Free Christmas countdown SVG files

Why the window is empty

A countdown shows a different number every day, so a file with one number cut into it would be right once. These designs leave a blank window instead. The simplest way to fill it is a square of chalkboard vinyl behind the window and a stick of chalk beside it. For something neater, cut the number tiles: there are two of each numeral from 0 to 9, each with a hole at the top, to hang in the window on two small hooks. Counting to Christmas Day, 1 December shows 24, the 15th shows 10 and Christmas Eve shows 1.

Sizes for boards and tiles

The plaque is drawn 80 by 100 mm with a window 46 mm wide and 42 mm tall. Cut it 250 mm tall from 3 mm plywood and the window is 115 by 105 mm, which takes two tiles side by side when the tile sheet is cut about 250 mm wide. The letters cut through the plaque are bridged, so the middles of the D, A and R stay in place; in vinyl, weed the letters and leave the bridges. The loose lettering designs suit a painted board: lay the frame first and space the words under it with transfer tape.

How to open the files

• Cricut Design Space: choose Upload, pick the SVG, and add it to the canvas. Set the width you want; the shape is already welded.
• Silhouette Studio: Designer Edition and above open the SVG. The free Basic Edition does not, so open the DXF instead.
• LightBurn, xTool Creative Space and Glowforge: import the SVG, then set the layer to cut, score or engrave.
• Inkscape, Illustrator and Affinity: open the SVG. It is a plain filled path, so you can recolour it, add a stroke or combine it with your own work.
• Printing or sublimation: use the PNG, which has a transparent background.

Each design page lists the file’s narrowest part at seven sizes, so you can tell whether it will survive at the size you plan to cut.

Questions