Square Boards

Best thing ever! I started making square boards. Let me explain! The boards in my classroom are 7 feet long. That is a lot of space to cover which means a complicated board. So I started dividing that space into two square boards. This means a simple board will cover nicely.

This board uses puzzle pieces cut in the same colors as the border. It’s quite vibrant!

Double Borders??

Have you tried a double border? This just means you use coordinating border strips and layer them. I love the look of a double border, but it does take some time to apply. I have found that putting down the outside border first works best for me. I can just slide the second border under the first. Plan ahead and staple the outside border close to its edge so you will have room to slide in the second color.

Matching Colors

This is one of may favorite boards ever. I have also created this one is a very large size. Are you wondering how I matched the letter colors? I took a strip of the border to a craft store and pulled colors from the scrapbook paper. The words in the center are printed on the scrapbook paper in those beautiful watercolor backgrounds. The other letters are cut from the same paper.

This is a board I reference often in STEM Class!

Cutting the Letters

This board was fun to make. I wanted the words to be in the shape of a light bulb and I will be honest. This was tricky! I printed one letter from each line and moved them around until I had the effect I was looking for. Now, how long does it take to cut out letters like this? Multi-task. That is the answer. I cut out letters while listening to a book or watching television.

This display with student names on the light bulbs is a fun way to create this encouraging board.

Plan-Plan-Plan

Before I ever start putting the letters on the wall I lay them out on the floor to space the letters correctly. Then I lift the letters from the floor right to the same positions on the wall. I start from the center of the board and put letters up out of order to make sure my spacing is good. This, of course, does not always work. I mean notice the letters in the word ‘leaders’ are aiming downhill!

Another tip- when your spacing is a little off just add sprinkles or decorative embellishments to fill those spots!

Get it Right (first)

I cannot tell you how many times I have stapled all the letters and then need to move a few. So, either pin them up or just staple in one spot. It is much easier to move the letters if your rows are crooked. After everything is placed the way you want it, then do a massive stapling. Here is another great tip- purposely place your letters in zigzig designs instead of straight rows. Mistakes don’t show because they are all crooked!

Add Embellishments

Speaking of embellishments- you may have noticed some of the items on my boards in the photos. I find most of these in the party sections of Wal Mart, Target, or Hobby Lobby. Paper fans work great and usually come in packages of 3-5 in several sizes. Tissue paper pom-poms also work great.

Sometimes I just cut out circles in matching colors and sprinkle them around the board.