Vacation Countdown Scallop Clipboard

Hello Clear Scraps friends - so good to be here again in the new year with you!  It's Maureen, and I'm looking forward to all the things that this year holds, including an upcoming vacation to Disney World.  How about you?  Do you anticipate where you might travel this year? 

It's so much fun to host a personal countdown for upcoming trips.  I've created this project with that in mind - a countdown board that will double as a picture frame long after the vacation is over.

My project centers around the Clear Scraps Acrylic Scallop Clipboard - I'm using the medium size today, and starting by removing the plastic film on both sides of the clipboard.  I thought it would be fun to try some decoupage work, so I've prepped the back of the board with a thin coat of decoupage glue.  I've also traced the clipboard on to a sheet of polka dot paper, then cut it out and adhered it to the back.

Since we are going to Disney World, I've chosen the mouse shape from the Word and Shape Magical Mouse pieces to decorate my clipboard.  I've coated this piece with 2 coats of chalkboard paint.  This will become the space that I write the countdown on.  Let this dry thoroughly between coats.

Another fun item I've added to this display is the Vacation Chipboard Word Title.  With this piece, I've coated it in a red acrylic paint then went back over it with a layer of red glitter glue.  This also needs to dry well before adding it to the clipboard.

Embellishing the front of the scallop clipboard comes next.  I've added a series of decorative print paper in assorted shapes, including some pinwheels I made, then arranged it around a square printed paper as a backdrop.  Next, I've cut a smaller square to put in the middle.  This is embellished on the edge with a thin, black gel pen.  I've drawn small mouse shapes in between the thin lines around the frame to add detail for my future picture.  It's like having hidden Mickeys!

I've also added a "DAYS TO" title cut out of black card stock.  Glue the white piece on to the pattern paper and arrange them under the clip of the board.

I will eventually put a picture on this board so I wanted to make sure that the pieces allow me to add it later.  So, as I was gluing on the mouse wood piece, the vacation title and the paper embellishments, I made sure I didn't put them too close to where the picture will be.  It might be helpful to cut a piece of paper the size of your picture prior to gluing pieces down.  Tacky glue works well for these items.

My display is complete!  I've set my clipboard on an easel so I can change the countdown on the chalkboard piece daily.  It's also handy to be able to write something like the year or other message once I add a picture of our trip later.  This example is from a prior trip, but I am looking forward to putting one on here for 2022.  Oh, and adding the picture was easy - I just slid it under the clip once I had the picture printed!

What types of events are YOU counting down to?  This would make a good wedding, school or other type of countdown as well.  The Scallop Clipboard is a perfect size for a display table, and I hope you get a chance to try this little project!  See the additional supplies I used below.  Happy counting!!

Maureen

Additional supplies:  Simple Stories Card Stock Pad, acrylic paints, chalkboard paints, Stickles glue, glitter gems, paper sticker bow