By: Melanie Smith, Artistic Guide

Finished size: 11" x 8.25"

I decided this year that I would make a tablemat for each person coming to Christmas lunch.   I thought about each person and how I could make each one suit their personalitity while keeping a Christmas theme.  This is the mat that I made for myself. It's messy and grungy, and just a little out of control, while still sticking with traditional colours.

Supplies:
Stamps:
Mini holly (Rubbadubbadoo)
Merry Christmas (Rubbadubbado)
Crackle (Rubbadubbadoo)
Papers
12" x 12" 'Christmas Carols' (Pavlova Papers)
Inks
Versamark clear inkpad (Tsukineko)
Adirondack dye ink - Meadow, lettuce, butterscotch, red pepper, raisin, caramel, espresso(Ranger)
Other:
MDF placemat (Kaisercraft)
Clear Embossing Powder
Heat Tool
Sponging tool - Colorbox stylus (Clearsnap)
Sanding Block
Household bleach
Gloss varnish
Old straw or skewer stick
Paper towel
Modgepodege adhesive
Paintbrush
Pencil
Brayer (optional)

Directions:

1. Using the wooden placemat as a guide, mark out the shape on to the back of the music paper with a pencil.  Cut out leaving a quarter to half inch excess.
2. Stamp the 'Merry Christmas' into the centre of the paper with clear ink and heat emboss.
3. Sponge green ink carefully over the embossed image.



4. Add more sponging as your 'muse' desires, blending the colours well as you go.  I have added butterscotch and then red pepper.
5. Stamp some of the smaller 'mini holly' around the main image with different colours of ink.



6. Build the colours to a nice rich finish.  I added some patches of Raisin over the red pepper.
7. Avoiding the centre image use the Raisin ink to stamp the 'crackle' image all over the placemat.



8. Sponge around the edge of the paper with the espresso ink.  I also added some over my central image to make it stand out more.



9. Use the straw or skewer to splash some of the household bleach over the finished paper.  **Use Caution**  Keep away from nice clothes and surfaces.
10. Blot the bleach with paper towel and allow to dry (at least a couple of hours).



11. Discard the straw or skewer when finished (we don't want anyone taking a drink through that!)
12. Paint Mod Podge or similar glue onto the placemat.  Carefully lay your finished paper over the top.  Use a brayer to gently flatten the paper down and remove air bubbles.  Set aside overnight to dry.
13. Use a sanding block to sand off all of the excess paper hanging over the edges.



14. Paint the whole item with varnish of your choice.
15. To finish glue a thin sheet of cork to the back of the placemat.

You could also paint the edges of your mdf placemat with acrylic paint in a coordinating colour at any stage before glueing.  MDF is medium density fibre board and the placemats are 3mm or an eighth of an inch thick.