Counting down the days to Christmas is pure magic, isn’t it? There’s just something about watching the days slip by, inching closer to cozy family dinners, gift exchanges, and that warm glow of the holidays. This year, I wanted to make a distressed wooden Christmas countdown that not only fits our home’s style but also becomes part of the fun tradition my family looks forward to every December. Spoiler alert: it turned out amazing!
Why a Countdown Tree?
If you’ve got kids—or even if you don’t—there’s always that excitement in the air when you start counting the days to Christmas. My kids (and yes, I’m guilty too) are constantly asking, “How many more days?” So instead of answering the same question 24 times, I thought, why not make something hands-on?
This year, I tried a countdown tree in a rustic style. I’ve made different versions before, but this time I really wanted that “charming and aged” look—like it was pulled from an old barn. And honestly, it was the perfect excuse to test a cool painting technique I’ve been dying to try.
What You’ll Need
Here’s everything I used for this project. Most of these things I already had lying around the house—yay for upcycling!
- Wood scraps: I used leftover stair risers, about 16 cm wide. Finally!
- A 45 cm plank: For holding everything together.
- Wax candle: A must for the distressed look.
- Green and yellow acrylic paint.
- Dark wood stain
- 1 large wood slice for the base (10 cm diameter). Yes, I did have it lying around.
- 24 small wood slices (3.5 cm diameter). This one I’ve got while walking with a dog.
- Small nails. I’ve used golden ones.
- Black marker
- Mitre saw (a handsaw would work too, but the mitre saw made life easier)
- Sandpaper
- Plastic numbers stencil set. This one is totally optional.
How The Countdown Calendar Was Made
I started by sketching out a simple Christmas tree shape on paper. Nothing fancy—just a few straight lines to make a symmetrical triangle. Once I liked the size, I traced it onto the wood scraps.
Next, my husband cut out three sections with a mitre saw. Tip: If you’re not confident with power tools, you now know what to do!.
Next, I connected the three pieces of wood to a wooden plank on the back using screws. To ensure the screws didn’t split the wood, I first drilled pilot holes with a countersink bit (this creates a neat recess for the screw heads).
Once the holes were ready, I secured the pieces to the rail with screws. Quick and easy!.
For the base, I used a thick branch to create a sturdy foundation. I measured and marked a slice about 10 cm in diameter and cut it using a mitre saw. Well, not me, but who cares...The thickness of the slice (about 4–5 cm) ensured the tree would stand firmly without tipping over.
Here’s where the fun begins. I grabbed a plain old candle and rubbed wax all over the wood in random patches. The idea is that the wax creates a resist, so when you paint over it, those areas won’t hold the paint. It’s such a cool, easy way to get that weathered, “chippy” look.
With the wax in place, I painted the entire tree with green acrylic paint.
Once it dried, I used sandpaper to lightly scrape off the paint where the wax had been applied. The more uneven, the better—it’s distressed, after all!.
To add even more depth, I brushed on a coat of dark wood stain. Pro tip: Be sparing with the stain, or it’ll become sticky for a long time.
For the numbers, I sliced up a branch into 24 little discs (about 3.5 cm each). If you don’t have branches lying around, most craft stores sell pre-cut wood slices. Quick tip: make even more slices, not all of them would survive drilling holes later.
Using a stencil, I wrote numbers 1 through 24 on them with a black marker.
I laid out the numbered discs on the tree in neat rows—two per section of wood—and marked where each one would go. Then, I drilled tiny pilot holes before hammering in small nails.
My nails wasn't short enough, so without drilling, the nails could’ve bent (learned that the hard way).
For added stability, I attached a small metal bracket to the back. This step really pulled the whole structure together!.
Here is how cool the final tree looks like!.
Here’s the twist that made my tree extra special: I painted the backs of the discs in alternating shades of yellow. Every day, when we remove a disc, we flip it over and hang it back up, creating the effect of little “lights” turning on as Christmas gets closer. By December 25th, the whole tree will be lit up!.
Why You Should Try This
Not only is this project fun, but it’s also a great way to recycle materials and bring some handmade charm into your home. Plus, it’s interactive—kids love it, and it’s a daily reminder to slow down and enjoy the holiday season. Make sure not to worry too much about accidentally wiping off too much paint or sanding too much. The imperfections make it even better. This isn’t about perfection; it’s about creating something meaningful.
So, grab some wood scraps and get started. Trust me, you’ll love how it turns out. Let’s make this Christmas the coziest one yet.