Make waiting for Santa even more "sweet" with a handmade Candy Cane Christmas Countdown!
For some kids (like mine), waiting for Santa to arrive can be excruciating! We've always had a variety of advent calendars and countdowns on display for the entire month of December to make the waiting a little more bearable. This Candy Cane Christmas Countdown is a lot of fun and SO easy to make using the xTool S1 laser cutting machine. It takes minutes to assemble, and will definitely be a hit with the kids this holiday season!
New to laser cutting? Be sure to check out how to get started with the xTool S1 Laser Machine!
The crafting possibilities are endless when it comes to using the xTool S1 laser cutting machine, and it's actually very easy to use! Once you have one of these, the hardest thing you'll have to do is decide what to make with it. If you want to learn more about how this incredible machine works, be sure to check out my complete xTool S1 review.
To make your own Candy Cane Christmas Countdown, you will need these supplies:
- xTool M1 or xTool S1 laser cutting machine
- Candy Cane Christmas Countdown Design (personal use only)
- 3mm Basswood
- Acrylic Paint Markers - black, red, green
- Stain or Chalk Paint Wax
- Strong Adhesive
- Clamps (optional)
- Clear Sealant
*Save extra 15% off on xTool selected materials: AFFMTRS15
Printables and cut files from Artsy-Fartsy Mama are for personal use only. You may use these in an personal and/or educational setting, but you may not sell them. If you'd like to share this design digitally, share a link to this post/website only. Do not share a direct link to the download.
Upload the Christmas Countdown design into xTool Creative Space. When you upload an SVG design, you need to make sure each part of the design is set for cutting, scoring, and/or engraving. For this project, everything in black needs to be set to engrave, green needs to be scored, and the red needs to be cut. In the right menu bar, change the material setting to 3mm Basswood.
*Tip: when cutting a larger project like this, fill in open spaces with smaller designs, like earrings!
Place a piece of 3mm basswood into the xTool S1 machine. Manually pull the laser box with your hand so that the red "+" is located on the material - it doesn't have to be centered. In XCS, you will see "Distance (mm)" in the right menu bar. Click on the target icon to the right of that space, and the machine will automatically measure your material.
*For more details on how to complete this step, be sure to check out my review of the xTool S1 Laser Machine!
Make sure that the design elements are within the marked bounding box in XCS, and then click the green "Process" button in the bottom right corner to proceed to cutting the project.
After removing the wood pieces from the machine, I would highly recommend cleaning the soot away from around the edges of the wood using a Magic Eraser or baby wipes to prevent making marks all over your hands and workspace.
Next, it's time to paint the countdown! I love seeing the wood grain, so I use either stain or antique chalk paint wax. If you're using the wax, paint a thick coat over the surface of the back piece and then use a paper towel to wipe the excess away. Cover the opposite side the same way. If you want it to be darker, you can apply multiple coats. Just make sure to let each coat dry completely before adding another.
Next, use acrylic paint markers (or a small brush and acrylic paint) to cover the "Christmas" and "countdown to" letters, and the Santa/reindeer silhouette piece in the colors of your choice. Some paint colors may need more coats than others, so just make sure to allow each coat to dry completely before adding another.
Apply strong adhesive on the back side of the letters, words, and the silhouette pieces and align them with the scored lines on the base piece. Clamp pieces in place, if necessary until the adhesive is set to keep them from shifting.
Once the adhesive has fully set, I would recommend covering the wood with a coat of clear sealant. This will protect the paint and keep this piece looking good as new for years to come.
Once the adhesive has set, cut a length of ribbon or twine to attach to the countdown. Pull one end through the front of one of the holes in the side of the wood, and tie a thick knot. Bring the other end up through the other hole and tie another knot the same way.
Most importantly - don't forget to hook candy canes through the numbered holes in the countdown! Once filled, hang the Candy Cane Christmas Countdown up, and enjoy a candy cane every day until Santa arrives!!
Now that this countdown is complete, my daughter can't wait for December 1st so that she can finally start eating the candy canes! It's such a "sweet" and simple project to make with the xTool, and I'm looking forward to making a bunch of these Candy Cane Christmas Countdowns for my nieces and nephews! As always, I would love to see what you're making! Share your creations on Instagram, Facebook, or leave a comment/photo on the project pin on Pinterest! #AFMCrafts
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