If you need another countdown calendar, I’ve got you covered! I have been doing crazy over here trying to finish this year’s three planned countdown calendars. And instead of staying focused on the task, I got sidetracked and threw another calendar in there for fun…. Clearly, I have problems! But I digress… this time I have created a Christmas Bulb Tree Countdown Calendar. Basically, this is a Christmas tree made out of Christmas bulbs. Sounds simple enough. So, let’s get this countdown calendar project started!
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Supplies Needed to make the Christmas Bulb Tree Countdown Calendar
I have a few standard supplies that I use every year to make my countdown calendars, and this year is no different! So, here is what we need!
- Heavy cardstock (110 lbs) or one panel of an empty cereal box. Basically, thin cardboard but not a cardboard box.
- Cardstock – You will need card stock for 2 different parts of this project.
- You will need cardstock for the bulbs. I used Christmas-themed 12” x 12” cardstock. If you follow my size selection, you will need 8 sheets of 12” x 12” cardstock for this. If you want the Christmas bulbs larger you will need more, and less with smaller bulbs.
- You will also need card stock for the numbers. Ideally, this is mat paper so makers and pens will write well on it. I have 2 different number files in my free resource library that you can use.
- Paper Towel Roll – about 10″ in length. Does not need to be the thick kids you get in vinyl rolls.
- Filling for the countdown calendar – after Halloween each year, I pull aside candies for the calendars so that I do not need to buy more.
- Glue – you need glue to close the Christmas bulbs. You can use craft glue, or you can use a glue gun with hot glue. I suggest using a glue gun with hot glue as it dries faster.
- Cutting Machine – I use my Cricut Explore Air 2, but a Maker will work, as will a Silhouette.
- Cutting Mat – like most paper projects, you will need a cutting mat.
- Markers or Pens for your Cricut – I use Cricut Markers because I have some leftovers from when I bought my machine that still work. If you do not have any, you can read this post on what other markers and pens work with your Cricut.
- Tissue Paper – Optional – matching colors to the Christmas-themed cardstock used for the bulbs
- Christmas bulb file – I have created an SVG file for this Christmas bulb. You can get it from my resource library by signing up for my newsletter.
- Countdown Numbers – I have created an SVG file for this Christmas bulb. You can get it from my resource library by signing up for my newsletter.
Now that we have all our supplies and pieces, it is time to start this project!
How to Make the Christmas Bulb Tree Countdown Calendar
So, I have to start this post with an apology, some of the details below are the same as in other countdown calendars of mine. So, I’m very sorry about that. But the end design is different, and not everyone will read every countdown calendar, so I’m leaving the details in all the posts. Again, I’m sorry. So, if you have used the Christmas bulbs before, skip down a few sections to get to the calendar assembly part.
Select your countdown calendar treats
Every year after Halloween, I take 25 candies from each of my kids’ Halloween haul. The candy is put aside until I make the countdown calendars. This way, I have something for each day.
This also helps limit how much they get to eat in November, and I do not need to spend extra money buying things to put into the calendar.
Just some pointers – if you are making more than one calendar for your kids, for example, it is a good idea to give the same treat to each child on any given day. I like to sort my candies and place them with numbers next to them, and then I take a picture to make sure I remember what goes where.
Using the Bulb Design File
I have designed a Christmas bulb SVG file. You can download this from my resource library. You can sign up for my newsletter below and get access to it.
This file needs to be imported into Cricut Design Space or other cutting software for a Silhouette or Bother machine.
Once the file is in Design Space, adjust the design size to fit your desired bulb size. You need a size that will fit the treats you have selected. I used Halloween candies, and I made the design 6” wide. This was sufficient for Halloween candies. But I recommend you make 1 test copy to make sure.
Depending on if you are counting down to the 24th or 25th will dictate if you need 23 or 24 duplicates of this design. We do our last day on the 24th, so we only need 24 pieces in total.
With a 6” wide bulb design, you can fit 3 pieces onto one 12” x 12” cardstock.
Design Space Tip: Design Space has been acting up recently, so I created a template in the canvas to help me complete the project faster. I made an 11.5” x 11.5” square. Then, I arranged 3 bulb outlines inside the square. Delete the square and Attach the 3 bulbs together. This will make 3 bulbs the same way on each paper, each time. This will save you from making adjustments on the cut preview screens. Then, increase the number of pages to 8, so that you cut 24 bulbs.
Once you have your bulbs cut out, it is time to glue them together.
I used my glue gun since it dries faster, but you can use crafting glue. If you are using crafting glue, you must hold the bulb in your hand until it is dry.
Start by drawing a bead of glue on one side of one of the circle leaves. Then, bring the up tip of the leaf next to it and place it onto the glue. Continue to glue on one side of each leaf, ideally the same side on each to give the bulb a nice symmetrical look. Once at the last leaf, apply glue to two leaves at once, the last leaf and the second side of the first leaf. Gently and carefully close the sides of the bulb by attaching them to the glue. Make sure to leave the top open.
Insert your Countdown Treat into the Christmas Bulbs
The Christmas bulbs I have designed have small gaps at the top and bottom between the bulb leaves. If you have impatient, snooping children using this calendar, I recommend wrapping each treat with tissue paper. This way the insides will not be easily visible.
( If you are doing multiple calendars at a time, read the next section on numbers before you close the bulbs.)
Either wrapped or not, insert the treats into the Christmas bulb. Once happy with the placement, apply a dab of glue on top of the 4 leaves and close the bulbs.
The Countdown calendar needs numbers
Each bulb in the countdown calendar needs a number. I have previously designed some numbers that can be used for this. You can sign up for my newsletter below and get access to it.
You should add the number to the bulb immediately after you put the candy inside. This is very handy when doing multiple calendars at once so that the bulbs do not get mixed up.
Making the Christmas Bulb Tree
Now, this part is a bit tricky to explain, so hopefully we can get this done.
The tree is going to consist of 5 layers. Each layer will have fewer bulbs than the layer below.
So, from top to bottom:
- Top row = 1 bulb
- Second from top = 3 bulbs
- Middle row = 5 bulbs
- Second from the bottom = 7 bulbs
- Bottom row = 8 bulbs
That gives a total of 24 bulbs. If you want to have 25 bulbs, I recommend you add the extra bulb on the bottom row.
When pulling bulbs aside for each layer, it is time to decide if you want your bulbs to be numbered in order or if you with them randomly placed around the tree.
I opted to have my bulbs start with number 1 on the top and work my way sequentially down the tree. I thought this would help keep the tree standing for the month.
Building the Tree Rings – Lower Levels
The bulbs on each layer will be glued together in a circle. Each layer is smaller than the one below.
I started with the bottom layer and worked my way up.
Using an old cereal box, I cut a 1.5″ wide strip. I arranged my bulbs in a circle to measure the inside circumference of the layer. There was no math, or tape measure involved, I simply used the cereal box, rolled it up a bit to fit in the space, and snipped it at the correct size. Leaving a bit for overlap.
I then removed the cardboard from the bulb circle and glued the cereal box cardboard into the circle of my desired size.
Following this, I glued the bulbs onto the ring. When doing this, it is important to make sure you are gluing the ring to about the mid-point of the bulbs. So the bulbs will be sitting on the table, and below layer, and not the ring.
I should point out, that you want to make sure that the numbers are facing outwards before you glue them on.
Building the Tree Rings – Upper Levels
When I got to the second from the top layer, I switched from using cereal box cardboard to using a paper towel roll instead. The space available between the three bulbs was too small to easily roll cardboard into a circle. I cut a 1.5″ section off the top of the paper towel roll, snipped it open, rolled it up a bit more and glued it shut into a smaller circle. Once I was happy with the shape, I glued on the 3 bulbs.
Attaching the Tree Rings Together – Lower Levels
We are getting close! This is the last major step to complete! So, it is time to attach the layers together.
We are going to start with the bottom layer and work our way up.
Place your bottom layer in the middle of your work area. Place the remaining paper towel roll in the center of the ring. With some leftover cardboard from your cereal box, cut 3 to 4 sections that will fit from the ring wall to the paper towel roll. These will be your braces to hold the tree up and together.
Glue each brace in. On the bottom layer, it is easy to apply glue to both sides of the cardboard and slide it in.
Once your first layer has the supports in place, place the second layer on top. Arrange it the way you want it to look on top of the bottom layer. Once happy with the location and appearance, again, measure the distance between the ring wall and the center paper towel roll. Cut 3-4 pieces of cardboard and glue them in. This becomes more tricky the higher you get in the tree.
Repeat this one more time for the middle layer.
Attaching the Tree Rings Together – Upper Levels
Once you get to the second from the top layer, you will no longer be able to place the layer over the paper towel roll as the center of this layer is smaller.
Mark the height of the top of the middle layer on the paper towel roll and cut it off. I used a piece of green cardstock and glued it on top of the paper towel roll to provide some support.
Cutting my paper towel roll length-wise, rolled it up so it would fit into the center of the second from the top layer, and pushed it through. I glued this to the green cardstock and glued it to the inside of the circle.
I then cut the surplus paper towel roll off the top and glued the final bulb on top.
And that’s it! Your Christmas Bulb Tree Countdown Calendar is Complete!
Things I learned while making the Christmas Bulb Tree Countdown Calendar
As always, let’s talk about some things that we learned while making this Christmas Bulb Tree Countdown Calendar:
- I’m not going to lie, this year I have been reusing the bulbs I designed the other year. But there is a method behind my madness. I really like the design, they cut quick and easily on my Cricut, they hold the treats nicely, and they are turning out to be very versatile. So I apologize for reusing the one component, but it is just really working for me this year. Sorry, but I’m going for easy this year.
- This countdown calendar is supposed to look like a Christmas tree. And it has the shape of a Christmas Tree, I could probably have used green cardstock, or varying shades of green, for the Christmas bulbs to make it look more like a tree. Oh well, maybe next year…
- The inner workings of the tree are a bit hokey…. I agree, but that was where my brain was going when I was designing and making this. I could have painted the cardboard green or used green cardstock to hide the inside better, but I didn’t. Instead of making individual rings for each level, I could have possibly made a large cone as the inner base of the tree and glued the bulbs onto that, but I was worried about what would happen after you pulled the first one or two bulbs off. Would the cone survive? So I think this was my best option, especially since these bulbs will be ripped off the body of the tree. But if you have any ideas or suggestions on how to make this better, let me know!
Did you enjoy making this Christmas Bulb Tree Countdown Calendar?
Did you enjoy making this Christmas Bulb Tree Countdown Calendar? Let me know in the comments below if you tried it! Also, if you made it, let me know how it turned out!
If you enjoyed this craft, be sure to check out my other Christmas crafts here.
Or, you can check out some of my other countdown calendars below:
