Create a Countdown Calendar

Count the sleeps till a holiday, vacation, special birthday or some other event with this fun and rewarding DIY countdown calendar!

Make it easier to count the days till your next holiday or event by making this fun and easy countdown calendar. Inside each bag you can include a treat plus a coordinating “letter card” that you can pin up in place of each bag as you count the days. The end result is a bunting that spells out a secret message like “Bon Voyage”, “Happy Birthday”, or “Congratulations”. The best part about making it yourself is that you can fill it with whatever you’d like, whether that’s candy, sachets of tea or something else.

For this example, let’s say we’re counting down to a Valentine’s Day getaway in the tropics (we can dream, right?). We’ll start our countdown at 10 days till take off, so we’re going to need 10 numbered countdown bags. Here’s how to make it happen:

What You’ll Need

Avery 2 ½” Round Labels

Avery Note Cards

Avery Templates

Small Paper Favour Bags

10 Days’ Worth of Treats

Ribbon or Twine (Optional)

Clothes Pins (Optional)

How to Make a DIY Countdown Calendar:

1. Start by visiting our gallery to select the template design you’d like to use for your labels and cards. Our designs can be used across a variety of different label shapes and sizes, as well as cards. So, you’ll be able to easily coordinate your number labels with the message cards inside. We’ve chosen the Valentine Anchor template, since it works perfectly with our Valentine’s Day getaway.

2. We’ll make the message cards first. Since we’re counting down to a vacation we’re going with Bon Voyage as the secret message. To make these cards we’re using Avery Notecards and creating four single-sided cards from one sheet. To do this, we’ll apply the same design to the front and the back of the cards.

3. Applying the cover art to the back of your card is easy! Simply click on the card’s background, then select “Unlock Background” from the image menu to the right of the editor. This will shrink the background and make it selectable. Once your background has reduced in size, click and drag from the top left corner down to the bottom right –selecting all images in the canvas. Then right click to copy.

4. In the Navigator Box at the top right corner, select the back of your card. Paste the cover art here. Then, click the background image and select “Set as Background” from the Image menu on the left side. This will allow you to create 4 single-sided cards.

5. Once you have you four set up, simply click Edit One from the Navigator menu to add your letters for the message. To create additional sheets, click Add Sheets from the bottom of the Navigator box. NOTE: If your message doesn’t have enough words to equal the number of days you’ll be counting down, you can add images to the centre of each card as a spacer or embellishment.

6. Once you’ve completed your cards, it’s time to make the number labels for the outside of each bag. First, select your template, then hit Edit One from the Navigator box on the left to individually edit the text on each label.

7. Next, print your labels, fill your bags with a treat and your secret message cards. Then, apply a label to each bag.

8. If you plan to hang your calendar, attach the bags to some twine with clothespins! Don't want to hang the calendar? You can just place the bags in a decorative box or basket. After that, all that’s left is to start counting down to your big day!

If you make this DIY Countdown Calendar, be sure to share the finished results with us on social media using hashtag #MadeWithAveryCanada!

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