2015 #22 Counting Down to Christmas {By Bracken Sparkes}

2015 Topic 22: Masterboards

Hi guys, Bracken here again. This time showing you what I can do using masterboards. I really enjoy using masterboards in my work because there's so much you can do with them...and it's fun to play about intertwining stamps. December is my favourite month as Christmas makes me spin round the ceiling with excitement and it's my birthday sooo...yeah!..This gave me more drive to making this project full of fun and FOOD!

Print all required stamps around the page using no specific order what so ever. stamp in Jet Black Archial ink in first and second generation stamping.

The main stamps I used were those from EDY 16 but did use some of JOFY's (JM 07, an ivy leaf from JM 28, stars fromJOFY 18, and the little flurry of stars and dots from JOFY 19.)

Now for the fun part, and somewhat time consuming part...getting in a painty mess.

Paints used...Guacamole, Smoked Paprika (unfortunately discontinued), Cherry Red and Candy Floss (Limited editions out of stock), Sage, Hyde Park, Toffee, Chocolate Pudding, Pewter, Irish Cream (discontinued) , Blue Oyster, Toad Hall, Bora Bora, London Bus, Holly, and Brown Shed.) 

Also a cosmic shimmer paint in Gold.

To add a little bit of sparkle and interest I added some Stickles in Crystal, Holly, Frosted lace, Silver, Xmas Red, Starry Night. Dovecraft-Gold and Ranger liquid pearls- Silver Pearls. 

Once FULLY dried, it is time to get the main structure ready.

I painted the majority of the 'frame' in Slate first and once dry, went over the front in Chalk to add a little rustic feel.

I painted the sides of the inner frames in colours I had previously used. Those were, Bora Bora, Sage, Gold, Candy Floss, Blue Oyster, Pewter and a random red paint from The Range only because it was a little more opaque for what I wanted it for.

Then I cut the masterboard and other sheets of paper to the size of the frames and stuck them in with double sided red tape.

I then sprinkled the bases with 'snow' found in the Crimbo section of a local garden centre. I stuck it all on with Cosmic Shimmer PVA glue and let dry completely.

As the last stage of this advent callendar, I added small Christmassy bits and bobs to almost every box, including 7 decorated trees, a stocking and holly, Santa's hat, a MERRY CHRISTMAS, numbers on the backs of scrabble pieces and a cute vial filled with Reindeer food. Then stuck multiple cuts of the Sizzix On The Edge Snow Flurries Die with double sided red tape to the top and covered the joins with cotton wool. To finish the whole thing off, I, (with a little help from Grandad) screwed in 28 little screws (found at Tiptree Cheap shop) and wound a length of bakers twine (found at The Range) round them and attached small pegs to the twine. 

I really enjoyed making this for you all and if I were to do another one I'd paint the 'ground floors' of each box with Chalk before adding the snow so you don't see the natural wood showing through. I had to do SOOO much touching up of the snow it was painful!!lol I'd also change the way the sweets were going to be displayed. instead of having them suspended from the twine, I'd probably just have them in the box so they don't look so messy and I could use bigger sweets.

Anyways...I hope you like this and if you wanna see what else I've been up to just head on over to my blog or even follow me on Pinterest. I mainly just fangirl over products I love and Harry Potter but there's a lot of arty stuff too.

Blog- ArtymeB
Pinterest- Bracken Sparkes

I hope you have a safe, magical Christmas filled with FOOD (sprouts...ugh) and Crimbo jumpers and have a very happy new year.
See ya,
ArtymeB Xxx.

Wow Bracken, this turned out just wondereful, so bright and cheery, just as it should be. What a fantastic way to use your masterboard. All the little finishing tuches are wonderful and the snow is magical. Thankyou for all your hard work on this project and thanks to Grandad too! ~Darcy

We would love you to join in with challenge #22: Masterboards If you are inspired by any of our guests who blog with us over the fortnight, then please join in and link up your creativity HERE. 

All links go in the draw to win a voucher to spend on products of your choice from the PaperArtsy online store. The Masterboards link will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, Dec 6th winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.