DIY Halloween Countdown Calendar

Make this fun DIY Halloween Countdown Calendar to hide 13 treats! Get the free pattern (Design #160) at https://jennifermaker.com/halloween-c...

I LOVE Halloween! It is my second-favorite holiday, eclipsed only by Christmas. Now I’ve already made a countdown calendar for Christmas, so it’s time to make one for Halloween, too! This countdown calendar has 13 places for treats and added a big hat brim to make it look like a witch hat! SO fun!

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MATERIALS LIST (contains my affiliate links):
* 13 sheets of 12″ x 12″ patterned cardstock or Kraft board (I recommend a Halloween-themed stack of cardstock: https://amzn.to/31S5ukZ
* 5 sheets of 12″ x 12″ black cardstock or Kraft board: https://amzn.to/2om2oqX
* (Optional) 1 self-adhesive magnetic sheet (about 4″ x 6″, no more than 5mm thick): https://amzn.to/358rPNz
* Tacky glue: https://amzn.to/2yLo69W
* Tape
* Things to put in the treat boxes, like candy or little toys
* A way to cut the project (I used the amazing Cricut -- see http://shrsl.com/1dq4w )
* My free SVG cut file (Design #160) (available in my free resource library at https://jennifermaker.com/library )

HOW TO ASSEMBLE THE HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN CALENDAR
First, cut out all your pieces using the countdown calendar file from my free resource library (get the password to it in the form at the bottom of this post). If you use a Cricut cutting machine, you’ll need to do some special things after you upload it to Design Space. There are a lot of layers that are just score lines—you can tell that they are score lines because they have no colors assigned to them. You need to change every score line layer from “Cut” (the default) to “Score,” and then you need to attach each score line layer to its respective cut layer. (Tip: You will need to ungroup everything before you can attach anything—there are multiple layers of groups.)

Need help with the scoring lines? Check out my tutorial on Cricut Scoring, Grouping, and Attaching at https://jennifermaker.com/cricut-scor...

Tip: When you cut these on a cutting machine, put your holiday themed paper FACE DOWN—this way your paper will get scored on the back, making it easier to fold in the proper way with your holiday paper face out.

When finished cutting, you’ll have 55 pieces: eight vertical supports, two hexagonal horizontal supports, 6 medium box pieces, 6 large box pieces, the hat top piece, three hat brim pieces, a hat brim trim piece, 13 number fronts, and 13 number backs. All but the hexagonal supports, the brim pieces and numbers will require folding.

Begin by glueing the three pieces of the big round brim together, make sure they meet at the front edge and retain the void area for the supports.

Now fold the six vertical supports. Just fold them in half along the score line. You want to line up the three slots along the side as best you can. If you are off a bit and the slots overlap, just trim them a bit so there’s a clear slot—you’ll need this to create a stable structure.

Keep the supports folded and closed with a line of glue along the edge.

Now begin sliding each vertical support into the hat brim (keep the notches toward the brim edge). I found it easiest to slide in the hexagonal supports at the same time I slide in the vertical supports. Make sure everything is slid in all the way.

The round piece with the hexagon center slides down over the whole structure to give it more stability — it also serves as a decorative band around the brim!

To assemble the hat top, just fold along all score lines and glue the tab to the other side to create a cone. The assembled tree top just rests on top of your tree. And it is the secret hiding spot of day 13’s gift—just lift off the top to see the gift!

I love it! Fill it up with candy or treats.. or whatever you want!

I want to see your countdown calendars! Please share a photo in our Facebook group at   / cricutcraftersandmakers   , email it to me at [email protected], or tag me on social media with #jennifermaker.

#cricut #cricutmade #designspace

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Credits:
Introduction: PixelBytes (my child!)
Music: Cute by Bensound (licensed, royalty and copyright free)
Videography: Jennifer Marx on a Panasonic Lumix FZ-1000 DSLR 4K camera
Design: A Jennifer Maker original!