Christmas Countdown Advent Tree Craft

It’s about that time. But how much time, exactly, is what the kids want to know. So why not make a cute and very easy way of counting down the days until Christmas.

This Christmas Countdown advent calendar starts on the 10th of December, with a flap of paper taken off for each day. Under each is a star, with a yellow one shining bright on top. The last paper is removed on the morning of the 25th, the stump of the tree, to reveal the words “Merry Christmas!”.

This advent calendar is completely customizable in that you can also make bring some more family fun into it by writing actions appropriate for the season under each flap of the tree. For instance, “make popcorn garland” on one and “watch The Santa Clause” on another.

Christmas Countdown Advent Tree Craft

Supplies needed:

• blue, brown, yellow and green construction paper (or use a pack of Post Its in yellow and green)
• Post Its or something like it that stick but can be easily removed
• yellow and green stars
• marker
• glue
• scissors

First, pick up some extra sticky Post Its in green and yellow then cut to size or make your own which is what we did. I just didn’t want to secure the pieces on with tape or glue, because it would rip the paper and ruin the appearance at the end.

Take the brown construction paper and cut a rectangle large enough to write Merry Christmas underneath. Take your Posts Its, I didn’t have yellow and green but did have another super sticky notepad I could use for its sticky strip, and cut the top part off, where it’s sticky. Glue that sticky part to the back of the brown construction paper, sticky side up, so that we now turned it into it’s own sticky note. Stick the brown paper to the bottom of the blue page.

Repeat the same steps for the green and yellow pieces, only make them smaller, of course. 5 green on the first row, 4, 3, 2, then the 1 yellow. This is great for kids to help with! Let the pieces overlap. None of this has to be perfect.

Write actions on the underside of each tree flap. You can also include countdown numbers, days, or dates on the front side.

Place star stickers underneath. Write your Merry Christmas message on bottom. And wait for the fun to begin!

We’re putting this in my kids’ room so they can remove a day first thing every morning.