13-day Halloween Advent Calendar

I am SO excited to share my project with you today! For those of you that know me, I LOVE Halloween, so when Andrea (Stampin’ Up!’s Digital Product Specialist) asked me to share a Halloween project or idea I screeched with excitement! After seeing the Holiday Mini and the really cute Big Shot die you can use to create an advent calendar, I started wondering how I could make my own countdown in My Digital Studio. And, what better holiday to create a countdown calendar for than Halloween? I decided to just have it be a 13-day countdown (lucky number 13!). Rather than having a treat behind each door, I wanted to put an activity that we could do as a family.

Here are the details on how I made this project:

I created the first page of my countdown calendar first. I used the square punch for each of the "doors" that will be opened.
After the square punches were in their exact place, I went to "insert duplicate page".
I deleted all the content in the square punches and then wrote my text in these boxes. DO NOT move these boxes around or they won't line up when you attach the pages together.
When I was done creating my two pages (the outside sheet and the inside text sheet) I sent them to Stampin' Up! for printing.
I attached each of the pages to a 12" x 12" sheet of card stock. (I prefer using the textured card stock as it is more pliable and easier to cut.)
I carefully cut each of the countdown doors with a hobby blade. (I cut three of the four sides.)
Then I scored the fourth side of the countdown door so when it comes time to open the door it opens easily.
I used the 1/2" Circle Punch, and punched out a little crescent from the countdown I could slip my finger in the slot and open the countdown doors more easily.
Using sticky strip, I attached the front and back pages together. I applied the sticky strip between each box and all around the outside of the bottom sheet so when the doors open the paper wouldn’t tear.
Then I attached the two sheets together so the edges all lined up.
And attached a hanger for my countdown.
Lastly, I personalized the projects a little. Have fun with this! I created a "spooky" version for my older two children and the "cute" version for my younger two.

Thanks so much for sharing in my excitement for Halloween! I hope you like the idea and I can't wait to see what you create!

Guest Blogger: Heather Summers, Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator

*Be sure to check out the downloads (just released today!) that Heather used on these advent calendars: digital-exclusive Spook Central Designer Ensemble and the Spooky Bingo Bats Stamp Brush Set.

Tags: Guest Blogger

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Comment by Melody Hyde on September 20, 2011 at 6:55pm: Brilliant as always - Love it, Heather!!

Comment by Alana Jean-Louis on September 15, 2011 at 8:47am: this is inGENious! and thanks so much for the step by step photos! that REALLY helps!

Comment by Cindy Bowden on September 14, 2011 at 1:35pm: Gorgeous, Heather! And I love your countdown activities! So cute!

Comment by Andrea Bowden on September 13, 2011 at 8:43pm: I always LOVE advent calendars, so the brilliance of creating one for Halloween is A-MA-ZING! I love how you took a completely digital product and turned it interactive with an exacto knife. This is my kind of project! LOVE!

Comment by Allison B on September 13, 2011 at 4:34pm: So awesome! I LOVE both versions!

Comment by Carrie Rhoades on September 13, 2011 at 4:24pm: I am still not over your MDS halloween project from last year, THE QUILT!! Thanks for sharing your genius!

Comment by Kimberly Salmonowicz on September 13, 2011 at 2:26pm: So cute!! Heather, I met a few of your downline at convention...and now I can see why they love you so much! You are a talented lady!

Comment by Lori Campbell on September 13, 2011 at 10:46am: Since advent calendars are featured in the Holiday Mini, this will be a great way to transfer those ideas into our MDS world! Love it!

Comment by Heather Summers on September 13, 2011 at 7:16am: Wow, thanks everyone for all the super kind comments! I had fun making these projects and I hope my kids have fun opening them:) Can't wait to see what you come up with:)

Comment by Carrie Rhoades on September 13, 2011 at 7:13am: You are my MDS idol! Great job, thanks for all the info!