Jennifer Smith

The Ultimate Altered Chalkboard Created by Jennifer Smith

I always enjoy walking down the halls in my children's school to admire their school work.  I love to look at the creative ways the teacher's choose to disply especially outstanding work.  That is what inspired me to make this chalkboard.  I thought it would be creative for the teacher to use this chalkboard to perhaps write on, then disply work underneath.

 Altered Chalkboard Pictures

MATERIALS USED:

Plain Wooden Clipboard
Acrylic Paint (I used an inexpensive kit that had several colors)
School Themed Patterned Paper (I found a kit with paper, tags, buttons, and stickers that matched)
Embellishments (I used ribbon and safety pins)
Paint Brush

TOOLS USED:
Stapler
Scrapbook Scissors (I prefers Cutter Bee Scissors)

ADHESIVES USED:
Small Xyron Create A Sticker
Spray Craft Adhesive

STEPS:
First, paint your chalkboard with your acrylic paint, then allow to dry.  I dabbed the sides of my chalkboard with black stamping ink after my chalkboard was dry.

Next, decide which papers and embellishments you want to use on your chalkboard.  Since I had a kit that had everything in it, I separated my chalkboard sided by paper design.  Each paper design in the kit came with a tage, so, I coordinated the sides of the chalkboard with the tags.  However, how you choose to decorate your chalkboard will be up to you.

Place your patterned paper onto your chalkboard with your spray adhesive.  You should spray your paper with the adhesive and not your chalkboard, you do not want to get your adhesive on the acrual chalkboard.  Once your adhesive is dry, embellish with your stickers, buttons, ribbons,tags, or whatever else you choose to use.

I ran a large ribbon through the hanges on the back of my chalkboard so it could be hund up on a door or wall.

Download altered_chalkboard.doc

The Ultimate Teacher's Tumbler Created by Jennifer Smith

This teacher's gift was completely inspired by my mom.  She tought 2nd grade FOREVER.  She has now since retired, however, while she was teaching, she always had a cup of coffee on her desk.  I remember when I was younger, she would take her thermos full of coffee everyday to school so that she would always have some throughout the day.  She tought at the same elementary school I attended, and when I was older I would bring her a cup after my lunch everyday.  It's fun remembering those good ole' days.  I'm sure if she had received one of these tumblers to keep her coffee in, she would have been delighted.  Thanks mom for inspiring me to make this teacher's gift.

Altered Tumbler Pictures
 
      
MATERIALS
Bluegrass Publishing School Days Digital Kit by Sharon Hammond
Acrylic Tumbler (16 oz., 7 3/4 in. tall, 3 1/4 in. round at the top, 2 3/4 inches round at the bottom)
Tumbler Insert Pattern (included in the instructions as a download for your convenience)

TOOLS USED:
Scrapbook Scissors (I prefer Cutter Bee Scissors)

STEPS:
Using any of Sharon Hammond's School Digital Downloads, lay out your pattern on an 11 x 8 1/2 (in landscape mode) document in the digital software you prefer (I used MS Publisher).  Once you are satisfied with your layout, test print it.  I had to print several times before getting the placement of my pictures correct.

Once you are happy with your layout, print your document in color on paper or cardstock.  You can use the template (Download tumbler_template.doc ) to trace, and then cut to fit your tumbler. 

These are perfect for gift items for teachers, students, or even a fundraiser.  This was a simple and easy project to do.  It only took me about 30 minutes to complete, and I am not a digital savvy scrapbooker.  So, even if you are a novice or an expert, this will be a fun project that makes you look like a pro!

Download altered_tumbler.doc

The Ultimate Altered Clipboard Created by Jennifer Smith

When I went to my boys Back To School Night, I noticed in one of the teacher's classrooms she had a semi-altered clipboard.  This gave me another great idea for a practical and useful teacher's gift.

Altered Clipboard Pictures

MATERIALS:

Plain Wooden Clipboard
Coordinated Patterned Paper
Card Stock to Match Patterned Paper
School Themed Rub-Ons
School Themed Stickers
School Themed 3-D Stickers
Alphabet Stickers
Brads
Safety Pins
Vellum Metal Tags
Ribbon
Bluegrass Publishing School Transparency
Bluegrass Publishing School Vellum Quotes
Acrylic Paints (I used an inexpensive set with small containers of all different colors)
Paint Brushes
Mod Podge
Sponge Brush

TOOLS USED:

Paper Cutter (I prefer Fiscars)
Stapler
Scrapbook Scissors

ADHESIVES USED:

Small Xyron Create A Sticker
Spray Craft Adhesive
Xyron Cheetah Runner

STEPS:

First lay out your clipboard design.  Decide which paper to use on each side, as well as which embellishments to incorporate.  When desigining the top of the clipboard, use only flat embellishments such as stickers, vellums, or transparencies.  If you use dimensional embellishments on the top of the clipboard, it will not be functional only decorative.  If you choose to use it for a decoration, which is widely popular, it does not matter which embellishments you choose for the top.         

Using your acrylic paints, paint one side of your clipboard, then let dry, then paint the other side and let dry.  I let each side dry overnight.  I felt like it was dry within a couple hours, however; I wanted to be sure before placing any decorations.

While my clipboard was drying, I used my acrylic paints on my Bluegrass Publishing Transparencies.  I always like trying new things with embellishments.  On one of my transparencies, I even used multiple colors of paints so that my transparency matched the colors of my clipboard theme.

As with the index card box, the rest is really up to you.  Decide how you would like for your clipboard to look, then begin placing your papers and embellishments on both sides.  For the larger pieces of paper, I used craft spray.  Make sure it is dried completely before going any further.  I also distressed my paper by crumpling it, then sanding it, before placing it onto my clipboard.  This gives the paper a unique look.

As soon as you are satisfied with each side, cover with Mod Podge.  This will keep your clipboard decorations from tearing.  Again, do each side one at a time and allow to dry completely.  I used 3 coats of Mod Podge.  The more you use, the more opaque it will look.

Once your clipboard is completely dry on both sides, you can embellish the hinge of the clipboard with ribbon and tags and you are done!

Download altered_clipboard.doc

The Ultimate Teacher's Gift Created by Jennifer Smith

It's almost time for school to start again. Like every other year, I began thinking about what gift I will send for my boys' teachers this year. I always try to be creative, yet give something useful, as well.  I came up with the idea to give them an altered index card box.  I know they need one, because we have to fill out an index card every year with our child's emergency information, so, what better gift to give!?!  I have included the instructions below on how to make your own.  I hope that you have as much fun creating this as I did.

Altered Index Card Box Pictures

MATERIALS USED:
Coordinated Patterned Paper
Card Stock to Match Patterned Paper
School Themed Rub-Ons
School Themed Stickers
School Themed 3-D Stickers
Brads (I used the primary colored)
Buttons (I used the primary colored)
Ribbon
Bluegrass Publishing School Transparency
Glass Stain Paints
Scrapbook Glitter
Adhesive Glitter
Clear Recipe Box (measures 5 1/4 x 3 1/4 x 3 1/2)

TOOLS USED:
Paper Cutter (I prefer Fiscars)
Stapler
Scrapbook Scissors (I prefer Cutter Bee Scissors)

ADHESIVES USED:
Small Xyron Create A Sticker
Spray Craft Adhesive

STEPS:
First paint the underside of the transparencies that you want to use, it takes the paint quite some time to dry.  You must DAB the paint on with your brush, otherwise you will get "holes" in your paint when it dries.  If you want to use glitter on your transparencies, like I did, sprinkle the glitter where you have painted before the paint dries.

The next step will really be up to you.  Decide which stickers, rub-ons, 3-D stickers, or any other embellishments that you would like to use.  Be creative! I tore my patterned paper to put on the top of the box to give it a different look than the other sides of the box.

I laid all of my ideas out before I began placing them onto my recipe box.  If you decide to use ribbon that is stapeled on, make sure you staple it onto your paper or cardstock before trying to place it on the box, that way you will be sure to get your adhesive on everything. The same applies when using the brads.

I have found that if I put my buttons through my Xyron mini create a sticker, it works perfectly!  I have tried to use other adhesives on my buttons, and found that this one holds the best, as well as makes the least amount of mess.

Type your favorite Bluegrass Publishing quote and print onto your vellum. Place the vellum on to your card stock, then adhere with craft spray adhesive, and voilà—you're done!

If you wanted to take this project one step further, you could make your own tabbed alphabet dividers to go inside of this box.

Download altered_recipe_box_directions_1.doc