12 CW: Moose Head Wreath Advent Calendar {with a Giveaway}

My name is Kasia and I blog over at Designs by Kasia.  I would like to thank Kim for inviting me to be a part of the Creativity week. I hope that you enjoy the project that I prepared for you.

The time of Advent is probably the nicest time of the year. Each day there is something small hidden inthe calender. Last year as my daughter Tina was 2, she was very impressed with her first advent calender. The very first thing that she said each morning, was if she may open a bag. Until today she talks about it. Oh, it is so nice to be a child...

You will need:

-wreath 30 cm (11.8 in)

-some cotton fabric for the moose

-some red micro- fleece for the antlers

-some ribbon for the neck tunnel and for hanging up the wreath

-optional some scrapbooking chalk to blush the cheeks

-a piece of red felt for the nose

-sewing utensils

-24 felt numbers (1-24)

-24 small gift string bags or fabric and notions to make them – I bought mine, but there are many tutorials on the net to make some yourself

-fabric paint and fabric scraps for decorating the bags

-black fabric pen for tracing and outlining the images

-optional some Christmas-y stencils

-some Wonder Under if you are appliqueing some of the bags

-24 jeweled brads to attach the felt numbers

-2 wiggly eyes

Making the gift bags 

As I said, I bought mine, because the painting and decorating is already a lot of work. I did it over 2 to 3 weeks time. I gathered x-masy images from catalogs and googled some. I cannot give you the images as some of them are copyrighted.

1. Put a piece of cardboard or stiff foil into the bag and trace the image onto it. I have a light table, but a window will work. If you are doing it on a window tape it with some
painter's tape to hold it in place.

2. After tracing the image, paint it with fabric paints. When dry, follow the manufacturer's instructions for setting or puffing up the paint. Take a look at these posts (Post 1, Post 2, Post 3) for some instructions on working with fabric paint.

3. Attach the felt number with a brad.

Making the moose

I was inspired by the Tilda moose in a wreath, but the pattern is a modified pattern of Nikitta, the hoby horse. This brings me also to the idea, that if you like, you could
make the moose a bit bigger and prepare it to be a hobby-moose. This way the moose becomes to be the 24^th present. If you would like to do this, follow the instructions on inserting the dowel from the hobby horse tutorial. You should also probably make the moose bigger.

1. Enlarge the pattern (pattern 1, pattern 2) to the desired size. My wreath was 30 cm and the pattern that I am providing is for that size. Print and trace the pattern.

Cut the two head pieces on fold as marked and sew on the lines indicated. Before you sew the bottom part, iron the under edges to form a hem and sew.

2. Sew a tunnel on the bottom of the neck piece as marked. I used 26 cm (10.24 in) of a wide grosgrain ribbon

3. Make the ears. Place your 2 fabrics facing each other. I sew then I cut. Turn over and iron to set theseams.

4. Pin the top and bottom pieces. Do not forget the ears! I folded the ears into the middle- see picture. Sew and turn.

5. Stuff the moose firmly and close the bottom with a ribbon that you have inserted into the tunnel.

6. Sew the antlers. Turn over and stuff firmly. Sew onto the head by hand. When sewing, try to grab as much stuffing as possible. This will make the antlers stand up. You can
also put some wire through the head and into the antlers if you like.

7. Sew the nose on by hand. On the sides fold the felt a bit, making a tuck- this will later look like the nostrils.

8. Glue or sew the eyes on and if you like blush the cheeks.

9. Attach the moose onto the wreath. I sewed it on with a couple of stitches, but you can hot glue it if you do not intend to make a hobby moose out of it. Tie some ribbon for
hanging.

10. Stuff your goodie bags and hang them on the antlers and wreath.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

In connection with the Creativity  Week at 733, I will be making one of those cool PET rings for one of you! You get to choose color and size of course!

 

NOTE FROM KIM: 

Kasia sent me one of these recycled soda bottle rings and they are super cool!  Great gift for a stylish teen in your life, or even just for yourself!  My daughter stole mine and wears it on a pretty regular basis and we get so many compliments on it.  I love the fact that it is turning trash into some beautiful.

To enter to win:

Leave a comment telling me what color ring you would like.

For extra entries (leave a separate comment for each):

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