This celestial design is all about communication: Here, family members can leave messages for one another on a marker board, tack up schedules on the corkboard or write a funny joke on a chalkboard wall. The outer space theme and glow-in-the-dark features will especially appeal to preteens, who can spend hours here doodling and hanging out (especially if it's near the phone). The one we did was in an unused closet, which really showed off the glow-in-the-dark paint. However, you could use any small, accessible space, such as the back of the door or the area under the stairs.
MEMO BOARD
Using a jigsaw, cut bath panel into a star-shaped
marker board, or, as we've done here, cut corrugated cardboard into a star shape, paint it white, then glue a marker board to it.
PENS IN SPACE
On a few of the
glow-in-the-dark stars, we affixed
Velcro dots, then put matching dots on a few message pens, so they could float
in space.
PEN HOLDER
To make a handy catchall for pens, chalk and erasers, screw two cup hooks in a handy spot on the wall, then hang a plastic berry basket from them.
CORKBOARD MOON
Cut out a circle of
cork (ours has a 15-inch diameter) and glue it onto a matching circle of corrugated cardboard. Paint the cork, then attach the moon to the wall.
MAGNET PLANET
Here, we painted a large (20-inch diameter) circle of corrugated cardboard with two to three coats of
magnetic paint, then covered
it with a
glow-in-the-dark topcoat. Using double-sided tape, we attached a "ring" of
cork around the middle for holding extra messages.
