DIY Christmas Countdown and Card Display!

So basically, its Christmas time! Its the season of the year where we crafters really hunker down and whip up projects and finish homemade gifts for loved ones, and here's a fun and easy one for you! I grew up in a home with seven or eight countdowns and we loved having so many things to change and update as the big day got closer! I've been trying to create a new countdown for my own family every year, and this Christmas Countdown can be filled with candy for each day until Christmas, and then used as a place to display all the Christmas cards you collect!

The first step is to find an assortment of fabric scraps that you love and cut them into a pocket shape. You can make them curved like mine, standard box-shaped, or even a variety of sizes. I used pre-made double fold white bias tape to finish the edges and save me loads of time. Sew a button hole onto each pocket now. It will be impossible later!

While I was still drafting up the idea, I put a label on each pocket (ex. 1A, 2A, 3A, etc.) so that even if the pockets got out of order as I sewed them up, I'd be able to place them in the same spot I originally planned. With the same fabric scraps, I made a long strip to be the binding. Because I wasn't worried about the back looking nice, I just surged the edge instead of folding it over like a traditional binding.

I'm sure you could find wooden buttons anywhere, but these were an eBay steal from China sort of purchase. I think it was $2 for 50? Search for "wooden buttons" and order now so you have time to wait for the month-long shipping quote. These are 1" in diameter, and just a little acrylic paint with a light clear gloss did the trick. I really like the dark stain on these! They look like little gingerbread cookies to me!

From there, I pinned the pockets in place and sewed them down along all sides of the white bias tape. I used a red damask for the base fabric, and quilted the diamond design into it with a very thin batting between this and a white back. Now you can sew the buttons on as well.

Trim up the sides and sew on the binding. Again, it doesn't have to look nice on the back, so you can just wrap it around and 'stitch in the ditch'. You can see that the dimensions of this project depend on the size of your pockets and the spacing between them, but it can turn out pretty large! If you plan to put it on the back of a door, make sure its not wider than the door frame.

At the top, I sewed on a few curtain-like loops and painted a dowel rode white. We drilled in two holes and strung some white cording through.

Sew on those "Merry Christmas" buttons and you're done! Well, after you fill it with candy or other treats!

As the candy was eaten and the Christmas cards started rolling in, I found that this was the PERFECT place to display all those beautiful cards! A clothespin held them perfectly on the rim of each pocket, and by the end of the month, it was really a beautiful sight!

Enjoy making your own Christmas Countdown and let the festivities begin!