Kid's Christmas Tree Crafts: Standing Cardboard Countdown Calendar

Have your kids countdown to the holidays by making a Christmas tree calendar. After completing this table-top Christmas craft, children set it on their nightstands. Each day they can turn a tree ornament in anticipation of Santa.

This craft will require help or supervision for grade school age children or younger, to operate glue gun and cut cardboard. Another option is to make the Christmas tree smaller, using construction paper, white glue and tape.

Christmas Tree Calendar Craft Supplies
Medium cardboard box
Ruler
Scissors
Glue gun
Green construction paper
Yellow construction paper
Christmas wrapping paper
Glue Stick
Red marker
Black marker
Thin red ribbon
Thumb tacks

Christmas Tree Craft Base

1. Cut a two foot by two foot square from one side of your cardboard box. This will be the base of your Christmas tree craft.

2. Draw a two-foot tall Christmas tree outline on the longest unbended side of the box. Three limbs on each side should look nice. The tree should have a four-inch tall and three-inch wide trunk.

3. Draw a star on the tip top of the tree. Don't worry if your marker lines show, those will be covered up.

4. Cut out the Christmas tree.

5. Cut a four inch by two inch rectangle from the cardboard box.

6. Starting at the bottom of the Christmas tree, cut a two-inch slit in the trunk.

7. Slide the two inch side of the rectangle into the tree trunk slit, making an "x" or squared cross. This base will stabilize the Christmas calendar craft.

8. Hot glue the base of the Christmas tree to the center of your two foot by two foot square. Allow glue to completely dry.

Covering Christmas Tree

1. Using a glue stick, adhere green construction paper onto the Christmas tree. Avoid the trunk and star.

*For a more dimensional tree, fringe construction paper with scissors and glue on in layers, starting at the bottom.

2. Trim the edges of the construction paper even with the cardboard sides of the tree.

3. Cover the star with yellow construction paper and trim.

Making the Calendar Numbers

Your kid's will make the calendar numbers for the Christmas tree craft out of cardboard and wrapping paper.

2. Cut 31 ornament shapes out of the remainder of the cardboard box. About 1x1 inch shapes should work, no bigger than two inches.

3. Cut 61 Christmas details out of wrapping paper.

4. With a glue stick, glue the cutouts to both side of the cardboard ornaments. Leave a little paper sticking a fourth of an inch over the top of the ornament on each side.

5. Pick an ornament for each day of the month. Write the day number on one side in red marker and the same number on the other side in black marker.

Hanging the Ornaments on the Tree

1. Cut 31 three inch sections of red ribbon, one for each ornament.

2. Glue the ends of the ribbon in between paper hanging over the top of the cardboard ornament. This should leave a festive loop to hang the ornament/calendar number by.

3. Press the paper together, with the ribbon in the middle. Allow glue to dry.

4. Repeat steps 1-3 for the remaining 30 ornaments.

5. Hang the ornaments/calendar numbers on the cardboard Christmas tree with thumb tacks. String them so the tacks look like Christmas lights. The numbers facing outward should be black, except the current date. That day should be showing in red.

6. Have your kids turn the numbers on their December Christmas tree craft calendar.

Your child can customize the base of their Christmas tree by adding a tree skirt, fake snow and tiny presents.