A Non-Traditional Advent Banner

It’s another banner!

Yes, I have been on banner overdrive lately.  But come ON… how can you not love this fun bag/envelope banner?  I used Pink Paislee’s awesome winter release, Snow Day, so I could use this countdown banner for Christmas, winter birthdays, and even Valentine’s Day. 

This year I will be using it as a non-traditional advent calendar leading up to Christmas.  My husband will get the even numbers and the little guy will get the odd numbers.  I plan on filling each little envelope and bag with things like scratch tickets, candy, and knick knacks (for the husband) and stickers, animal crackers, and toy cars (for the boy).  These bags have a pretty good amount of room so I can even get small books, socks (ooooh!), and a few larger things in there!

I made all the bags and envelopes myself out of muslin and burlap.  There are six different styles.  I left most of the raw edges unfinished because I liked the rustic look and because, well, I didn’t want to send myself to the funny farm by trying to make burlap look perfect!

I used my hot glue gun to attach all the paper to the fabric because I wanted it to be durable and burlap is tough, adhesive wise. 

The brad closure envelopes are hung on the ribbon and closed with twine.

There are two mini “paper” bags that I sewed to actually have gussets like lunch sacks!  They are folded over at the top and I used clothespins to fasten them to the ribbon. 

On the right I folded the top of the pouch over and used three brads right through the burlap to fasten it over the ribbon.

The hanging bags are slightly gusseted but wide and left open at the top.  I hung them from wide ribbon “handles”.

The hanging sacks have round bottoms and gathered tops and are tied on with the ribbon in the gathered casing. 

Lastly, the pointed envelopes are simply looped over the top of the ribbon and clothespinned. 

I love this banner. 

You know what else I love??  Paper Issues.  If you want to check out more amazing Snow Day inspiration, link up your own snow themed projects (by the 12th), and even throw your name in to win some fab Snow Day goodness head on over to Paper Issues ASAP!

Till next time!