DIY Christmas Countdown Calendar with Cricut

In today’s project, I’ll show you how to create a festive, interactive DIY Christmas countdown using your Cricut.

The holiday season is all about traditions, memories and magic. And what better way to build excitement for the season than with a Christmas countdown? Grab your Cricut and the free SVG templates to follow along with this step-by-step tutorial to make your own DIY Christmas Countdown Calendar.

For more Christmas crafts to make with your Cricut, check out my my free Christmas SVG files. For more Christmas countdown fun, make an advent calendar with your Cricut and fill it yourself with small treats items.

DIY Christmas Countdown Calendar

To Make this Project, You Will Need:

Medium Weight Cardstock in a variety of fall colors. You can find all the colors you need in this variety pack of cardstock.
I am also using white diamond glitter cardstock, blue shimmer and silver shimmer for these countdown calendars.
Adhesive Foam Sheets
Cricut Fine Point Pens
Deep Point Cutting Blade
A good paper craft glue – this Bearly Art craft glue is what I am using.
Cricut Maker or Explore Cutting Machine and a cutting mat.

Download the Christmas Countdown SVG Templates

You can download these free Christmas Countdown SVG templates from my members only free library (design #3 under Christmas crafts or search “Christmas Countdown SVG”).

Don’t have a password? Unlock my free members library by entering your name and email in the form below or click here.

Share the love and easily come back to this tutorial anytime just by saving this on Pinterest by clicking the picture below and then hitting “Save”…Plus this helps to keep my SVG files and Cricut tutorials free.

Christmas Countdown Cricut Tutorial

This DIY Christmas Countdown can be made with any cutting machine that accepts SVG or DXF files. But in today’s tutorial, I’ll be using a Cricut.

Step 1: Upload the Christmas Countdown SVG to Cricut Design Space

Upload the Christmas Countdown SVG for the design that you want to make to Cricut Design Space. If you need help with uploading SVG files, then check out my tuto rial here. The files can be resized larger or smaller if you prefer, but make sure to resize all the elements together and keep the proportions locked if you change the size.

After resizing your project (if needed), click on “ungroup” to ungroup your layers.

Step 2: Modify Pen Layers

Select the layer with the text that says “Days Until” and change the operation from “Basic Cut” to “Score”.

After changing the text to “Pen”, select the pen layer and the layer underneath (in this image it is the pink layer) together and select “Attach” to attach the pen to the layer it will write on.

Repeat the last 2 steps for the countdown calendar wheel. Select the group of numbers and change the operation from “Basic Cut” to “Score”. Then select the pen layer with the layer behind it (the white layer) and select “Attach” to attach the pen layer to the layer it will write on.

Step 3: Modify Score Lines

There are 4 different layers of score lines to modify. Select the line and change the operation from “Basic Cut” to “Score”. After changing this to score, select the score line and layer underneath and select “Attach” to attach the score line to the layer it will score on. Repeat this for each piece that you see the lines on.

Step 4: Cut out the Christmas Countdown

Once all of the modifications to your countdown calendar are made in Cricut Design Space, select “Make” to cut everything out. Follow the prompts in Cricut Design Space so that you know when to add your pen and scoring tool.

Before cutting everything out, check the mat preview and make sure that your score lines show up where they go, as well as the pen layer. If they do not look correct in the mat preview, then make sure that you go back and attach the pen and score lines on the layer they are scoring or writing on.

Note: When cutting out the thin circle, use the adhesive foam for this.

Step 5: Assemble the Characters

Start by assembling the characters on top of the black layer. Glue each piece on to match the image below.

Step 6: Assemble the Christmas Countdown

Glue the white layer with the numbers on top of the other round layer. Then place these, lined up on the back layer of the Christmas countdown. Using the adhesive foam circle, place this down on the inside of the circle. If you pull the foam so it stretches out and it’s too long, that’s fine, we’ll trim it later.

Note: Make sure that the adhesive foam does not go on top of the numbers layer. The numbers layer needs to float freely so it can spin.

Add glue to the bottom layer and glue the top layer on top. Make sure to keep the glue away from the numbers layer and don’t add glue to the bottom part below the score line.

Cut away any of the foam that is showing, but keep all of the foam that is hidden under the top layer. Test the countdown and make sure the wheel easily spins. If it doesn’t, make sure there is no glue attaching to it or adhesive foam. Keep wiggling it until it moves freely.

Step 7: Assemble the Base

Fold on all the score lines on both of the rectangle pieces with score lines. Add glue to the tabs to attach the sides together and then fold the extra layer over the top. Add glue to the top pieces and attach the larger rectangle to the rectangle piece. Make sure to hold the sides in as it sets so they don’t poke out the sides.

Slide the into the slit of the other rectangle. Add glue to each of the tab pieces and fold them on each side to attach the countdown calendar to the stand.

Then add glue and attach this to the other base piece. Set the wheel for how many days are left until Christmas and enjoy the season of counting down the days!

When you’re done making your DIY Christmas Countdown, make sure to post these in my crafting group her e or tag me if you post them on social media. I absolutely love seeing your crafts and can’t wait to see how creative you get with these calendars.

Video Tutorial For Christmas Countdown Clock

Watch the step-by-step video tutorial to learn how to make these Christmas countdown clocks with your Cricut here:

DIY Christmas Countdown Calendars