The Cutest Chocolate Christmas Countdown Ever

Today I made a simple Christmas advent calendar from Hershey Nuggets and address labels, and I'm quite convinced that it's the cutest thing EVER!  See if you don't agree.

Right?

2025 UPDATE:  The website used for these darling labels in 2018 when this post was originally published is no longer available.  I have since discovered a way to create something similar using my favorite scrapbooking software, Artisan by FOREVER, which I was introduced to in 2021.  So, I'll share photos of my original project along with the update.  And now there are now two ways for you to make this project!  

 

This style from 2018 is no longer available, but
now you can grab my new design in a free printable OR
my free label template to design your own!

This is an adorable Christmas countdown that has the extra perks of being easy to make and being, you know, chocolate.  

SUPPLIES FOR MAKING THE CUTEST CHOCOLATE CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN EVER

To make The Cutest Chocolate Christmas Countdown Ever, you'll need:

• 27 Hershey Nuggets in the flavor of your choosing.  The 10.1-oz. Share bag will do it.  (You can see I used plain chocolate in silver wrappers in my first design, and that's because the kids liked plain.  In my updated version, we've grown up to the almond variety, and I really like the gold wrappers!)
• 1 piece of cardboard about 8.5x11.  The size can vary, but it shouldn't be smaller than 7" wide and 10" tall.
• wrapping paper to cover the cardboard
• the file of pre-designed sticker labels, either my free printable download or labels of your own design (details in the next section below)
• a sheet of 8.5x11 sticker paper, such as this 
• double-sided tape

Here's my updated design!  As I mentioned, you can now just download and print it.  (Or, with Artisan, you can design your own--I've got a blank template I can share.  But that's optional so I'll wait to tell you about it until the end.)

Email me at photoandstorytreasures@gmail.com to request this free PNG
file for Christmas Countdown Hershey Nugget Sticker Wraps to print!
Of course, I won't keep or share your email address.  If you click and save 
 from here, the print quality won't be as good as if I email you the original file.

First, I'll show you the easy steps to making this darling chocolate countdown, and then touch on what you need to know if you'd rather just start with my (free) template and design your own sticker labels instead.

PUTTING TOGETHER THE CHOCOLATE CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN

STEP 1:  Wrap your cardboard piece in wrapping paper.  A more neutral paper makes the labels really stand out, but go with what you love.  This is obviously the back of the cardboard piece of my original 2018 design.

STEP 2:  Print the labels on sticker paper, as mentioned above.

STEP 3:  Cut out the labels.  (There are black lines outlining each sticker wrap/label, though they do blend into the green pretty well!)

STEP 4:  Peel the back off the sticker labels and wrap them around the Nuggets.

Note that you'll wrap the sticker labels around the Hershey Nuggets with numbers 1-5 WIDTH-WISE.  You can see why in the photo of the finished product above.  And you'll see numbers 6-25 will wrap around LENGTH-WISE.  Basically, the red bow and the numbers show upright, and the wraps only fit one way, so it would be hard to mess it up.

The star will wrap around width-wise, too, and it will go at the top.  The trunk with the presents around it will wrap around length-wise and go at the bottom.

STEP 5:  Next, line up the Nuggets as you see shown.  Don't adhere them to the paper yet!  This allows you to center and adjust them as needed. 

STEP 6:  When you're happy with the layout, use double-sided tape to adhere the wrapped chocolates to the wrapping paper-covered board.

That's it!!  This whole project takes me about 15-20 minutes.  And kids love it!  ...And grown-ups, too.

 

NOTE:  I am a Forever affiliate called an Ambassador (a decision I made because I love it so much), so you will find affiliate links in this post. I earn a commission from anything purchased at my website, and being your Ambassador means I'm here to help you with questions, too.  The design I'm sharing via email is a freebie, though!  

OR, DESIGN PERSONALIZED LABELS

If you'd like to change up or personalize these labels, you can design your own using Artisan by FOREVER!  I can send you my free basic label template so you can create something on your own.  Just email photoandstorytreasures@gmail.com to ask for the label template files.    

You'll open the Artisan file I send and personalize as you like using whatever fonts and digital art you already have (or want to explore at FOREVER). You will need to:

• 1. Download the folder I email you.
  2. Cut and paste the folder into your Artisan Projects Folder.
  3. Extract the files.
  4. Open Artisan.  In Artisan, click "Open Project" and select the .a6proj file from the folder.
  5. Add/replace digital art, fonts, etc.   

From there, you can print from home on full-sheet sticker paper.  

Follow the directions shown here on how to design labels yourself.  This tutorial shows you the basics of crafting using Artisan, and...

...this one shows you how to save your project as a PNG file for printing at home so that you can print these labels on your sticker paper.

TWO PIECES OF ADVICE

1. You may have noticed that there are 25 chocolates to eat as you count down to Christmas plus 2 extras (the star and the tree trunk with the presents) that aren't technically a part of the countdown.  Those are for Mom to eat.  Just sayin'.  
2. Do your friends a favor and share this post on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email, etc. using the social media share buttons at the left.  Then Pin this big ol' image to Pinterest so you can find it again next year!  Because this is the cutest chocolate Christmas countdown EVER!

Because it's a great gift idea and a fun way to wrap up Thanksgiving weekend, too.  :)

Save and share by Pinning this image to Pinterest or sharing to Facebook,
Twitter, LinkedIn, etc., using the social media share buttons at the left.

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