Let the Countdown Begin

This was supposed to be yesterday's post, but alas, I ran out of hours in the day! So really it should say 31 days. How fun is this?? I put this together very quickly on Saturday afternoon after unpacking some Stampin' Up! boxes that were delivered while I was away. This is the small Christmas Countdown Decor Elements found on page 4. This is obviously in red, but it is also available in Old Olive and Chocolate Chip. The board is a dry erase/bulletin board combo that I just happened to have lying around in my craft room...REALLY! I'm sure it was destined for some other equally awesome project, but it looked perfect for this one. For those of you with no hoarding issues I believe you can find this particular one at Hobby Lobby for under $10 or at your favorite craft or office supply store. I covered the bulletin board portion with retired Certainly Celery Prints Designer Series Paper. Since becoming a regular member of Designer Paper Hoarders Anonymous I have begun tapping into my stockpile of beautiful paper. Through this marvelous program I have learned that there will always be beautiful paper available...I can use what I have and I can order more and even if it is not exactly the same, it will be very lovely and I will be OKAY! Christmas Countdown comes with numbers 1 - 25 so you can begin your countdown on December 1st every year. Some brilliant demonstrator mounted her numbers on a magnet sheet and cut them out so she can countdown starting December 26th and go year round! Loved the versatility of that idea...hated the thought of cutting. Another demo punched her numbers out with the wide oval punch and EUREKA...that is right up my alley...you know how lazy I can be! So, I applied the numbers to the Certainly Celery DSP and punched them out with the wide oval punch and punched out a piece of the magnet paper (which already has adhesive on it - how convenient) and it was completed so easily!

I made a scalloped envelope using Real Red Prints DSP (also retired) and my Big Shot to hold all the extra numbers. I took some large felt flurries and put a Build a Brad through them and also punched out a 1/2" circle of magnet to attach to the back to add some fun decorations.

I'm sure these won't hold up anything but themselves, but that small piece of magnet is perfect! I hadn't really finished the board (and I may still add some decorations), but my kids already decided what the bottom was for:

Their wish lists!!! They promptly sat down to compile their list of most desired Christmas items just to add to the countdown board! Parker wants me to make another one to countdown to his birthday (December 22). I told him he'll just have to practice his math skills! I used Real Red 5/8" grosgrain ribbon to hang my board. You can apply the Christmas Countdown to a tile, to a wooden frame, or anything else you can find! Let the countdown begin!