Good afternoon Helmar fans! I am thrilled to be on the blog today to show you these great clipboards I used for a Teacher gift. This is a quick Helmar How to Tutorial. I hope you enjoy it.
Let's get started!
Supplies:
- Helmar Decoupage & Craft Paste
- Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive
- Helmar Acid Free Glue
- A Clipboard (pressed board or wooden, plastic might work but I think it would have a different prepping steps)
- Your choice of designer papers, I chose some from Authentique
- A Core'dinations Sand it Gadget
- A Core'dinations Dust Buddy
- Sticker or paper flat embellishments and letters
I started by by lightly sanding down the clipboards with my Core'dinations Sand it Gadget and then dusting them off with Core'dinations Dust Buddy. Brush on Helmar Decoupage & Craft Paste from the base of the metal clip down to the bottom. Completely covering the surface area. Then take your designer paper of choice and position it on the wet Helmar Decoupage & Craft Paste. As seen in the image below.
Allow this to dry and then take your Core'dinations Sand it Gadget and sand over the edges of the clipboard. This will remove all excess paper leaving a smooth edge and giving a distress look all in one step.
Now is the time for the fun part. I painted the top of the clipboard with acrylic paints and after allowing them to dry I distressed the papers and edges with ink.
I took coordinating paper embellishments and die-cuts and designed the arrangement I desired on each of the clipboards. Once I had my layout I used a thin layer of Helmar Acid Free Glue completely covering the back of each embellishments. Then I adhered them to the clipboard.
Adding the letter stickers to spell out the teacher's last name.
I can't decide which one I like most. I have to admit though for a elementary school teacher I love the quote here:
Today you are you,
that is truer then true.
There is no one alive
that is youer then you.
~ Dr. Suess
Once the embellishments are dry then you can start sealing it withHelmar Decoupage & Craft Paste. I painted it on with a paint brush, a sponge brush would work too. Completely covering the entire clipboard with a good layer. I even made it thicker over the embellishments and stickers to help make it more smooth and seal the edges around them. Once it was dry I repeated this step a second time painting the Helmar Decoupage & Craft Paste, this time I painted with strokes going in the opposite direction. And allowing it to fully dry. It will go from white to clear once dry.
Then I added the ribbons. I simply tied on the ones on the clip. The crochet ribbon across the top was adhered to the clipboard with Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive, it works so well with ribbons.
In our school district we find out who our teacher is the night before school starts so you can imagine how quick I had to make these personalized projects for the teachers. They loved them by the way and use them for their lesson plans.
Thank you all once again for viewing my work and I hope you have a fantastic Helmariffic Day. Please leave a comment below.
Helmar Design Team Member
