Magnetic Rectangle Sleepy Times Christmas Vinyl

Count down the days until the final “sleepy-time” 

on Christmas Eve. Colored vinyl in green, white, red and black 

are carefully positioned and affixed to a painted METAL 

rectangular backing sheet using registration “target cross” 

guides to create a merry and bright decoration. 

(Substitute glued-up card stock for holly sprig decorations 

as desired.) Countdown window “slider” is cut from or attached 

to a magnet paper base (or affixed to a magnetic 

business card rectangle and trimmed with scissors or art knife), 

then moved along and up the rows each day with 

number showing through cutout. Display on a large easel, 

or drill a top hang hole, attach cord ends or 

saw tooth brackets on reversed side to mount on a wall. 

Original design measures 11.69” wide x 8” tall. 

( A round version is also available.)

FOR THIS PROJECT, YOU WILL NEED:

1) metallic re-purposed shallow baking sheet with

min. 12.75" wide x 8.75" tall interior flat surface

2) black matte or satin spray paint to paint sheet

3) flexible magnet business card for slider

4) card stock for slider

5) vinyl sheets for cutting the layers; green (3-4),

white, red, black

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes or layers:

A green layer 1

B white layer 2

C red layer 3

D sprig detail shapes: cedar sprig, holly base & half,

berries black bases, berries red overlays

E window slider

2. Prepare the magnetic baking sheet by neatly 

spray painting front and (optional) back, in light, even

coats until thoroughly prepared. Also spray a protective

clear matte or satin coat to help preserve the surface.

2. Measure to find the center of the baking sheet

if necessary. Or estimate how to center the design

within the "flat" surface . . .

. . . by eye-estimating the pan margins that will remain 

beyond the design edges.

3. Follow conventional methods to cut the vinyl layers, 

weed excess "background" areas, transfer to clear 

(recommended) or opaque transfer "tape".

4. Position (centered) onto the display surface,

and once adjusted as needed . . . 

. . . use temp tape (such as the masking tape shown here)

to create 3 or 4 "hinges" along top of sheet.

(NOTE that some of the green vinyl from the sample project

sheet #1 has been "harvested" for a later project

5. Pivot the attached layer 1 vinyl and transfer tape

upward away from the baking sheet, allowing it

to hinge where the tape is holding it in place.

Then, carefully peel back the backer sheet so that

the vinyl is attached only to the transfer sheet/tape.

6. Re-position the vinyl, helping it to attach from the hinge

edge toward the opposite (bottom) edge, using a squeegee

to help the vinyl to get attach without bends, folds,

or bubbles. Burnish over the vinyl to help it attach

to the baking sheet.

7. Carefully peel away the transfer tape, leaving

the vinyl in place, including the registration targets.

NOTE: if you are NOT using the center target,

remove it either before attaching vinyl layer,

or as soon as it is in place on baking sheet.

Burnish over the vinyl to help it attach in place.

8. Prepare to position the layer 2 white vinyl sheet

using the targets, aligned exactly next on top of previous one.

(NOTE this pic shows the white layer without the transfer

tape in place.)

One way to align the targets is to pierce the new layer

target exactly in the center, then prick the in-place

target in corresponding center position. Then carefully

slide the new layer down into place. Repeat for 

the other side target, then temp tape in place.

Since the targets will be removed, TAKE CARE not

to scratch the painted surface. Complete the remaining

steps to position and attach the vinyl layer.

9. Prepare to position and attach layer #3 red vinyl

by aligning and temp taping the banner in place

as for previous layer.

NOTE that the banner layer in this pic is shown

without the transfer tape to help visualize the positioning.

10. Carefully remove the registration target symbols

taking care NOT to scratch the paint surface.

11. Complete the sprig detail elements by lifting

from the vinyl backing paper, then positioning on top

of the layer 1 sprig base. The best order to add these is:

cedar sprig, berry black bases, holly base then half,

berry red overlay.

12. Glue the slider frame onto the magnet sheet.

When glue is dried, carefully trim magnet . . . 

. . . around the outer cut edge, and around

the inside frame edge, as neatly at the cut edge

as possible.

13. To count down the days, move the magnet frame

from number to number, centering it within the opening.

14. If desired, attach a hanging ribbon to the back

of the baking sheet.