Hello Kitty, Care Bears and Ohuhu craft advent calendars 2026: 2 creative picks for Christmas

Two new creative advent calendars landed this week for anyone who would rather make something each day than eat a chocolate: the Hello Kitty and Friends x Care Bears Crystal Art Advent Calendar from Craft Buddy, on general sale from 5pm GMT today (6pm UK time), and the Ohuhu Christmas Advent Calendar 2026, a £96 art kit that sold out in the US within a day and arrives in the UK this weekend.

One is a gem-art project for children from six, the other a markers and DIY kit for adults. Here is what is inside each and which one to pick.

Hello Kitty and Friends x Care Bears Crystal Art Advent Calendar

Craft Buddy opened a presale for this licensed calendar to customers with a presale code, and general sale starts on 22 October at 5pm GMT, which is 6pm UK time. The price is not shown on the product page ahead of general sale, so check it when sales open. Behind each of the 24 doors is a small crystal art (diamond painting) magnet featuring Hello Kitty, her friends or the Care Bears, with more than 2,600 gems in total. Once finished, the magnets go on a 35 x 48cm board, so by Christmas Eve you have a framed rainbow scene.

• Sale: presale with a code, general sale from 22 October at 5pm GMT (6pm UK time)
• Price: shown on the page when general sale opens
• Doors: 24 crystal art magnet kits
• Includes: more than 2,600 gems, a 35 x 48cm board and tools
• Age: six and over
• Where: Hello Kitty Care Bears Crystal Art Advent Calendar at Craft Buddy

Source: Craft Buddy, checked on 22 October 2026.

Ohuhu Christmas Advent Calendar 2026: £96

Ohuhu, the art marker brand, is selling its first widely available advent calendar: 24 numbered boxes of creative supplies, with alcohol markers, acrylic markers, paint-by-number projects and Christmas ornaments to make. It also includes a canvas tote, a zipped pouch and a faux hanging Christmas tree to display your finished pieces, plus DIY videos for beginners.

According to Emma’s Hobby Corner, the calendar sold out in the US within 24 hours and launches on Ohuhu’s UK site on 25 October, then on Amazon UK on 27 October. On 22 October, the UK page shows £96 marked as sold out, with a “Notify When Available” button: tap it to get an email when the calendar goes on sale.

• Price: £96
• Doors: 24 numbered boxes
• Includes: alcohol and acrylic markers, paint-by-number projects, ornaments, a tote, a pouch and a hanging tree
• UK launch: 25 October on Ohuhu UK, 27 October on Amazon UK
• Status on 22 October: sold out, with a “Notify When Available” option
• Where: Ohuhu Christmas Advent Calendar 2026 on Ohuhu UK

Source: Ohuhu UK product page and Emma’s Hobby Corner, checked on 22 October 2026.

Our take: which creative calendar should you buy?

For children, the Craft Buddy calendar is the easy choice: it should cost far less, the licensed characters do the work, and the finished board is a real keepsake. Gem art is fiddly, though, so younger children will need a hand.

For adults who already colour or draw, the Ohuhu calendar looks like the more generous kit, and early reviews on Ohuhu’s site are very positive. At £96 it is a serious spend, and given how fast it sold out in the US, sign up with “Notify When Available” on Ohuhu UK and set a reminder for Sunday 25 October if you want one.

Prefer a craft box that lasts beyond December?

An advent calendar is over in 24 days. If you like the idea of a new project every month, Craftiosity sends a full craft kit each month for adults; see our Craftiosity listing. For children, toucanBox posts creative activity boxes for ages three to eight.

For more ideas, see our toy advent calendars 2026 and LEGO advent calendars 2026 round-ups.