How to Create a Felt Nativity Countdown Calendar
Countdown calendars are a beautiful and festive way to celebrate the holiday season. Use your countdown calendar to teach children the Christmas story. Place individual surprises in each pocket of the calendar leading up to Christmas day. As each character in the story is added to the nativity scene, you and your family will look forward to the arrival of December 25. Make your countdown calendar a part of your family's holiday traditions.
Things You'll Need
- Sticky-backed felt in assorted colors
- Sewing machine
- Fabric markers
- Dowel
Instructions
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1
Cut a piece of heavy felt 16 inches wide by 30 inches long. This will be the base of the calendar. Cut three strips of felt 2 inches wide and 6 inches long to create the hanging loops. Fold in half and stitch them to one 16-inch side of the large piece, placing one near each end and one in the center. These will be used to hang the calendar.
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2
Cut five strips of coordinating colored felt 12 1/2 inches long and 2 1/2 inches wide.
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3
Position the five strips on the large piece of felt, placing the first strip 2 inches from the bottom edge and allowing 1 inch between each. Pin in place and stitch the two short ends and long bottom edge to the base felt to create long pockets.
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4
Stitch each long pocket at 2 1/2 inch intervals to create five pockets, each 2 1/2 inches wide. This creates the pockets for each day. Use fabric markers to write the numbers from 1 through 25 on the pockets.
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5
Print the pattern for the nativity characters and creche from the Internet. The pattern includes Mary, Joseph, the three kings, the baby Jesus and the creche. Use the pattern of Mary to make angels by adding wings, and the pattern for Joseph to make shepherds by adding a shepherd's staff to each.
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6
Decide which colors you want to use to create the individual people. Pin the patterns onto the sticky-back felt and cut out. Do not remove the backing. Use fabric markers to draw facial features.
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7
Draw the shape of a simple barn with slanted roof and two side walls and cut out of brown felt. Draw a large star on white felt and cut. Stitch the pieces onto the top portion of the calendar, above the pockets. Place the star at the top of the barn and leave room to arrange the nativity characters around it.
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8
Place the nativity characters into individual pockets throughout the 25 days. Leave the backing attached. Add additional items for each day of the countdown according to your personal preference.
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9
Remove the daily items along with the characters, remove the backing, and attach the items and characters to create the nativity scene.
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10
Thread a dowel through the loops and hang.
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Tips & Warnings
Sticky-back felt sheets are available in assorted colors at craft stores and on the Internet. They are removable and reusable, and leave no marks on the surface to which they are applied, so your calendar can be used for many years.
Cut out additional angels, if desired, using the pattern for Mary, and add wings. Add additional small stars to the sky on the calendar, as well.
Cut out additional animals, such as a donkey, sheep and camel from sticky-back felt and place in some of the daily pockets.
