For this simple project you can use PICAXE-08 .. see pictures below for more details ..
pin1 = OUT1
pin0 = OUT0
All what you need to do is to ad two buttons to, say, IN1 and IN2 pins and modify software in such a way that it counts up if you press the button connected to IN1 and down if you press the button connected to IN2 ..
How it works:
The actual count occurs inside the microcontroller, so each time you press a button the internal counter (one of "b" registers") increases/decreases its value, and the microcontroller sends out "N" pulses, but because these pulse are sent out very fast (mili-seconds) what you will see on the display is the number which is equal to the stage of the counter (b register) ..
If you would like to learn more on PICAXE, including free software, examples, et. etc. goto: h**p://www.rev-ed.co.uk/picaxe/
Regards,
IanP