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I remember thinking last year, as I was making this Santa’s Christmas Countdown for Crafts Unleashed, that I wished I had a Silhouette Cameo cutting machine so that I could just use adhesive vinyl and that it would make the project 10x easier. What a difference a year makes! Cammie (that’s what I like to call my Silhouette machine when I haven’t had enough sleep…which is always.) cut the files like a dream and all I had to do was put down a flesh colored base coat. I’m really happy with the way this update turned out! I’m including the files just in case you want to make one of your own. Please refrain from using for commercial purposes.
For as long as cotton balls have existed, kids have probably used them to make Santa’s beard! The only problem is that we so rarely have cotton balls on hand and if I do, they’re way too small to get that fun full beard effect. What’s a frazzled, busy, procrastinating mother to do?! Here’s a quick and easy way to make a reusable Christmas Countdown that can be used year after year. No more last minute runs to the drug store on December 1st!
No worries if you don’t have a cutting machine, check out my original Santa’s Christmas Countdown post on Crafts Unleashed for the full tutorial on how to make this with just paper and glue (free printables included!)
Santa’s Christmas Countdown
Materials:
– Santa’s Christmas Countdown Free Silhouette Files (01: White, 02: Red)
– 9″ Round Pizza Pan (I can always find one at Dollar Tree!)
– 2″ White Craft Pom Poms– 1.75? Chipboard Circles
– All Purpose Tacky Glue
– 1/2? Adhesive Backed Magnets
– Vinyl (Red, White and a little bit of Black & Pink)
– Americana Multi-Surface Buff Beige (or any other flesh color)
– Ribbon
– We R Memory Keepers 1/4″ Power Punch
Instructions:
1. Paint the entire back of the pizza pan with a few coats of your flesh colored paint. Initially, I tried painting just where the face would show up and you could totally see the difference in colors underneath the vinyl so go with the full paint job.
2. Allow paint to dry completely and then carefully add the vinyl stickers.
3. Scratch out the paint for the numbers. This is an optional step but it really helps make the numbers pop!
4. Punch holes in the edge of the pizza pan with Power Punch and tie on your ribbon of choice. You can always just glue the ribbon to the back if you don’t have a punch. I also used the punch to cut two circles of black vinyl for the eyes. If you have one, you can use a 1″ punch for the pink nose. Or you can do as I did and just sorta wing it!
5. All that’s left to do is glue the pom poms onto the front of the chipboard circles. Once glue has dried, affix magnets to the back and you’re done!
Store your magnetic pom poms in a jar next to the countdown and marvel at how excited your kids are as they see Santa’s beard fill up! Hope you enjoyed this project and feel free to contact me if you have any problems with the files!
This project is a part of The Silhouette Challenge hosted by The Thinking Closet. Stop by each month for a new and exciting free tutorial and studio file. Here are my projects from previous months:
January: Martin Luther King Window Art
February: We’re Better Together Card
March: Montessori Sandpaper Letters
April: “Celebrate Differences” Autism Awareness Tee
May: “Cup Of Tea” Customizable Art
June: Modern Chair Art
July: Oozma Kappa T-Shirt
August: Washi Tape Stickers
September: Nuts & Bolts Print
October: Zombie Invasion Tee
Check out more wonderful Silhouette Challenge projects from these amazing bloggers:
Silhouette Challenge: Time Zone Bathroom Art by Nearly Handmade
Santa’s Christmas Countdown by Tried & True
Nautical Anchor Pillow Tutorial by The Thinking Closet
Christmas Card Ornament with Free Cut File by unOriginalMom
Thanksgiving and Christmas Dual Sign by Architecture of a Mom
Itching to Etch by Get Silvered
Snowman Tag ~ Silhouette Challenge by Whats Next Ma
Thanksgiving Sign by Chicken Scratch NY
DIY Horse Silhouette Pillow by Rain on a Tin Roof
Sketching on Fabric by The Sensory Emporium
Paper Leaf Garland by Lil’ Mrs. Tori
DIY Blessing Board – Silhouette Challenge by One Tough Mother
Christmas Pillow by Create & Babble
Glass Painting with Reverse Stencils by Givemeapaintbrush
Chalkboard Thankful Tree by Cutesy Crafts
Bottoms Up! MYO Wine Tag by From Wine to Whine
‘Happy Holly-days’ Tags for the Swap by An Elegant Touch…
DIY Flyleafs for Planners or Albums by The House on Hillbrook
Advent Star Christmas Countdown by My Favorite Finds
Geometric Fabric Bowls by Please Excuse My Craftermath…
Paper Carnival by Home At Eight
Silhouette Cameo Tutorial: Dual Sided Business Cards by Black and White Obsession
In Case of Emergency Baby Bag Tags by Tossed Salad Life
Christmas On My Mind by Creative Turn
Jingle all the Way! by My Paper Craze
Christmas Lights Garland by Making Home Base
We Are Thankful by 4 You With Love
Seattle Skyline Silhouette by Sowdering About in Seattle
DIY Stenciled Mugs by Coley’s Corner
Comments & Reviews
Kristy gd says
This is so cute! I love the pom pom a day idea. Thanks for sharing!
dee @ from wine to whine says
This is so cute!! Great job!
Jeanie @ create&babble says
I am going to the Dollar Tree today for a pizza pan! I absolutely love this and i’m sure my grandson will, too! Thanks for sharing!
Vanessa Brady says
They can be kinda hard to find but they almost always have them in stock!
Carrie @ My Favorite Finds says
I love this, especially the intricate details. So so fun!
Jessica says
I’m a sucker for countdowns and this one is adorable!!!
Vanessa Brady says
Hah, I love making countdowns too but how many does one family really need?! All my friends and family are tired of me trying to pawn off my creations with them! 😀
Kirsten @ One Tough Mother says
What a seriously cute idea! Your Santa is awesome, and I love the giant cotton balls attached with magnets. Great Christmas countdown!
Vanessa Brady says
Thanks, Kirsten! The kids love the giant cotton balls too!
Randi Sowders says
This is darling!!! I really like it! Great job!
Lauren @ The Thinking Closet says
Isn’t it amazing how much easier things are with a Silhouette? Seriously, I wonder how many hours of x-acto knife cutting I’ve saved since getting my Silhouette last Christmas. (I’m still in awe of the fact that you used an x-acto knife to cut out your original zombie t-shirt design; THAT, my dear, is dedication to your craft. Pun intended.)
Thanks for participating in this month’s Silhouette Challenge and for inspiring us with your creativity, yet again, Vanessa! This Christmas Countdown is so gosh darned cute!
Rachel @ Architecture of a Mom says
I love how this is now a reusable calendar (I’ve seen making santa’s beard before as a countdown, but it wasn’t reusable). And it’s SO cute!! I’m getting so much inspiration today!
Meredith says
Aww, your Santa is adorable! I’m thinking that I might just have to make one of these for my nephew…he is old enough now to be excited about Santa visiting! Thanks so much for the file!
Glenna Anderson says
Your project is just adorable! I never ever thought of putting magnets on cottonballs.
Lynne Fenbert Neumann says
What a cute idea. I would never have thought of this. Nice execution also.
Janice @ NearlyHandmade says
Genius!! Using magnets takes away ALL of the mess, time, and fuss when it’s time to add another cotton ball!! I’m definitely pinning your project! It turned out too cute! You should be proud!
Suzanne says
This is a brilliant combo of pompoms and advent activities. Santa needs a fluffy beard!
Jessi @ Practically Functional says
CUTE! Pinning this for sure!
Tori says
Such an adorable idea!! I will be pinning this to try! Thanks!
Trisha D. says
Finally having a chance to go through all the Silhouette Challenge project inspiration– I’m like a [big] kid on Christmas but earlier!!
Gosh using Santa’s beard as an advent calendar, is pure genius. And reusing a pizza tray is right up my ‘going green’ alley. Keep rockin on!!
Brooke says
This is so cute. Now my biggest issue would be remembering to do it every day.
Bev says
What a cute project that gives the littgles lots of fun and anticipation! Nicely done!
Jestina says
Are the files SVG files? I have a cricut air not a silhouette and would love to make this for my kids. I tried to download them bit it wouldny let me. ?
Vanessa Brady says
Hi, so glad you like it! Sorry it’s not available to download as an SVG. Here’s a tutorial on how to convert it though: http://www.silhouetteschoolblog.com/2016/03/converting-silhouette-studio-files-to.html