I recently was a winner in an Instagram Contest and won this fabulous prize package from Iron Orchid Designs (IOD).
I couldn’t wait to use something so I started thinking of ideas. I watched some of the videos IOD has on their site and noticed they had stamped some small muslin bags (at least I think it was their video. Who knows for sure. I watch a lot of videos. Lol)
I went to Amazon and ordered these:
Natural Muslin Drawstring Bags 3″ x 4″ | Small Ivory, Light Tan Muslin Bags for Party Favors, Baked Treats & Gifts | Safe, Non-Toxic, 100% Cotton Woven Bags w/ Drawstring Closure (Pack of 100) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LA4XOTI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ybz9Bb8G9S1VB
I then searched Pinterest on ways I could stamp them.
I saw an idea for using them on an Advent Calendar and stamping them with the numbers 1-25.
Then, I saw an idea for an Advent Calendar that focused on children giving rather than receiving and knew that’s what I wanted to do! In today’s world, we need to stress kindness more than we ever have before!
This site even had a printable for 25 acts of kindness. I printed those and cut them apart so that part was finished in no time! Thanks for sharing this!
Then, I needed a way to display….the calendar type of Advent calendars and signs are seen all over the place. I wanted something different so I went to my jewelry box cache (yes, I hoard jewelry boxes to paint) and found the perfect box. It had a funky lid that just sat on top a box, with glitter and raised lettering featuring a newly engaged couple and knew I would never use that lid so discarded it and now I had a 11″ wide box that would work perfectly. Who knows? I may find a use for that lid someday. Lol I painted the box the trendy “graige” color with different layers of beige and gray and stenciled it. My box was now ready to hold 25 muslin bags with acts of kindness slips along with a little fiberfill to give them some definition.
I then used Missouri Limestone Paint Company chalk-style paint (we sell and paint with it) and stamped 1-24 with it, using the cool brayer that came with my prize to coat the numbers and the color “Cupboard Green”. I stamped 25 with the color “Bordeaux”. These two colors, along with the vintage type numbers of my IOD stamps, gave my bags a nostalgic feel.
I stuffed the bags with a little fiberfill, then added the folded up the slips and my Advent Calendar was complete.
Don’t you think it would look great with the French Country or Farmhouse style? Or with any holiday decoration? And…..what a beautiful way to reinforce how important kindness is to our children.
SharSum Paint 