Back To School Clipboard

Welcome to August’s edition of $10 on the 10th! This month our theme is Back To School. As I was thinking of what I wanted to share with you, it occurred to me that  organization is key to start out a new year. So I’m sharing a back to school clipboard.

Hey! And just so you know, clipboards aren’t just for teachers.

Students can use them.

Mom’s can use them to post weekly schedules, chore charts, after school activities… the possibilities are endless.

They can be carried around, hung on a wall or placed on a desk.

AND not only are they super useful for organization, they can be super cute too!

Supplies:

I found this clipboard at the Dollar Tree.

Of course, it was only $1.00!

You will also need acrylic paints and paint brushes.

Blue tape

Clear Spray Sealer

Ruler

Pencil

Back To School Clipboard – Step 1

Paint your clipboard.

I’m not going to lie, this clipboard was super porous.

I think I  may have put about 5 coats of white base coat on it.

Note to self: give it a light spray of clear sealer before base coating!

Once my base coat was dry I drew on a circle in the middle of the clipboard.

Then using 2 inch blue tape I taped off the board for painting.

Step 2

Once you have taped off your board, go back and really burnish – or rub hard- the edges of your tape to prevent the paint from bleeding.

Paint your clipboard.

Step 3

Paint the design on your board.

I know, some of you are thinking that you can’t paint.

That’s okay.

You CAN decoupage, use decals, and stencils.

This is the time to get really creative!

Step 4

Once your design is finished and completely dry, add a name or monogram.

Again, if you aren’t comfortable painting the letters, then you can make  or order vinyl lettering.

Stencils are great to use here too.

Step 5

The back side of your clipboard needs love too.

So paint it!

This is where you really want to get creative and have fun with decorating it.

Step 6

Give both sides a couple of good even top coats.

I like to use a clear spray sealer for even coverage.

Once this is done, your back to school clipboard is done!

So what did I spend on my clipboard?

I already had the paints and spray sealer.

The only out of pocket expense was the clipboard for $1.08 including tax.

However, even if you did buy the paint, clipboard and sealer you can easily make one of these for under $10.00.

Here’s a bonus tip.

My sweet niece Beep is going into 4K this year, so I painted her a back to school apron.

The apron you can find here.

Simply draw on your design, paint with multi-surface paint or acrylic paints with a fabric medium added and you have a custom cute back to school apron!

Don’t want to paint?

There are a ton of iron on designs available!

Now be sure and head on over to all of the other $10 on the 10th participants to see what fun back to school items they are sharing.

 

Allyson – Southern Sunflowers

Barbara – French Ethereal

Cindy – Cloches and Lavender

Terrie – Decorate and More With Tip

 

                              If You Love It, Be Sure To Pin It!