DIY IKEA EASEL MAKEOVER
- Jun 24, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 27, 2020
During the summer months, I have often found myself sitting around wanting to do classroom projects without the motivation to get it all done. This year, I am determined to actually complete some on my list. First up, my easel.
For the past three years of teaching, I've gotten by with borrowing an easel from a friend. When I decided to move schools; however, the ability to use said easel left as well. One of my dear teacher friends told me that she had gotten hers at Ikea for $20! I just had to check it out for myself. Low and behold, I found it (along with some adorable faux succulents for some added pizzazz for $5)!
To complete this project, I used FolkArt's acrylic paint in medium gray, painters tape, a flat brush, and white vinyl with transfer tape for the Cricut portion of this project.
Anyone who knows me knows that I do not like the color red, so I knew right away I was going to paint over it. I chose the medium gray for a good neutral color since I change classroom themes year to year (maybe this one will stick?). I first lined the wood with painters tape. Then I painted about 3 coats of the acrylic paint for the red to completely disappear. I would suggest at least one hour between coats.
While the paint was drying, I was working on putting together the vinyl. I hardly ever use the chalkboard side when compared to dry erase, so a nice welcome sign was perfect. I used KG Always A Good Time for the cursive and KG Why You Gotta Be So Mean for the print. These can be downloaded for free personal use via Teachers Pay Teachers. Once you have the fonts installed, they will appear in Cricut. You can grab the Cricut project here.
I used premium vinyl for this project to make sure that it will stick since the chalk side isn't completely smooth. Before applying the vinyl, I painted my final coat so that it would by dry by the time I was finished. Once the vinyl was done, my paint was dry and project done! I was so happy with the way it turned out and I cannot wait to put it in my new classroom!
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Cricut Design Space is an essential app to use for various Cricut machines. You can download the app just by clicking here. With the help of this software, Cricut users can create stunning designs for projects. The app can be used on both Windows and Mac devices. Plus, the Cricut Design Space is also available for Android and iOS smartphones. Keep reading the whole content to get extensive info about the app.
cricut.com/setup
The Cricut is a die-cutting machine for creating crafts of all sorts. Go to cricut.com/setup and check out the materials you can cut with your Cricut machine. For such a big investment, you cannot afford to lose your way while setting up Cricut. And that is why we have gathered the steps for you. From setting up the machine, setting up the cutting mat, cleaning the mat to downloading the design software, cricut.com/setup is the only answer.