Keep track of the run-up to Christmas with this clever baking sheet-turned Advent calendar.

SUPPLIES

• palette or plastic plate
• paper towels
• stylus or pencil
• transfer paper
• rubbing alcohol
• painter's tape
• #3 round brush
• tape
• 1" flat brush
• decorative paper
• black fine point marker
• ribbon
• assorted scrapbook paper
• Silhouette electronic cutting machine
• baking sheet
• E6000 Glue
• magnet
• paper trimmer
• stipple brush
• wooden disk

INSTRUCTIONS

NOTES:

Let dry completely between painting steps.

Test the baking sheet with a magnet to be sure it is magnetic.

1. Thoroughly clean the baking sheet and rub with rubbing alcohol to remove any oils.
2. Using a 1" flat brush, apply two coats of Red Barn.
3. Dry-brush Cotton Ball onto the top and bottom of the baking sheet, concentrating on a larger area in the upper and lower right corners. (Refer to photo.) When dry-brushing, wipe off any excess paint on a paper towel.

4. Print out the provided patterns. Use a paper trimmer to trim close to the words "Merry Christmas". Use a paper trimmer to cut on the lines that go across the entire paper in the last pattern. Use tape to combine the images into one. Transfer the completed image using white transfer paper and a stylus.

5. Use Cotton Ball, Red Barn, Green Beret, Muted Gold, and Cobalt to fill in the presents. (Refer to photo.)

6. Paint the tree skirt with Red Hot, using Red Barn and a small amount of Black Tie for the shadows. Paint the tree trunk with Coffee Bean. Roughly paint in the tree with Green Beret. Paint the star in Muted Gold.

7. Mix a small amount of Black Tie with Green Beret to get a slightly darker color. Add a small amount of Inch Worm onto the palette or plastic plate. Using a stiff-bristled or stipple brush, tap it in the darker paint. Tap the excess paint off onto a clean area of the palette or plastic or onto a paper towel. Tap the brush up and down on the tree to create shadow areas. Repeat the process to add highlights onto the tree in Inch Worm.

8. Dip the handle end of a paintbrush into Cotton Ball and onto the tree to create the lights. Allow to dry. Repeat the process to add dots of color on top of the Cotton Ball dots with Cobalt, Canary, Red Hot, and Inch Worm. Paint the star of the tree with Glorious Gold.

9. Basecoat the letters for "Merry Christmas" with Muted Gold using a #3 round brush.

10. Paint over the letters again with Glorious Gold.

11. Cut 25 pieces of Christmas patterned scrapbook paper 1-3/4" x 1-3/4".
12. Use a Silhouette electronic machine or choice of dies to cut the numbers 1-25 from gold glitter paper. (The numbers should be 3/4"-1" tall. )
13. Brush Matte Medium into the first square. Press down a scrapbook paper square, then brush the top with another layer of Matte Medium to seal it in. Repeat to add the remaining squares of patterned paper, making sure to alternate the patterns. Allow to dry completely.
14. Brush Matte Medium onto the first square and press down the glitter number into the Matte Medium. Repeat to add the numbers to the remaining squares. Allow to dry completely; coat with a layer of Matte Medium to seal in the numbers.

15. Use a fine point permanent marker to add outlines onto the presents, tree skirt, star, the letters at the top, and around each patterned paper square. Move quickly to get sketchy-looking lines.

16. Use a paper towel to rub Gold Rush onto the sides of the baking sheet.
17. Cut a piece of wired ribbon 24" long and tie it into a bow. Use scissors to cut the ends of the ribbon into a V shape. Use E6000 Glue to adhere the ribbon onto the top of the baking sheet.

18. Paint a gold star on the 1" diameter wooden circle. Use the handle end of a paintbrush to add a circle of dots around the edge of the wooden piece. Allow to dry completely. Use a fine point permanent marker to trace around the star. Seal the wooden piece with Americana Gloss Spray Finish. Use E6000 Glue to attach a magnet onto the back side. (This will be the marker for what day it is on Advent calendar.)

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