DIY Dollar Tree Makeover: Turn Clipboards Into Decorative Frames

While looking through my crafting stash, I found a few clipboards AND inspiration for a new craft! I’ve been wanting to do a clipboard craft for AWHILE now, but only had 3 clipboards…

On the next day, I went to three DIFFERENT Dollar Trees and was super excited when I finally found clipboards at the last store (I was LITERALLY doing a happy dance in the store). So excited!!

I was LITERALLY doing a happy dance in the store…

Thanks goodness I have LOTS of Dollar Trees near me. When I got home, I rounded up my supplies and began my NEW (naptime) project for the day!

Clipboard Supplies Needed:

Getting Started

I had all the supplies on hand (except clipboards) to get started.

I used one of my FAVORITE colors (turquoise) for the clipboard itself. As for the accent color, I chose gold (which I used my “Handy Dandy” gold leaf pen for that).

DIY Dollar Tree Makeover: Turn Clipboards Into Decorative Frames: Getting Started

The white vinyl and hole punch AREN’T shown above. They were last minute add ons!

Step 1 – Tape Off Your Metal Clips

Since I want to paint the clip GOLD, I taped off the metal clip part with painter’s tape (to protect it from spray paint).

Step 2 – Prime Clipboards With Spray Paint

I sprayed painted ALL the clipboards with two coats of white spray paint (using it as a primer for the actual paint color). I let dry for an HOUR or so.

DIY Dollar Tree Makeover: Turn Clipboards Into Decorative Frames: Spray Painted Clipboards

My poor grass has spray paint spots all over it.

Step 3 – Paint Your Clipboards

Once the primer was DRY, I went over the clipboards with two coats of my paint color (using a foam brush). I let the FIRST coat dry for 20 minutes before adding my second coat of paint.

DIY Dollar Tree Makeover: Turn Clipboards Into Decorative Frames: Paint Your Clipboards

I am loving the turquoise color here!!

Side Note: If you LOVE turquoise, check out my inspiration board makeover and Christmas advent calendar craft tutorials!

Step 4 – Prep Metal Clips for Gold Leafing

I removed my painter’s tape and took off all the little plastic pieces from the clipboards.

Some were NOT-AS-EASY to remove, so I had to pull out the big guns (my pliers) to remove them. See I’m a hardcore crafter, I have tools!!

Step 5 – Add Gold Leafing to Metal Clips

Now I’m READY to add my gold leafing! I went over the entire area with my pen (letting DRY for 10 minutes).

This part was super easy…but I had 9 clipboards to do!

Step 6 – Add Your Polka Dots

After I added my gold leafing, I wanted to do something EXTRA to my clipboards. I thought, why not add polka dots!?!? I LOVE polka dots.

…I wanted to do something EXTRA to my clipboards.

I pulled out my “Trusty” hole punch and some WHITE vinyl to make my polka dots. I thought vinyl would work best (in case I wanted to change the look later).