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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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September 7, 2011

Back to School Bulletin Board

It’s Back to School Day at our house, and this year there was one extra little pink mouse backpack being loaded up last night. Yes, that’s right, the little Miss starts Pre-Kindergarten today and out of the 2 of us you can guess which one had the hardest time with it.
For that matter, dropping my oldest off for 2nd grade wasn’t so easy either!
Sniff…sniff…sob…sob…
Ok…pull it together Vanessa!

In honor of this momentous occassion, I decided it was time to spruce up our “where the school papers come to die” zone and make room for the newest addition to the ranks of school-goers.
Now, we all know that the kitchen is the heart of the home, but in our house, the mudroom gets the most traffic by a long shot. Backpacks are dropped, shoes are thrown about and sometimes even make it into their appropriate baskets. And this is where I attempt to keep all of the school stuff under control. Attempt being the operative word here!
Until now, this area over the sink has looked like this…
But the leftover beadboard stacked against the wall of the garage was begging to have something done to it. Every time I pulled the car in I saw it just daring me to come up with a way to use it!
Really, I did…doesn’t beadboard taunt everyone that way?
So, I thought, why not make a bulletin board out of it?
My sweet hubby cut it down for me and we nailed it to the wall over the sink.
$6 worth of molding framed it out.
Loving it already!!

Using thick squares of cork, I decided to velcro them to the bulletin board as opposed to doing anything more permanent. My desire is for this space to grow with our family and I’m guessing these little squares are only going to cut it for so long!
I wanted to create a personalized zone for each child and these little wooden plaques were the perfect way to do that. Painted to match the beadboard, I then stenciled their names onto them.

Some of you hard-core frame-building sorts will no doubt notice that I didn’t caulk the corners here. And well, I could have lied and told you that I was going for more of a
rustic-vintage-frame-found-in-a-barn look.
But, who am I kidding? I just ran out of steam, you know?
I wanted it done ASAP….it was getting late…I had already had a DIY temper tantrum (after realizing how difficult the molding I purchased would be to cut and then slicing into my fingernail with the miter saw) and I didn’t want to mess with the caulk. So there!
And if you didn’t notice the un-caulked corners, well then, it looks pretty darn good don’t ya think?

My desire is for this to be the “Show Off” spot where all of those coloring pages and tests have a spot to hang out prior to being sorted through. And then, if they don’t make the “special box”cut, getting sneaked out of the house in a sort of “covert operation” and buried at the bottom of the trash can the night before the garbage truck arrives. Those of you who have ever had a child come to you holding a crumpled up, covered in coffee grounds craft project or school paper and asking, “why was this in the trash can mommy?” will understand the need for being stealthy when it comes to weeding out the papers.
My two rascals were pretty pleased to see their names up on that board. And since this will be the only time it will look this clean, I am so glad I have these photos!
The end of summer is always bittersweet. I love Fall and the changing of seasons, but I so treasure having my kiddos home with me. We have had such a fabulous summer and to cap off the fun, we had our annual All-Family Water Balloon Fight this weekend.

Of course, as is the case every year, once the balloons are gone, you better start running because the buckets and the hoses soon become the weapons of choice!
And, as always, Daddy reigns supreme and it all ends when he tosses mommy into the kiddie pool!
With her clothes on…
Ahhhh…farewell Summer Vacation!
Thanks for joining me at the Fence today,
This post will be partying here this week:
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia: Tuesday’s Treasures
Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesday
DIY By Design: Sizzle Into Summer
Stuff and Nonsense: Friday’s Unfolded
Common Ground: Vintage Inspiration Friday
French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday
Guest Host On Sutton Place: Open House Party
2805: Potpourri Friday
Charm of Home: Home Sweet Home Party

27 Comments Filed Under: Decorating, Good Ideas

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Comments

  1. Grammy Goodwill says

    September 6, 2011 at 1:34 PM

    The personalized bulletin boards are a great idea for all those school papers that need to be displayed. I didn’t notice the lack of caulking until you pointed it out, and then I had to go look, of course. No problem. I loved the water battle story, too.

    Reply
  2. Judy says

    September 6, 2011 at 1:42 PM

    I love the personalized bulletin boards. They came out adorable. My kids go back tomorrow. Big sobs here…I have one starting high school and one starting middle school. What’s up with that?

    Reply
  3. Dear Sweet Home says

    September 6, 2011 at 2:06 PM

    Thanks for such a cute idea! Yesterday, I was thinking about creating a bulletin board space for my kids…we have been back in school for about 3 weeks and the paperwork seems to be multiplying…and, soccer schedules, Church activities, etc…I wasn’t ready for it this year! ~Kim

    Reply
  4. Debbie says

    September 6, 2011 at 2:23 PM

    Vanessa, I love it. I really do. I well remember the school years, and you DO need a place to display.

    And the balloon fighters made me smile this morning too.

    Reply
  5. Stuff and Nonsense says

    September 6, 2011 at 3:16 PM

    love the new school board space…i think it will look and wear well…i bet your kiddos are more excited than mum is…and yay for water balloon fights!

    alison

    Reply
  6. Traci says

    September 6, 2011 at 3:32 PM

    What a cute idea!

    Reply
  7. Honey at 2805 says

    September 6, 2011 at 4:29 PM

    Very cute idea! And your rascals get more adorable all the time!

    Reply
  8. Coley @ What You Make It says

    September 6, 2011 at 5:27 PM

    I need one of these for myself!

    Reply
  9. michelle says

    September 6, 2011 at 5:40 PM

    Those are so cute and such a great idea! All of our stuff gets piles on the kitchen counter and then tossed and then of the resurrection of paper. 🙂 I need a spot to hold everything and each year I start out good but in the end, I give up especially if no one else plays nice with me. 🙂
    xoxo

    Reply
  10. NanaDiana says

    September 6, 2011 at 8:46 PM

    Really cute idea, Vanessa! Love it!! And we have water balloon fights all summer too….it was too cold to have one yesterday here. Happy back to school, Mom! xo Diana

    Reply
  11. Rosemary@villabarnes says

    September 6, 2011 at 11:04 PM

    Balloon Fight! That takes me back. Great idea with the bulletin boards.

    Reply
  12. Becca says

    September 6, 2011 at 11:26 PM

    Look at those cutie patoots! And, what a fabulous idea, Vanessa! Their own little brag stations … so sweet. And, great place to “transition” the mounds of papers that our little ones bring home. Hope you’re doing okay having sent both of them off to school. And, just think of the fun projects you can tackle and dazzle us with while they’re at school!! xoxo

    Reply
  13. Meredith Resnick says

    September 7, 2011 at 12:55 AM

    This is so smart… and cute too. Time for me to make one for all 3 kiddos.
    ~ Meredith From A Mother Seeking

    A Mother Seeking…

    This week, “When Life Hands You Lemons…”

    Reply
  14. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    September 7, 2011 at 1:53 AM

    What a great idea Vanessa and I love how you used beadboard for the backing, it looks great!! I have a kitchen cabinet that seams to eat all the forgotten school paperwork(LOL)! What a great family tradition, an end of summer water balloon fight. Sounds like so much fun!! My kids start school tomorrow and my youngest is starting kindergarten. I was crying just thinking about it today what am I going to be like tomorrow!! Martina

    Reply
  15. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:33 AM

    Those look great, Vanessa. Your children are so cute. They grow up so fast. Thanks for sharing this at Wow.

    Reply
  16. Babs says

    September 7, 2011 at 3:23 AM

    Your cork boards are such a great idea. I’ll bet your children feel really special with their names on each. They are such cuties with their water balloons. Fun family activity. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a sweet comment.
    Babs

    Reply
  17. Sarah @ Modern Country Style says

    September 7, 2011 at 10:48 AM

    Hi lovely girlie,

    I LOVE this idea! The white boards look so pretty and Country. If it was mine, I don’t think I’d let the children near it!!!

    Sarahx

    Reply
  18. Yvonne @ StoneGable says

    September 7, 2011 at 12:23 PM

    Those sweet little ones look excited about those water balloons!!!!!
    What a great use of beadboard and so smart! You have really “polished up” that area. And your little one’s will be so pleased to see their work displayed! Even if it is for a little while!
    So nice to visit today!
    Yvconne

    Reply
  19. Richella says

    September 7, 2011 at 9:33 PM

    I love your bulletin boards, Vanessa! Good luck keeping their papers corralled. All those school papers are like rabbits, it seems–they multiply like crazy! 🙂

    Reply
  20. Kristin says

    September 8, 2011 at 12:35 AM

    Hello Darling Vanessa~
    Love this! Super cute and how fun for your kiddos to feel…oh so special!
    Great job!
    Love to you!

    Reply
  21. Honey at 2805 says

    September 8, 2011 at 10:54 PM

    I enjoy seeing your little rascals again!

    Thanks for being so gracious and linking to Potpourri Friday. You are appreciated!

    Reply
  22. Kerry Rossow says

    September 9, 2011 at 3:53 AM

    Thank you for meeting at the fence and for hosting a great par-taaay!
    Kerry at housetalkn.blogspot.com

    Reply
  23. Ellen says

    September 9, 2011 at 7:41 PM

    What a great idea…..wish I had this idea when my kids were little and someday if the grand ever get here…..I will keep this in mind.
    Hugs,
    Ellen

    Reply
  24. Ann from On Sutton Place says

    September 10, 2011 at 12:19 AM

    Great project…laughing at you in the kiddie pool though. :o) Thanks for linking up to Open House Party!

    Reply
  25. Darla says

    September 10, 2011 at 11:40 AM

    What a wonderful idea. What corners? With 5 kids I feel sometimes like I work for the CIA trying to dispose of papers and or projects sometimes. Love your family water balloon tradition.

    Reply
  26. Sherry says

    September 15, 2011 at 2:31 PM

    I like you school board! We have one too. You have to to keep up with all of the functions and dates. Love the water balloon fight!
    Thank you for joining me at Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 5 Ideas For Organizing School Paperwork says:
    October 27, 2013 at 10:38 PM

    […] can pin the forms up easily, keep them safe and in sight, and send them back to school right away. This board would also be great for pinning reminders for the kids about after school chores and […]

    Reply

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