Discover the Magic of the 12 Days of Joy Advent Calendar
- sarah09710
- Oct 1, 2025
- 7 min read
Updated: Jan 7
When I think about the holiday season, I picture twinkling lights, cozy evenings, and those little traditions that make everything magical. One of my favorites? Advent calendars. My kids absolutely love opening theirs each morning, racing to see what surprise is tucked inside. It's a daily moment of wonder, a reminder that joy doesn't have to come in big packages.
The Magic of Advent Calendars
Over the years, I’ve noticed that not everyone loves chocolate (or wants it every day). My kids get alternative calendars each year instead of the traditional chocolate. Slime, Lego, toy cars, and all kinds of little surprises are far more exciting than a single square of chocolate. That’s the inspiration behind the 12 Days of Joy Advent Calendar: a way to bring that same excitement and daily delight with thoughtful, joy-filled surprises instead of candy.
The holidays can be busy, overwhelming, and often stressful. That's why I created the 12 Days of Joy Advent Calendar. It offers a way for adults, children, and families to capture that same sparkle of excitement with a "treat yourself" twist. It's about carving out a few minutes each day for a smile, a surprise, and a reminder that joy is something we all deserve.
Whether you choose it as a little self-care ritual or gift it to a friend, the 12 Days of Joy is designed to deliver something magical: 12 envelopes, 12 moments of delight, and 12 days of pure, simple happiness.
Two Editions to Choose From
I couldn't stop myself from creating—there are two joyful versions of the calendar to choose from.
Classic Edition
The Classic Edition is the perfect way to bring a little daily joy into the season!
12 days, 19 total items
Retail value: $43.00
Includes a joyful mix of stickers, bookmarks, magnets, and 4 brand new never-before-seen products
One personalized item made just for you
Price: $20.00 (shipping included)
All The Joy Edition
12 days, 65 items + a bonus gift (66 in total!)
Retail value: $100.00
Includes the entire collection of joyful surprises I created
A mix of stickers, bookmarks, magnets, and 5 brand new never-before-seen products
One personalized item made just for you
Multiple surprises tucked inside most envelopes
Price: $50.00 (shipping included) - that's just $0.76 per item!
The Inspiration Behind the Editions
If you know me, you know I absolutely love Christmas—but really, I'm a fan of all things holiday. Every year, I go over the top decorating my home (top to bottom, inside and out). I have three full-sized Christmas trees (two artificial and one real), plus several smaller ones tucked around the house. It's my favorite season. I truly believe you can never have too much sparkle or cheer.
When I sat down to start designing items for this advent calendar, I thought I'd make a handful of designs to spread out across the 12 days. But once I got started, the creativity just poured out of me. Before I knew it, I had created so many incredible designs that I couldn't imagine leaving any of them out. And so, the All The Joy Edition was born.
In the true spirit of the season, I wanted to pack this edition full to the brim—not only with more designs but with more value. I'm bursting with excitement and joy over these calendars, so it only seemed fitting that this edition would burst with items too.
Why 66 Treasures?
This edition of the advent calendar is filled with 66 treasures—and that number wasn't chosen by chance. When finalizing the designs and items, I was drawn to the number 66. I'm a firm believer in following my gut, and this number just kept jumping out at me. It "felt right." So I took a chance and looked up what the meaning of the number was. After reading about it, I instantly understood why I was called to this number.
In numerology, 66 symbolizes unconditional love, harmony, and joy. It's a reminder to slow down, celebrate the little things, and share love generously. Reducing to the number 3, it also carries the energy of creativity, optimism, and playfulness—the exact spirit I poured into every item and design.
When you open your calendar each day, you're not just unwrapping a surprise—you're experiencing a season designed around love, joy, and creative delights.
A Personal Touch
One of my favorite parts of this calendar? Personalization! As part of your order, you'll get to choose a name to include on one of the items. It could be yours, a friend's, or even your pet's—because nothing spreads joy like seeing your own name on something special!
Behind-The-Scenes & Handcrafted Details
Creating the 12 Days of Joy Advent Calendar has been a true labor of love from start to finish. Every element—from the envelopes to the packaging—has been carefully designed to bring maximum joy while working within the practical constraints of shipping. I’ve spent hours measuring, testing, and adjusting so that each item fits perfectly and the overall dimensions and weight remain economical to ship.
But it wasn’t just about logistics. I spent countless nights visualizing and drawing out how everything would come together—from stirring pasta or shaking the air fryer basket to sketching out designs in my mind. Walks home after dropping the kids off at school became opportunities to dream up the perfect designs to capture the spirit of the holiday. And hours were spent troubleshooting packaging and design issues to make sure everything would work beautifully.
Each calendar is also lovingly hand-assembled—envelopes cut, sealed, and packed with care, with every ribbon carefully chosen to add a festive touch. When you untie that ribbon and open each envelope, you’ll feel the thought, attention, and joy that went into every detail.
This is a handmade, boutique experience, not a mass-produced product. Every surprise tucked inside the envelopes has been curated with intention to inspire a smile, a moment of delight, and a little daily magic throughout your holiday season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When will the 12 Days of Joy Advent Calendar Ship?
A: Pre-orders open October 10th to November 14th. Calendars will ship mid-November so they arrive in time for the holiday season. You can choose to start December 1st or to start a little later in the month as a countdown to Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Q: Why the later pre-order date?
A: Due to the ongoing Canada Post strike, I'm re-evaluating shipping. Canada Post typically charged around $10.00 for the dimensions of the calendar, but Purolator and UPS are quoting $78+. I'm working to source reliable and affordable alternatives, and to make it easier, shipping will be included in the cost of your calendar—no surprise fees at checkout.
Q: Do I have to open one envelope per day?
A: Not at all! The choice is yours! You can choose to savor it and open one per day or open a few at a time. It's your joy, your rules!
Q: Is it only Christmas-themed?
A: Nope! While there are festive designs included, I've also added a few everyday items so you can enjoy them year-round.
Q: Can I give this to someone else?
A: Absolutely! It makes a perfect gift for a teacher, sticker fan, or anyone who could use a little extra holiday cheer! Just be sure to select it's a gift when adding to cart so we can ensure it's addressed and personalized to the right person.
Q: Is the calendar kid-friendly?
A: Designs and products in the Classic Edition are suitable for all ages. The All the Joy Edition includes some products and designs that are more adult-based, e.g., mindset-related messages or kitchen-themed magnet designs.
Q: Why 12 Days instead of 24?
A: When I first envisioned this calendar, I was inspired by the classic song The 12 Days of Christmas and wanted to start small for my first year launching an Advent Calendar. I've never manufactured anything like this and didn't want to jump into anything too big for my first "kick at the can." Well, that initial "start small" idea quickly went out the window once I began designing—the creativity flowed, and I ended up with 66 different designs!
Even with all those designs, I've ultimately decided to keep it to 12 days for a few reasons: it allows me to use the same packaging for both the Classic and the All The Joy editions, streamlining production and keeping packaging costs lower. Adding another 12 days would have essentially doubled the packaging requirements and costs, and I wanted to keep the calendar affordable while still delivering a joyful, high-quality experience.
So while you get a burst of surprises each day, the 12-day format keeps the experience fun, manageable, and full of thoughtfully curated delights.
Final Thoughts
The holidays aren't about perfection, endless to-do lists, or the biggest gifts under the tree. They're about those small moments that make us pause, smile, and feel connected—to ourselves, to loved ones, and to the season.
That is the heart of the 12 Days of Joy Advent Calendar: a gentle reminder that joy is meant to be savored in little bursts, one day at a time. Whether you open each envelope as a daily act of self-care or give it to someone special as a gift of surprise and delight, it's about celebrating joy in its simplest, most meaningful form.
Multi-buy discounts will be announced soon; they are delayed slightly while I navigate shipping changes due to the Canada Post strike.
Quantities are limited since each one is handmade with care, so don't wait—your 12 days of joy are just a click away!
This holiday season, let the 12 Days of Joy Advent Calendar remind you—or someone you love—that magic is found in the little moments, surprises, and smiles. Unwrap a day of joy, one envelope at a time, and celebrate the season in the most delightfully unexpected way.
Stick a little joy in your life!
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