Countdown Calendar

Here's a fun way to countdown to Christmas

or any other holiday.

You could do the same thing for Valentine's Day,

an upcoming birthday or the start of summer vacation.

We start our countdown on December 1st,

but you could use the 12 days of Christmas

if you haven't got time to get this done before then.

Cut out pictures from magazines or old greeting cards

based on the theme.

Here is a combination of Lil' Guy's favorite things

and Christmas symbols.

Doors, gates and windows will open

to reveal a different picture for each day.

Glue your pictures onto a piece of colored cardstock.

You'll need two sheets of the same size,

one for the top, one for the bottom.

These are 12" X 12" sheets.

I chose blue and white.

Using a craft knife,

cut around the doors, windows and gates

to open in various ways.

Inside each cutout, glue a themed picture

onto a piece of contrasting colored paper.

I just line up my top page (blue) with the bottom (white),

and adhere each themed picture inside of it.

Then glue the sides together.

Each day will bring a new surprise.

Remember to number each opening.

Feel free to decorate or add fancier paper.

This is what I had time to do for my lil' one.

The countdown is on!