DIY: Christmas Countdown Calendar

Two years ago, my husband and I started a tradition for our first Christmas married. We were trying really hard to pinch pennies and save for our new home, but we wanted our first Christmas to be special. So began our "25 (free!) Days of Christmas" tradition.

Our tradition has evolved over the last couple of years, and this Christmas I was excited to use our activities as part of our decorations. Enter the countdown calendar!

First, I created a list of (mostly free) activities. I thought this was going to be the hardest part, but once I sat down to do it, the ideas came easily.

Activities range from decorating the tree at home, to attending fancy Christmas parties, to delivering gifts to others.

After cutting out all of the activities, and the numbers 1 thru 25, the calendar was ready for assembly.

I got this ribbon, the striped bags, and the clothespins at Michaels on Black Friday. They were a great deal and match my decor pretty well. You could also use envelopes instead of little bags, and tags or stickers to make the numbers. If you're really into bling, there are tons of clothespin options to choose from!

Now, just stuff away! Put one activity in each bag and fold it closed. I used this old wooden ladder as the support for our calendar. You can hang it across a wall or window, put it in your Christmas tree, or put it on the fridge.

Get creative and personalize this Christmas decoration. It sure does fill your days with holiday cheer!