Monday, August 29, 2011

Christmas Countdown Calendar

I hope you enjoyed the Stampin' Addicts Holiday Mini Blog Hop as much as I did.  So many fabulous ideas for the new stamps and other goodies available starting September 1.  I promised to give you a closer look at the Countdown to Christmas Calendar today and here it is:

First of all, thank you for all the nice comments on the calendar.  It was the project I was most excited about. It was one of those projects that I set aside and then picked it up again the next day and liked it even more.  Do you ever do that with projects?  It's a much better feeling than picking it up the next day and NOT liking it.

This picture gives you a little perspective on the size of the calendar.  I knew I wanted to make a small calendar and originally envisioned using a chipboard coaster.  But by a happy coincidence, these metal CD cases were in the same box as my chipboard coasters.  And that is was a light bulb moment.  Stampin' Up had these on the Clearance Rack a year or so ago.  I bought a bunch then, but darn if I don't regret not buying more now that I've discovered this fun use for them. 

One of the brilliant things about using the CD case for it is the ability to store the extra numbers inside the case. What's that?  How are those numbers sticking to the case?

Magnets of course.  You can use any kind of magnet on these, but for economy sake, I used a roll of adhesive magnet strip that you can get at any craft store and cut small pieces to put on the back of each number tag.

I attached the ribbon hanger with glue dots to the inside of the box.  When the box is closed, it holds the ribbon in place too.

I will be offering this as a project at my Christmas Card (and Gift) Crank on November18 and 19 if you want to make one of your own. I know I will be making several as gifts this year.

Colors: Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Early Espresso, and Whisper White.  Stamps: 25 and Counting. Punches: Petite Pennant (Tree), Postage Stamp, 1" Square.  Big Shot: Sizzlet Billboard Decorative Strip Alphabet, Scallop Squares Duos.  Accessories: Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper, Cherry Cobbler Scallop Dot Ribbon, Garden Green Button, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Cherry Cobbler Brads.  Other: CD Tin and Magnets.

12 comments:

Brandi Wiggins-Côté said...

Super cute countdown calendar, Paula! Great use of that set. I'm still on the fence about it. We'll see...

xo B.

Yapha said...

Love this! It is so clever! thanks for the closer look!

Angie (fingers inky girl) said...

Love it Paula!! Thanks for the closer pictures, makes it even easier to COPY!! :)

Anonymous said...

What an adorable calendar. Thanks for the additional details and pics :)

Peggy said...

I just posted this to the late night stampers group..thought you might want to see it too
I was just visiting Paula Wrights wonderful blog (http://paulastamps.blogspot.com/) where she has posted the details of her CD tin Xmas countdown project – which I love- and I cannot wait to get the stamp set so I can make some of them myself!!
But she also has an adorable countdown project made from the twisted candy holders. Great work! But I was thinking that some of my gals will not want to make so very many of those candy holders as they can give some folks a run for their money!! Awkward for some! SOOOOO I was thinking…you could make a couple of the candy holders (say 2-4) of different colors and then make the countdowns with VELCRO attached in the back. Each day you could fill one of the candy holders, stick on the number for that day, prep the other 1-3 for the upcoming days and reclaim the holder once the treat had been removed, to be reused for the next set of days. Using only a couple of the candy holders would make it easier to store and re=use next year too! I like it …I’m gonna try it!

Peggy
http://stampinpegcadillo.blogspot.com

Shelley Z said...

Thanks for posting the close ups to this project! It's so cute and perfect!

shestamps@bellsouth.net said...

Too cool!!

Sue said...

Cute idea! Love all of your blog hop projects!

Sandy Hancock said...

What a GREAT way to use the 25 & Counting. I think I like it better than the straight Advent Calendar that I made from the Mini!

Sheryl said...

Awesome project! Thank you for sharing!

Missi said...

I like this more every time I look at it!!

"Al" said...

I absolutely loved this!! I had a tin so made one up for myself and have had nothing but positive feedback on it!! THANK YOU so much for sharing this idea!! I did try doing a couple days (the wreath, the manger & a couple others) with the circle and square doors -- they don't work or look as good. (they also took up more storage space in the tin!) I don't have the postage punch so just used 1 1/4" square and the scallop square for the back layer. This would be a very affordable and doable class! Thanks again for sharing!!