13 Days of Halloween: 13 {Countown Calendar}

Thanks to all who visited my little Halloween party here yesterday (see post below). Glad you enjoyed the festivities. Did you know there are only 13 more days until All Hallow's Eve!? I've always enjoyed the act of counting down. It builds excitement and new traditions can be built in. As a kid (and still today) I enjoy counting down the days to Christmas on our advent calendar. When I first saw the lovely countdown creation below by Matthew Mead for Halloween, I was delighted. The black and white theme, along with counting the last 13 days to Halloween was perfect (and oh so spooky)!So I decided to get my Halloween bits and pieces together and make my own creation. Using my old frame that I had spray painted black and stapled down chicken wire to the back I created 13 little "ornaments" to be taken off each day for the next 13 days. I had some tags and a matchbox ornament from folks on the Sweet and Sinister blog that I was thrilled to use. It's a fun way to get creative with some of the extra materials you may have laying around. Candice Stringham had a fun article in the October 2008 issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine (below) about making a countdown calendar. She also suggested tucking in a little slip or attaching it to the back of each tag something that you will do on that day, such as "go to the apple orchard", "carve a pumpkin"...you get the idea. Love how new fall traditions can be incorporated into this.



Here is another such calendar that is in Matthew Meads new Halloween book. I love the vintage memo board he used. Will have to keep my eyes peeled for one of those.

This gorgeous calendar I bought from Kris Hurst last year and proudly have it displayed in my kitchen. The numbers are attached with velcro, so it can also be used to countdown to the big day. The possibilities are endless!

Do you count down the days to Halloween? I'd love to hear about your fall traditions.