Easy DIY Christmas Countdown – 2 Ways!

Is it just me, or is it really difficult to find a Christmas Countdown that is cute and inexpensive? We can never find just the right thing, so we embrace the power of DIY and create what we want!

We were experimenting with this one so we tried both a Christmas tree shape and a rectangle. Which do you like better?

Alright, let’s start DIYing!

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Tools

• Miter saw
• Cricut or utility knife
• Optional: electric sander

How to Make a Wood Christmas Countdown

New to DIY? Download our free 5 Steps to Getting Start with DIY guide!

Step 1: download the free printables

Download the free printables and choose your design to help you with nail and number placement. We have two options: a tree and a rectangle.

Step 2: cut

Cut your boards using a miter saw.

• For the Christmas tree, we cut the following sizes, each at 31.5-degrees (that’s where our saw naturally clicked in). The measurements are the length of the long side: 12.5″, 10.5″, 7.5″, 4.25″. You will also need a 1.25″ rectangle for the base. 
• For the rectangle, cut 3 – 15″ long pieces out of a 1×4.

Note: if your boards splintered while cutting, sand off the splinters with 60-80 grit sandpaper before moving onto the next step.

STEP 3: glue your boards together

Clamp the pieces until the glue dries.

Step 4: sand and Stain

Sand the boards after the glue dries. We sanded with 80 grit until all of the glue was sanded off and then we sanded with 120. Then, we quickly hand sanded the sides and front using 220.

Stain or paint your boards. We used Minwax Special Walnut stain on both options.

step 5: print out your template

Print out the template you downloaded in step 1. If you have a Cricut, you can cut the file out of vinyl and place it on your wood piece as a stencil. If you don’t have a Cricut, you can cut the numbers out using a utility knife and tape the paper to the wood to use as a stencil. 

Step 6: paint

Paint your numbers and words using acrylic paint.

step 7: add your nails

Once the paint is dry, add your nails to the center of the dots on the printable. We like to hold the nails using a pair of plyers to help keep it in place.

Remove the printable once you’ve added your nails.

Step 8: Find a counter

Decide on what you would like to use as the counter. We tore off a stem from a fake tree to create a wreath, but you can also use this garland from Hobby Lobby or mini ornaments.

That’s it! Easy peasy. What did you decide to use as your counter? We love the mini wreath, but we also love the idea of hanging a mini ornament every day to decorate the tree!

And don’t forget to download the free printables in step 1!