The Teacher's Board

Welcome to another Pinterest inspired project. If you checkout my Classroom Decorating Board or my Classroom Wall Board you will find a lot of ideas. Here is one for the how office that I particularly like. Wouldn't something like this be amazing behind a teacher's desk? Yea... I thought so too!

However, it would never work like this. I found several different ideas for this same type of board and pinned them. Then I came up with an idea that would work! I took 16 14x14 boards to create my teacher's bulletin board. I used red and white Seuss fabric to cover the cork boards. And then used chalkboard paint on the magnetic white boards to create this:

Ohhhh! Awwww! Isn't it pretty? Here are some close ups:

I used my cricut to print out vinyl letters for the quotes on the chalk boards. These are motivational. I used people my students should recognize and found things I want them to do. The corkboard will be used for hanging up pictures of my students hard at work. On the chalkboards, I will write the child's name who is living up to the quote. I can also use it to pin sticky notes and other reminders. Or I can use a magnet to hold up a new quote in place of the old.

I have it set up as a square here but I can add or subtract squares, rearrange, etc.. to fit the area I am working in. My sons actually did the lettering for me. They did a great job. 

What we thought was a relatively simple project turned into a GIGANTIC PAIN! I am not sure I will ever do anything like this again. The black boards are still having issues but I am not working on them any more. Only the Yoda square came out perfect. Sigh... I am a perfectionist and this project is still bothering me. I also wanted it to "pop" more. It is also much larger than I envisioned.

Lessons learned:
1 - always sand and wash before painting! This removes unseen greasy residues and primes the boards for painting. Yep... you even have to do this to metal.
2 - you cannot mix brands of spray paint and primer. Different brands can and will interact in unfriendly ways with one another (as one of my boards demonstrates. Grrr!).
3 - spray paint can expire. If there is dust on the can, don't buy it! (similar results to #2)
4 - Kyron has AMAZING customer service. Always buy their brand first! (They sent me knew paint for free and primer after #2)
5 - Test out your idea before jumping in with both feet. It will save you a lot of time.
6 ~ Cutout words in scrapbook paper and place on board where you want them. Remove one by one and replace with vinyl to create final project.
7 ~ A little glitter takes the results from awful to liveable

I really like the 3-D aspects of the pinterest board and may add some more things later to it after it is hung to create this effect. I am also thinking of adding in actual white boards for writing my own messages and reminders. It wouldn't be too hard to add them in. Or to create a few extra corkboards covered in holiday specific fabric to make it seasonal. The ideas are endless. Stay tuned...

YOUR SHOPPING LIST:
~ 8 14x14 cork boards
~ 8 14x14 magnetic white boards
~ 2 yards of fabric
~ Staple gun & Staples
~ Scissors
~ 3 cans Kyron Primer
~ 3 cans Kyron Chalkboard Paint
~ 1 hand sander
~ Sandpaper (600 grit)
~ Cricut
~ 2 packages of vinyl adhesive
~ 5 pages of scrapbook paper
~ Glitter Hairspray