Halloween Countdown Calendar
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Merriment Design
Now that pumpkin spice season is officially here, it’s time to start the countdown to Halloween!
I’ve conjured up a fun and spirited ‘Countdown to Candy’ Halloween calendar for you. This easy, interactive craft helps kids count the days until trick-or-treat time.
My cute ghost holds colorful paper candy numbered with each October day that’s standing between kids and a big bucket of candy. Each day, kids can swap out a new candy piece from the 1st to 31st.
I decided to make a special piece of candy for day 31 -- you’ll notice that it’s the only Orange one in the bunch.
There are several ways to display your countdown: You can frame your ghost like I did, or hang your ghost on your refrigerator, or make a free-standing ghost with a paper doll support base. Teachers, try turning my calendar into a Halloween-themed bulletin board for your classroom.
Astrobrights® asked me to create an original kid-friendly October craft idea using the new Astrodesigns® Watercolor cardstock paper pack featured at Walmart. The Watercolor color palette worked great for my candy pieces, and I really like that this assortment pack also contains White. Overall, this pack works well for creating a not-so-scary Halloween vibe.
Ready to get started? Simply print my templates onto Astrodesigns cardstock, cut out the pieces, and let the countdown to candy begin!
Supplies:
- Kathy Beymer’s printable Halloween Countdown to Candy template (PDF)
- Astrodesigns® Watercolor cardstock paper pack
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Foam tape (or substitute with a glue stick)
- Optional wooden picture frame for display - mine was 10” x 12”. Alternatively, you can make a paper doll stand or hang on your refrigerator with magnets.
Step 1: Print my Halloween Countdown templates onto Astrodesigns paper. You can choose your favorite colors for the candy.
Step 2: Cut out the ghost and wrapped candy pieces. If you’d like your ghost’s eyes to be matte black, then use my template to cut out Black eyes and glue them onto the ghost.
Step 3: For an extra touch, make an optional checkered background like I did if you’re displaying in a picture frame. Print the two checkered pieces onto Purple, cut, align and glue together to make one 10” x 12” checkerboard. Then print the two checkered pieces again, this time onto Light Purple. Cut out alternating squares from Light Purple and glue to the checkerboard.
Step 4: Now you’re going to make two slits so the ghost can hold all that candy. First, place a piece of candy on top of the ghost’s arms. Using a pencil, lightly mark dots where the candy touches the ghost’s arms. Then using a craft knife or sharp pair of scissors, cut a slit from dot to dot around the ghost’s hand. Repeat on the other hand.
Step 5: If you’re using a checkered background, add strips of foam tape (or substitute with glue stick) on the back of the ghost, being careful to avoid taping close to the slits because you want the ghost’s hands to be able to move to hold candy. Put the ghost into your picture frame, obviously leaving the glass out to change the candy daily.
Step 6: Make my “Countdown to Candy” sign by cutting it out and folding it in half. Set the sign next to your ghost. For refrigerator displays, simply cut off the back of the sign and attach the sign with a magnet.
Step 7: Now you can slip candy pieces in and out of the ghost’s arms, one piece for each day in October. Happy Halloween!
Be sure to see my other original crafts for Astrobrights including my Mischievous Monsters Halloween Decor, Northern Lights paper candle wraps, Ugly Sweater Gingerbread Friends Garland, S’mores Paper Campfire Playset, Graduation Tassels Money Holder and many more.
Kathy Beymer
Instagram: @kathybeymer
Pinterest: @merrimentdesign