DIY Christmas Eve Box Ideas

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Christmas is an exciting, festive time of year for everyone! We spend all year long prepping, planning and buying gifts for our loved ones. As we’ve waited long enough for Christmas Day sometimes we just want one gift to open on Christmas Eve. This year, give someone you love a Christmas Eve Box with little gifts inside as a taster for Christmas Day. 

We included this idea on our Ultimate Festive Bucket List.

We’ve listed some great gift ideas for you to put in these Christmas Eve Boxes. If the box is for a child, adult, a couple or even a pet, we’ve got you covered! We’ve even listed a few things you will need in order to make the actual box yourself, or if you choose to buy the box personalised for your receiver. 

In this post we have linked to some shopping ideas to help you easily find things to help you create a Christmas Eve Box.

Also, if you are looking for what to put in an adult Christmas Eve Box for women we have an edit right here! Or what to put in a Christmas Eve Box for men.

Some of these links are affiliate links which means we might make a small fee for recommending the product.

Christmas Eve Box for Couples
Photo – Purple Pumpkin

What are Christmas Eve Boxes?

Christmas Eve boxes are boxes or crates that are typically given to young children as a way to break up that built up anticipation of Christmas Day. 

In more recent years, however, Christmas Eve boxes have become widely popular with all generations. Boxes are now given to grandparents, couples, babies and even pets to open up and enjoy on Christmas Eve.

 

Gift Ideas for Christmas Eve Box
Photo- DIY Mommy

What can you find in a Christmas Eve Box?

You might find gifts that you would typically put in a Christmas stocking. A collection of small gifts either around a theme, in the style and aesthetic of the Christmas box receiver, or Christmas Eve style gifts.

Typical Christmas gifts to include in a Christmas Eve Box: 

  1. Small Gifts
    Gifts you would find in a stocking like a Christmas coloured nail varnish, or a small toy
  2. Activities
    Games and crafts that can be played or done on Christmas Eve such as mini games or felt Christmas trees
  3. Sweets / Snacks
    To be munched on the night before, we love candy canes and fun chocolates
  4. Pyjamas
    To be worn the night before Christmas and you can even buy family matching pyjamas for Christmas Day photos!
  5. Books
    To be read the night before Christmas, we love to read out loud the poem Twas The Night Before Christmas
  6. Movies
    That can be watched the night before whilst enjoying the snacks/sweets or watched on Christmas Day – we love Muppets Christmas Carol, Elf, or Die Hard.

 

Christmas Eve Box for Kids
Photo – Prima

Christmas Eve Boxes for Kids

If you are making a Christmas Eve box for a child, this can be relatively easy as you just put whatever you would’ve loved to have seen in the box as a kid yourself. Though try not to go too crazy with the sweets and snacks, you still want them to go to sleep and actually eat the Christmas dinner you’ve prepared the next day!

Gift ideas for a kids Christmas Eve Box:

  1. Games
    such as The Best of Christmas Game or Christmas Word Search or Christmas Quiz
  2. Sweets / Cookies / Popcorn
    such as retro style sweeties or mug hugger cookies or pop at home popcorn
  3. Pyjamas
    we love these reindeer pyjamas or this penguin onesie
  4. Slippers
    these elf booties slippers are so fun
  5. Cuddly Toy
    we are obsessed with this adorable snowman cuddly toy or this reindeer plushie.  
  6. Crafts
    decorate your own wooden Christmas ornaments with the kids
  7. Christmas Movie
    there are so many great Christmas DVDs you could include such as Elf or Arthur Christmas or The Nightmare Before Christmas
  8. Christmas Story
    popular children’s books include The Christmasaurus and Monster Christmas and The Jolly Christmas Postman and How The Grinch Stole Christmas
  9. Reindeer Food
    and include a pouch of reindeer food for kids to leave out ready for Santa and his furry friends.

 

All of these gifts would be perfect for a kids Christmas Eve box, as they will end up doing all the activities either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day – so they won’t be asking when dinner is ready!

The kiddies also have some treats and snacks to enjoy whilst they watch their film or read their story while cuddling their new soft toy.

They also have some reindeer food, that is either handmade by yourself or is a carrot, ready for them to leave out for Santa and Rudolph and his friends. You could put a carrot in the box for them to give to Rudolph and them some homemade food (suitable enough for a human or pet to eat) for Santa to give to the rest of the reindeer. 

Christmas Eve Box for Adults
Photo – Etsy

Christmas Eve Boxes for Adults

If you decide to make a Christmas Eve Box for an adult, whether that is your mother, father, sister, best friend, cousin or partner and are struggling with ideas for gifts look no further! You can have some fun with these Christmas Eve Boxes if it’s an all-adult Christmas, but we’re keeping this one family-friendly. 

Gift ideas for an Adult Christmas Eve Box:

  1. Games
    We love Uno and Jenga and Articulate
  2. Treats / Snacks
    Choose indulgent treats such as chocolate truffles or good quality biscuits or turkish delights or gourmet popcorn
  3. Mini Alcoholic Drink
    Bailey’s is a classic or you could add in mini vodka or gin or whisky.
  4. Stocking 
    If your gift-receiver doesn’t have one, now might be a nice time to give them their own personalised stocking, or go with a traditional knit one.
  5. Scented Candle
    We love cinnamon stick and Christmas memories
  6. Mini bottle of aftershave/perfume 
    Marc Jacobs miniatures are great or these Bart’s balms aftershave minis.
  7. Pyjamas
    We like the grey star onesies and the silky pj’s set
  8. Christmas Bauble
    Try a personalised Christmas ornament or this lovely peacock design
  9. Mistletoe 
    Either pick up some fresh mistletoe or go for a reusable artificial sprig of mistletoe
  10. Slippers
    Nothing beats the classic Ugg slippers or try these adorable fluffy slip ons
  11. Mug
    Go for a classic style mug or beautiful Christmas mug or an initialled mug

 

 

All of these gift ideas are completely suitable for an adult who is 18 and over. Though if you want to give a teenage these gifts, just leave out the alcohol if they aren’t quite 18 yet. 

These gifts can be enjoyed by any adult on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day. Games can be played Christmas Eve once the kiddies have gone off to bed to wait for Santa’s arrival or on Christmas Day. 

A Christmas stocking of their very own to hang out on the fireplace or mantle, so that when they wake up little treats can be found. They can even enjoy their mini alcoholic drink the night before Santa comes as a pre-celebration for Christmas. 

Some aftershave/perfume so that they can smell great for Christmas Day. A scented candle will help them relax before the big day.

While they have their scented candle burning they can snuggle into their comfy pyjamas, matching family ones or not, and their new  slippers as they wind down for the night. 

A mug could also be found so they can have their own mug when making their personalised hot chocolate. With mistletoe at their fingertips, they can spread the love around this Christmas by stealing kisses from loved ones. As well as finding a Christmas Bauble that they can either hang up on the tree or take home and put on their own as a keepsake. 

What You Will Need
Photo – Make It Yours 

How to make your very own Christmas Eve Box

If you are making your own Christmas Eve Box you will need to purchase a few items in order to make your box or crate the best one yet!

What you will need: 

  1. Cardboard box or a wooden crate
  2. Sandpaper – only if you are going to be painting a wooden crate, sand it down BEFORE painting
  3. Paint – any colour of your choice or a classic Christmas colour (red or green) and some white gloss paint
  4. Decorations – stickers, a bauble, some ribbon (anything you want to add on as decoration)
  5. Stamps – snowflake stamps, star stamps even snowmen stamps 
  6. Wrapping Paper, Tissue Paper, Twine
  7. Your Gifts

 

These are all the things you will need in order to make your Christmas Eve Box. Whatever kind of box you want to make whether it is a cardboard box wrapped in wrapping paper or painted or a wooden crate that you’ve painted and designed yourself is your decision. 

The possibilities for designs are endless! However, if you either don’t have the time, or you can’t decide on a solid design you can easily purchase a Christmas Eve Box online and personalise them yourself. Boxes can be found on Amazon, Etsy and other online gift stores. 

Christmas Eve Box for Pets
Photo – Country Living 

Bonus Christmas Eve Box Ideas

If you want to make some more Christmas Eve Boxes for people, yet not sure who to make one for?

Christmas Eve Box ideas for others:

  1. Couples – put face masks and wine glasses in the box for them to enjoy on Christmas Eve or Day
  2. Baby’s First Christmas – you could put a bauble with their name and year they’re celebrating their first Christmas to keep forever
  3. Toddlers – a Christmas sippy cup could be found for them to use over the seasonal period
  4. Grandparents – you could bake them your favourite cookies they make you or their favourite treat to enjoy on Christmas Eve or Day
  5. Pets – you could buy them a new toy, some treats and other bits and bobs they’ll love

Hopefully, these ideas inspire you to make your very own Christmas Eve Box for your loved ones this Christmas! Have fun making them and buying gifts for your loved ones to remember and keep their Christmas Eve box forever. 

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DIY Christmas Eve Box