Amazing friends, you know I love this day…it’s Trash-to-Treasure Tuesday woohoo!!! My friends and I get together the second Tuesday of every month to share items we rescued and reloved! Look for links to their makeovers at the bottom! Today I’m sharing a DIY Christmas Countdown using this cabinet doors that came from above our stove before adding the DIY custom built range hood cover:
Last week I shared our Christmas kitchen that included this really cute countdown truck that I picked up at Hobby Lobby:
Well the day I bought it, there were still 54 days until Christmas to go. However when I tried to set the blocks to say “54”, the four and five were on the same block and neither was on the other block, so I couldn’t use it yet. It turns out that you can really only count down from about 32 using the blocks the way they are set up. Bummer!
So when I was deciding what to do with this cabinet door, I knew I wanted to make some sort of countdown to Christmas so we could start as early as we like!
Here is what I came up with:
First of all, we only have FOURTEEN days till Christmas. I was trying to be smart and set it so it would be right when this post went live, but alas, I am no mathematician. Clearly. But 14 days?? Wha???
I was lying in bed when I thought up the idea for this in my head. That happens a lot!
I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I use.
Pretty cute, no?
DIY Christmas Countdown
I started by painting the door. It took three coats…
Then I used my favorite painter’s tape, FrogTape for delicate Surfaces, to add diagonal stripes to the outer frame. (See how I measure out my stripes perfectly HERE.)
Then I painted them in with craft paint in Black Cherry:
This also took three coats and I probably could have given it one more.
I pulled the tape off while the paint was still wet:
Love those nice crisp lines the FrogTape gives! And the red and white are really festive!
Then I created this graphic in Photoshop Elements and uploaded it to my Silhouette Cameo machine. (I have this one HERE.)
I printed the graphic on contact paper to create a “stencil”. I use contact paper because it is easy to come by and cheap, but I usually have to end up adding all the tiny center pieces of the letters by hand, which can be tedious. I’ve used this transfer paper and it makes it much easier.
I applied the graphic to the door and painted it in with Delta Black acrylic craft paint using a small brush:
I gave it two coats and then removed it while it was still wet. I waited to remove all the little pieces left behind, using this tool, until it was dry.
If you don’t have a silhouette, you can transfer this the old school way using the method I share HERE.
Here is a free PDF download if you want to use it. I included one facing forward:
And one in the reverse as you will need it in the reverse if you use the old school transfer method:
Once the paint was dry, I sanded lightly all over and sealed with Annie Sloan’s Clear Soft Wax.
I cut a small square of hardboard and sprayed it with Rust-Oleum’s chalkboard spray paint to turn it into a chalkboard. I attached it with Gorilla glue…
Then I found this little set of skis that made a cute addition to the bottom corner:
I attached them using Gorilla glue as well.
And here it is hanging in our kitchen!
I hope you enjoyed this whimsical Christmas project today!
There are three more fun makeovers for you to visit below:
This was my Trash-Treasure project last December:
See what I did with these skis HERE!
You can visit all of my Trash-to-Treasure Tuesday makeovers in one place HERE!
I’ll be back on Thursday sharing what I made with these grocery store flowers:
UPDATE: No need to come back! Check out what I used this pretty bouquet for HERE now!
XOXO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
If you like what you see, there are several ways to follow along!
ColleenB.~ Tx. says
Oh, how cute. Love your cabinet door makeover; looks like a frame within a frame and what a cute little saying.
The miniature set of skis really is a nice addition to your sign.
I have been wanting a reason to go to Habitat for Humanity and now I have a reason to go. :+}
Thank You for the free PDF download.
Wishing you and your family a Very Merry Christmas
Christy says
Thanks, Colleen!! Oh yes run to your local Habitat for Humanity ha ha…I have good luck there! Merry Christmas! XOXO
Larissa ~ Prodigal Pieces says
So fun and easy to do. I love it, Christy!
Christy says
Thank you, Larissa! This was fun to do! XOXO
Vicki says
This is so cute Christie! Merry Christmas
Christy says
Thank you, Vicki! Merry Christmas! XOXO
Christina in SW FL says
Super cute Christy! Love the red…. and I feel the same way about Christmas being right around the corner. Zoom! 🙂
Enjoy the rest of your week to the hilt!
Christy says
Thanks, Christina! Yes where on earth did this holiday season go in such a hurry?! Enjoy your week too! XOXO
Paula says
This is adorable, Christy! I have a stack of cabinet sample doors in my basement and this would be a perfect use for one of them.
Christy says
Thank you, Paula! I’ve been hanging onto two of these since my kitchen redo…glad to find a use for one of them! XOXO
Robin says
Love this, but it should be ’til with one “L” — an abbreviation of until.
Christy says
Thanks, Robin, and wow you scared me for a minute there…but “till” is actually correct: https://writingexplained.org/til-or-till-difference 🙂
Verletta Brown says
I thought you had misspelled it as well. Thanks for clarifying the proper spelling. P.S. You inspire me
Christy says
Thank you so much, Verletta! I was worried for a minute there…but it does seem like it should be “til”, shortened from until. XOXO
Ange Mills says
Pretty cute, yes!!
❤️❤️❤️
Christy says
Thank you, Ange! It was fun to make! XOXO
Janice Holt says
Love this. Another great make-over. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Christy says
Thank you, Janice! Merry Christmas! XOXO
Addie says
Good use of trash!!!! Cheery and cute.
I can see where “Robin” above me in the comments gets the “til” verses “till”. I used “till”
in school (many years ago) and an English teacher …ripped me a new one. Her comment in class was, “a “till” is a money keeper!!!” You are to use “til”!!!! So, I did for a while. Till someone pointed out that to me!!! I will have to check out your link there.
Until you post again…..have a good one!!!
Addie
Christy says
Thank you, Addie!! I know you love when I fix up trash ha ha! It would make sense that it should be “til”, shortened from “until” for sure. Sad that your teacher gave you such a hard time! XOXO
Robyn Wright says
I just want to craft ALL DAY LONG! But, my bills require me to work. 🙁
Are you specific on the type of cabinet door you use for decor?
Christy says
ME TOO!! ha ha! Nope…any old door will do! XOXO
Mary Kaiser says
Wow that is so adorable!! I love how that turned out, super cute. I appreciate the free printable so I can make one, I already have a old cabinet door that size. Thanks for the great inspiration and how to!!
Christy says
Thank you, Mary!! I hope you make one! Have fun! XOXO
Kim says
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this!!!!! But shoot!!! 15 days?!?!
Christy says
Thank you, Kim!! Yes and I was off by a day so yesterday it was only 14 days left and today…13 days!! Sure going by in a hurry! XOXO
Jen @ Girl in the Garage says
This is super cute and festive Christy, I love it!
Christy says
Thanks, Jen!! This was a fun project to work on! XOXO
Becky says
What a cute makeover for a cabinet door! It looks like a classy frame and mat combo. I actually had to go back and check when I remembered this was a DOOR in its first life, haha! Such a great design!
I think I have everything BUT a chalkboard advent/countdown calendar. I made 3 for my booth, and they all sold! No leftovers for me! ???? Maybe that’s because I needed a striped one…
Christy says
Thanks, Becky! I does look like separate pieces at first glance. Glad you are having a good selling season…now go make yourself one! XOXO
Julie Briones says
Just adorable, Christy! You never cease to amaze me! 😉 Merry Christmas!
Christy says
Aww thanks, Julie!! Hope you are enjoying the season! XOXO
Debra A Wise says
So cute. Love the saying and the sign. Great job Christy! Thanks for the inspiration.
Christy says
Thank you, Debra! So glad you like it! XOXO
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says
This is just adorable Christy!! I love the saying too!!???? xoxo
Christy says
Thank you, my beautiful friend! I thought this was kinda fun! XOXO
gwen says
this is so dang cute!
I’ve never had much luck with erasable chalkboard paint – does the Rustoleum brand actually erase?
Christy says
Thanks, Gwen! Do you season your chalkboard first by covering the entire surface with chalk a couple of times and erasing? That should make it easier to erase messages. I love this brand! XO
Lisa Locy says
Christy,
About what size is the red countdown to Christmas truck? I was looking on Amazon and there are various sizes. Thank you!
I look forward to your weekly emails!
Lisa
Christy says
Hi Lisa! Thank you! My truck is about 6 3/4″ long by 3 1/4″ tall without the tree. XO
Lisa Locy says
Thank you for your reply! Merry Christmas!!
Christy says
You’re welcome!! 🙂
Cecilia from Georgia says
Hi Christy! I’m catching up on my favorite blogs and love the idea of the door. I started making an advent tree but didn’t finish by Dec 1 so gave up. That happens a lot ???? Just get so busy! But the door is great and like you said—-it can start any time. I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas ????.
Christy says
Hi Cecilia! Thank you! I used to do an advent for my boys but haven’t in a couple of years. This countdown thing is much easier! Merry Christmas to you and yours! XOXO
Char Fisher says
WOW…..Love every one of your projects! From the small treasures to the large furniture projects. You have such a special talent and can see what some simple item that most of us would pass by and you can see what can be done with it. Enjoy your transformations so much! Thank you for sharing all your hard work! BTW….where do you find the time? LOL
Christy says
Thank you SO much, Char! I am thrilled that you enjoy my makeovers! It is truly a pleasure to share…and ha ha…if only there were more hours in the day! XOXO
Cheryl Atkinson says
Oh My Gosh. Christy, i am going home and making this tonight!! I love it.
Christy says
Yay!! I hope you do! This is one of my favorites!! XO 😊