Year End Teacher Gift

(Try as I may, I can't get my picture to rotate.  Sorry.)

I saw these cute decorated clipboards on Etsy as I was searching for a year end teacher gift.  I thought, "Eh, how hard could it be?", right?  I started with a pink plastic clip board I picked up at Staples.  Although I've read you can find cheap $1 that are brown at the Dollar Store.  Since the clip board was pink, however, I decided not to cover the back (it coordinated with my paper, and saved me time and supplies).

My first attempt to cover the board ended in disaster!  I used ScorTape to fasten the paper to the board, and started to apply Mod Podge in Matte finish.  UGH!  Immediately the paper began to bubble and wrinkle!  NOOOOOO!!!  I was yelling from the corner of my crafting space.  I think my husband thought I'd lost my mind.  I attempted to smooth the paper and thought that if I waited for it to dry, it'd lie flat again.  I think I waited about 15 min.  When that didn't happen I painfully pealed the paper from the clipboard and discarded it.  This was killer because this paper has been discontinued and I only had a couple sheets of it.  Ahhh!!!

After weighing my options and deciding I'd try again, I cleaned my space and crossed my fingers.
Here's the secret:
Apply a THIN coat of Mod Podge to the clip board - THEN apply the paper.  I worked one section of paper at a time.  I used an old plastic card that's for applying vinyl to walls to smooth out the paper.  Although, honestly, there were no bubbles (probably because the MP was a thin coat).  After all my paper was on the board I continued to smooth everything down with the card and made sure all the edges were affixed.

Then, you have to wait.  I wanted to be sure the glue was dry, so I waited almost 24 hours before I put the first coat of MP on TOP of the paper.  Make sure this is a thin layer as well.  I waited another 24 hours and put another layer of MP on top.  I figured two layers was enough and waited another 24 hours then sprayed with a Clear Acrylic Sealer.  After all that was done - I tied all my ribbons on.  The clipboard still works, and the lack of embellishments means the teacher can use this for anything she would like.

Supplies:
Clipboard: Staples
Ribbon: Misc Joann, Micheals, Hobby Lobby, Papertrey Ink
Paper: KI Memories
Cricut Cartridge: Storybook font
Adhesive: Mod Podge, Matte Finish
Clear Acrylic Sealant