Reading Nook wall decor

After getting some inspiration via pinterest and my web browsing, I found a picture of a reading in a classroom with the word 'read' on the wall made out of wooden letters painted white with black designs on them. I knew I definitely wanted to do something similar. I wanted actual color on the letters for two reasons: 1) i have tan walls and a color scheme already in mind 2) I have read some feng shui books for the classroom, as well as, book pertaining to special needs students and for those students black and white can overwhelm them since there is such a contrast in colors. Also I learned that having lots of red in the classroom can also be distracting and make students feel more anxious. All in all, thank goodness that I was already thinking of staying more neutral, calming with blues, greens, tans,  whites, and occasional bright focus pieces. I have a travel/adventure theme already in place since it fits with the grade level (5th grade). I read once again that exploration is a big key thing to stress in 5th, plus a lot of the curriculum covers exploration in its many facets. Let us not forget I myself have the travel bug so i will also enjoy such theme (and i can use some of my travel pictures in my classroom! bonus!). Anyways, back to my latest project... I went to hobby and bought the chipboard letters (walmart doesn't carry the bigger letters anymore!), I also decided to make the project easier and headed to the scrapbook paper aisle-- which if you ever hear about me heading to hobby lobby you can always find me in that aisle.... so addicting--- and I can't help it that feel compelled to take advantage of scrapbook paper sales (which is it me or does it seem like it is always on sale at hobby lobby?!?!). Anyways I found Daily Junque paper by house of three in a pack of 24 pieces. The colors were perfect and it is actually card stock paper. The only downer was that the pages are double-sided (not the same print on both sides) so that kinda sucks. Once at home I picked out my papers to use on each letter: 'R'- I wanted bold and eye catching but not a real busy pattern. 'E' I went with a pink colored paper that had a pretty busy pattern/ collage feature.  'A'- I went with a pink graph paper that had a distressed/ stained look but helps balance the pattern on the 'e', 'D'- I wanted to something that popped but still kept balance so I went with the yellow number patterned paper.. plus the paper was too darn cute not to use. I used modpodge to attached the paper after stenciling the letters on to the paper and cutting them out. I did not use modpodge on top of the paper since I didn't want a gloss plus this way i can always remove the paper easier if i want to change up my theme. Below are pictures of each letter and then them all together! I can't wait to put them up in my reading nook in my classroom!!! They turned out sooo cute!

 I also love that the 'E' says destination on it, has a map print, and a globe-- perfect!!!