Burlap Inspiration

So I've joined the ranks of all the other like-minded, frugal and crafty Pottery Barn loving Mama's the world over.

I think most of us get the Pottery Barn catalog in the mail. If you are like me, you save it, you look through it over and over again soaking up the inspiration. And occasionally, you see something you think you could take on - and take on for a much more reasonable price!

This Advent calendar caught my eye right away. Some girlfriends and I have recently started meeting for a craft night once a month. We decided our take on this Burlap Advent calendar would be our new project.

(Photo courtesy of Pottery Barn)

It was so fun to see all the different colors of burlap there are out there...I think every one of us girls showed up with a different color!

This project was so fun and simple. I made mine super large like the one PB is selling but it could easily be made much, much smaller!

The Pottery Barn calendar is 34" wide by 57" high. Mine is just a smidge bigger. I wasn't at all exact with my measurements.

Here is a shot of my finished Advent calendar.



This was really easy and fun to make. I found all my supplies at JoAnn's and it was pretty affordable especially if you freehand the numbers.

I chose to buy some small number stencils and then because I wanted some variety in my numbers I bought some larger wooden numbers that I used as stencils as well.

For the black numbers I used a paint pen. After I started "painting" I realized I probably would have gotten a similar result with a black sharpie...which I already owned.

I raided my fabric stash for some fun Christmasy colored fabrics, found some cute buttons at the store as well as some glittery felt. I wasn't sure how I felt about glittery felt as I was buying it but once I cut out the number I realized how much I loved the look!

I attached all of the fabric and felt numbers with a fusible web (Steam-A-Seam).

Once I had a few numbers done I started sewing on the pockets. I tried my hardest to make everything straight and shipshape but it turned out a little wonky anyway! I think it just gives it more of a homespun look!

I didn't worry about my pockets fraying. I sewed up three sides and figure the back stitch at the top of the pockets will keep the top from fraying too much.

Now to fill it up! I am waiting until the night before to stock it up because I know it will be too tempting for my little elves to wait once they spy treats in the pockets!

Some thoughts on filling the Advent calendar pockets:

Candy, candy, candy!
Little notes of promises....rent a fun family movie, go on a walk to the park, do a craft!
Matchbox cars
Small dolls
Bouncy balls
Dollar bills for their piggy banks
Small books

As you can see, the list is endless! I spotted some fun stuff in the dollar bins at Michaels lately as well and hear there are some great finds in the Target dollar bins too!

Do you do an Advent Calendar with your family?

What kinds of treats do you fill yours with?

Do tell! Please share your ideas!

"The world is not as just, not as loving, not as whole as we know it can and should be. But the coming of Christ and his presence among us—as one of us—give us reason to live in hope: that light will shatter the darkness, that we can be liberated from our fears and prejudices, that we are never alone or abandoned."

Life Is an Advent Season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CONNECTIONS, 11-28-93