"Wow, Mommy, WOW!"

Magnetic Alphabet Board

Believe it or not, this project was inspired indirectly by a stainless steel refrigerator. Since they are not magnetic, we can't use any of the wonderful alphabet magnets and games that kids just love in our home. When the Journaling Sprouts Contest was announced, it dawned on me to magnetize the journaling sprouts and create my own alphabet board game.

I thoroughly enjoyed putting this together -once I figured out the appropriate paint to use on the cookie sheet. (Thanks, Erin!) I won't deny it was a labour of love with all the layers of paint, ink, glue, journaling sprouts, chipboard, embellies and diamond glaze. BUT the reaction I got from my daughter made it all worth it.

"Wow, Mommy, WOW!",she said when I showed her.

I'm still smiling.

(click on photos to enlarge)

The green border around the perimeter is a stamp from myStamp BOX. I LOVE this set.

Each of the letters has some sort of texture and dimension. I used metal, acrylic, felt, ribbon, gems, etc. etc. to make the whole thing a tactile experience as well. I dug deep in my embellishment box for some of these little treasures.

Each of the letter cards is coated in diamond glaze. Hopefully they will hold up to some of the wear and tear of two toddlers.
I used an ENTIRE bottle on this one project!

Supplies: Journaling Sprouts (Jillibean Soup), Paper (Jillibean Soup), Letters (Jillibean Soup, Cosmo Cricket), Stamps (myStamp BOX, Unity, Sassafras Lass), Felt (Sassafras Lass, Dollar Store), Hedge Hog & Bee (My Little Bit of Whimsy), Flower (Bazzill), Metal (Making Memories, Dollar Store), Chipboard (Bo Bunny, Pink Paislee, American Crafts), Bling (Prima, Creative Imaginations), Acrylic (Clear Scraps), Ribbon (Michaels), Key hole (Melissa Frances), Leaf Pin (Maya Roads)
Here she is playing with her new toy. All my youngest wants to do right now is throw the letters. LOL

We used the board a few ways today:

-We arranged the letters in the correct order.

-We spelled words. (Note to self: Make some extra letters so she can spell her own name.)

-We learned some new words (like hedge hog).

-We also related the letters to the pictures on the cards.

Can you tell I'm a teacher?? LOL

Instructions:

-Spray cookie sheet with a white latex primer. Allow board to dry between coats.
-Cut patterned paper to size and adhere around inside edges of cookie sheet with Mod Podge.

-Once dried, top paper with another thin coat of Modge Podge to seal.

-Stamp design around perimeter of cookie sheet using Staz-On ink.

To create letter pieces:

-Layer chipboard, journaling sprouts, letters and embellishements...the more the better.

-Top with Diamond Glaze.
-Attach magnets to the back of each letter with hot glue.

ENJOY!!