Scrunchy Borders!

I just started going into my classroom this week. I've officially gotten the room rearranged and I am starting to work on my walls. I felt a little stuck on my bulletin boards this year but after looking at Jennifer's blue border over at First Grade Blue Skies, I was inspired to make my own scrunched border. I wanted to make it fun and colorful so I went all out with rainbow. ROYGBIV anyone?! I decided to leave the cork because I didn't want to add a color and make the look overwhelming. I really love the way it turned out.

 

This will be my future reading table/desk. One board will be our group names, reading strategies, and goals. The other will be a phonics reference chart and pocket chart for skill building.

 

I also have another large board that I am going to use as my word wall for this year. I have a little table that I am going to put in front of it so kiddos can work there during Work on Writing.

Here are the supplies that you need to make your own. I tore off large pieces of butcher paper and then cut them into strips using a paper cutter. Also be sure to use a good stapler that will open up all the way. Mine was a little fussy and kept jamming. It almost ended up getting to know the trash can better. :)

I had the pieces folded in half for cutting so this red piece gives you a better look at what the length is. It's about 2 feet long and maybe 4 or 5 wide. I know it seem big but remember that you are scrunching it.

 

I would not use regular paper for this. The butcher paper works well because it is thin and easy to manipulate. I think newspaper, thin scrapbook paper, and tissue paper would work just as well.

 

I liked starting in the top right hand corner and then working down and around. This helped me keep my pattern of ROYGBIV; however, if you are using one color or like to be spontaneous, start wherever. To start at the corner, all I did was pinch and wrinkle the paper. When I thought it looked good, I added a staple and moved down. It's a little awkward at first but then you get a groove going.

 I found that if I looped both of my fingers under the paper and pulled it forward and then wrinkled the bottom, it looked a little nicer. The beauty of making this border is if you don't like something pull it off and restaple it. I did it several times on my word wall board and you can't tell at all. I also tried wadding the paper in a ball first before stapling it but I didn't like it as much.

 Here's a view of all of the boards together. I'm so excited about these! Now I just need to get to work on the rest of the room!