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Is love too strong of a word to use about a craft book? If you think so, I am sorry, but I love this craft book... Mainly because I love countdown calendars! I don't think I am the only one though, considering more than 20 artists and craft designers worked on projects for this book.

One of my most favorite things to do once the holidays get close is to dig out our advent calendar. We started this tradition when my kids were very young and I still do it now that they are all grown up and moved out.

Now I get the fun of continuing this tradition with my grandkids! We have worn out a few advent calendars during the years, so I wish I would have found a book like this many years ago.

Of course, this book gives you plenty of options for making fun calendars to help you count down the days until the holidays. You can make more traditional advent calendars such as the one titled Candy Cane Lane which is made with the pockets on point using whimsical Christmas fabric or a more Sophisticated Christmas countdown calendar using crisp linen and textured fabric. You can also make more unique ways to count down the days until Christmas such as adorable Santa's Slippers, a Yo-Yo Advent Tree, or Santa Pennie Pockets. There is also a fun project you can make for the 8 days of Hanukkah.

When it comes to making countdown calendars, many people only think about Christmas; however, this book will make you want to make one for just about any other occasion you can think of. There is a fun orange, black, and white 31 day Halloween patchwork calendar; an amazing heart-shaped 7 day Valentine's Day calendar; and a cool denim flip calendar to count down to Father's Day, which you could easily modify for Mother's Day too.

Beyond holidays, this book offers a couple of different options for counting down to birthdays and so many more calendars, such as:

• I really love the military homecoming calendar that a family can use to countdown the days until a loved one returns home.
• There is a countdown calendar for a wedding which I think would make an excellent gift to give to a bride-to-be.
• If you are planning a vacation and have a child or two driving you crazy wondering when you are going to leave, make them a colorful vacation countdown calendar!
• Have a kid who doesn't like chores, or even a husband? Perhaps the chore challenge chart will help.
• Looking for something that doesn't look like a calendar? Learn how you can make a string or garland of ribbon and fabric scraps you can use to hold numbered bags of goodies for any occasion.

Have you heard enough? Can you tell I love this calendar book? If you like calendars, counting down, and sewing, you will love this book too! Now, please excuse me while I try to decide which one of these 24 calendar projects I want to make first!

I almost forgot... Many of the contributing artists and craft designers have their own web sites that you can explore! I had a lot of fun checking them all out and even browsing through their offerings of free tutorials. Along with several of the calendars I want to make, I am going to find time to make these adorable owl egg cozies using this tutorial from Amy Adams, this Dragon Slayer Satchel from Monica Solorio-Snow, and some Yo-Yo Dolls from Wendy "Sunshine" Harbaugh.



Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.