s fun to compare your colors!
As a gift: just share the advent calendar page link, everyone gets their own. And for a gift under the tree, see my Christmas gift guide: which adult coloring book to give.
Once your pages are colored, don’t leave them in a drawer: here are 8 ways to use your Christmas coloring pages (cards, gift tags, table decor).
06 Get the advent calendar
The calendar is free: leave your email on the calendar page and I’ll send you all 24 pages in one printable PDF.
I want the advent calendar coloring pages
And if you want to keep coloring after Christmas, my Bold & Easy Coloring Book has the same style: 40 bold geometric, cozy and easy designs with thick outlines, printed on one side only, in a large US Letter format.
See the Bold & Easy Coloring Book on Amazon (affiliate link)
FAQ
What is an advent calendar to color?
It’s an advent calendar where each day, from December 1 to 24, is a coloring page. You color one page a day until Christmas.
Is it beginner-friendly?
Yes: the designs are simple, with bold outlines and large spaces. No drawing skills needed.
How long does it take each day?
About ten minutes per page, a little more if you love details. There’s no rule saying you must finish the same day.
Is the advent calendar really free?
Yes, for personal use. Just leave your email on the advent calendar page.
Keep exploring
The Amazon links in this article are affiliate links: I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.