last minute advent calendar

I always have big holiday plans, but then... life gets in the way, and I end up starting my advent calendar project with only a few days to spare... what makes me feel better is knowing that I'm not alone ;)

It took me all of 45 minutes to stencil the numbers onto 25 muslin bags, and maybe another 20 minutes to dry-brush red paint on a set of clothespins.  Not too shabby, I think, for something that my family will keep for years to come.  I plan on stringing them up onto a little clothesline in our kitchen, and filling them with little chocolates and dollar-store-toys for the kids...and the husband...

If you are not familiar with the technique of using freezer paper to stencil onto fabric, it's very simple:

- die cut, fussy cut, or silhouette cut (yes, there is a way to cut freezer paper in the silhouette - but that's for another time!) your desired shape or image, glossy side down.  (I used Papertrey Ink's block alphabet number dies.)

- set the glossy side of the freezer paper to your fabric and, with a hot iron, adhere it to the fabric.

- with some fabric paint and a sponge brush, layer in your color.

- when the paint is dry, peel off the freezer paper and voilà! a perfectly painted image.  

- the next day, I recommend ironing your project again, just to seal everything in.

I used regular acrylic paint for the clothespins, and since my Christmas decor is headed into a more woodsy, and rustic direction this year, I decided that one dry-brushed coat was plenty.  They almost look more dyed than painted, and I love that.



What does your advent calendar look like?  What do you fill it with?  Truth be told, we keep 2 of them in our home.  One for daily holiday activities and Bible readings, and the one the kids run to every morning... the candy one.... hee hee.

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