Altered Chalkboard Easels

It's Back-to-School time! At least in my school district, school actually started here on August 7th. Whoa! Even I felt sorry for the kids and their short summer break LOL.

Although I no longer have a child in school or college, I do have a school age grandniece (Destiny) and nephew (Jayden), so I made these for them. I found these cute little easels at Hobby Lobby, along with the wooden initial letters and people shapes.

I painted the easels a bright red (nothing says back-to-school like the color red), then I added a little masking and stamping using some white distress stain to the chalkboard. After I covered the wood letters using pages from the D's and J's of an old dictionary, I inked the top of each letter with distress ink and adhered them to the easels. I also placed a polaroid frame for that "must have" first day of school photo. I finished by adding varies school embellishments to both of them.

The back side of the chalkboard is a dry eraser board; I just left it blank so that they can write or in Jayden's case draw their own thoughts about their first day at a new school.

Altered Easels by Tena Ellison.  Supplies - Easels, Wooden Letters & Shapes: Hobby Lobby, Patterned Paper:

Little Yellow Bicycle; Polaroid Frames: Recollections(Michaels); School Embellishments: Jolee's, Recollections, Cricut

and Graphically Speaking Cartridge; Distress Ink & Stain: Tim Holtz; Punch: EK Success; Stamp: Studio G; Acrylic paint,

misc ribbon.  



This was a fun project to make and I'm happy with the results. I would love to hear about some of your creative Back-to-school projects...and remember to take that important first day of school photo!

Happy creating!
Tena

Back To School

August is here and it is already Back To School time! I am still trying to figure out what happened to the summer.  Although I am not in school, nor do I have children in school - I still get excited during this time of year.  Maybe it is the ushering in of Autumn or maybe its the fact that I love school supplies.  When I was young I always enjoyed getting new notebooks, pens, pencils, crayons, etc.  Actually, I enjoyed school supply shopping MUCH more than I enjoyed shopping for new school clothes.  With that in mind, I decided to create a few digital papers that celebrate the Back To School spirit.  Feel free to download (right-click) and use in your personal projects (not for distribution or commercial use in any way).

Back To School Digi-Paper Collection
By: Aysha Livingston

Altered Easel Chalkboard

Hello Everyone,

Kenya here to share a very quick and easy altered project with you. A few weeks ago, I was walking down the aisle at Michael’s and saw this cut little easel chalkboard! I thought it would make the perfect back to school project. Side note…can you believe fall is here?!?!?!

The first thing I did was tape off the chalkboard portion to prime the paint with Gesso. As you can see, I got a little in the middle (cause I was distracted) but I took care of it by covering it up with a piece of DCWV’s chalkboard cardstock! So make sure you tape off the ENTIRE chalkboard surface and not just the sides!

Once the Gesso dried, I painted the exposed wood with Ivory Folk Art paint. Since it was brighter than the paper I chose (G45’s An ABC Primer) I toned it down with a few dabs of Walnut Stain Distress Ink. I took a pattern from the paper collection and adhered it to the frame of the chalkboard. I did not want to over embellish as I want it to still be functional. I did a little fussy cutting from the collection and added an I Am Roses flower to it and viola…DONE!

I hope you enjoyed today’s project! Come back now ya hear J….Thanks for stopping by, Kenya

Products:

Graphic 45 An ABC Primer, DCWV Chalkboard Cardstock, Chalkboard Easel, Gesso, Folk Art Paint, I Am Roses, Walnut Stain Distress Ink

It's that time again...Back to School!

And even though I no longer have a child in school, I was quickly reminded during this past weekend while out shopping. Almost every store was filled with parents and children shopping for their new back to school supplies and clothing. I must admit that I did get a few great deals on photo paper and ink supplies that were also tax free.

So with back to school in mind I created the layout below using photos of my grandniece and also using scrap patterned paper and embellishments from a project I completed earlier this year. I know that not everyone keeps their scraps from previous projects but I do if the scraps are large enough for another layout page or altered project. This made putting together my layout quick and easy. I didn't have to search for papers or matching embellishments once I settled on my school theme. It was almost like having a page kit ready and waiting.

Back To School by Tena Ellison. Supplies - Patterned Paper: Authentique, Simple Stories,

Little Yellow Bicycle, Reminisce; Button: Stampin' Up; 3D Embellishment: Jolee's Boutique;

Twin: Doodlebug Designs Inc.; Ink: Tim Holtz; Punch: EK Success.

So remember to take that first day of school photo and to use those scraps!

Tena E. 

Geek Is Chic

Happy Hellos Everyone:

For the past five or six years, I have sent my son off to school accompanied with a back-to-school note card wishing him the best school year ever. This year was no different. Last year, I discovered my son has come to really appreciate my little first day of school note cards. Boy did that make me feel good. I usually place the note card some where in his back-pack or notebook where I am sure he will discover it before the end of the school day.

This year was no different. If any thing, this year's card was most important. Kevin entered the eight grade this year. Every thing is changing and the most important thing I wanted him to remember is being a 'Geek' is truely chic. I wanted him to remember that geek is not a dirty word, but a compliment to his academic discipline.

Now, that you know what it is I have done for that special student in my life, what is it that you do for the special student in your life?



Peace & Blessings to
You & Yours

Lorie