Halloween Advent Calendar

When I raised my daughters - Halloween was just

halloween to me. Every year I bought them candy and my

hubby gave out candy. 

For many years I walked around the

neighborhoods with them so they could trick or treat.

It gave me pleasure to see the happiness that were in their

little faces.

It doesnt seem that long ago that again I walked the

neighborhood trick or treating.  This time it was

with my grandchildren and my daughters.

Now my grandchildren only have about a couple of

years left and then they will no longer

trick or treat anymore. My - how time flies.

This year I have really gotten

into the Halloween spirit. Back in June I bought this

unfinished shadowbox. I knew what I was going

to do with it. Just didnt know how I was going to

do it. I had seen these shadowboxes made into

cross stitched shadowboxes. They were so cute.

I still might make one of those but not just yet.

This box is going to be my Halloween Advent Calendar.

First, I painted it black. Look at the awful paint mess.

Dont worry about that because the

mess will be hidden with cross-stitched

halloween moifs.

 My problem came after the paint dried.

How was I going to do this?

Finally after much debate in my

head I decided that I would have my calendar

standing straight up like this instead of turned

the other way as is in the above photo.

This way it would allow for me to

have 4 patterns that were taller than the other

squares in the box. I want to put cross-sitched

witches in these tall squares and other designs

in the other squares.

Also I debated about how I want to store the

candy for the month. Do I want little

handmade boxes or little linen bags?

As of yet I dont know.

I do know that if I use little boxes then I

can put 2 or more of them in each square.

The little boxes would be good if you

have 2 children because you could

cross stitch a number and their names on

each little box. This way including the

very top of the box you could then get

28 days.

However since my children

are grown then I do not have to think

about this matter.

If you have kids

your soluion would be to get a bigger

shadowbox to accomodate your

30 halloween days.

Soon I will start posting the patterns

that I have designed for my

halloween advent calendar shadowbox.

You are free to use my tiny patterns or

someone else's.

Adjust the patterns to fit your shadowbox.

Once halloween is gone put the cross-stitch

items away and display pincushions

on it until next halloween.

Have fun and get it done!

conny