If you are new to my blog, you may not know the story behind my Rainbow Chalkboard classroom theme…
I am really really good friends with Maria Manore who is the genius behind the blog, Kinder-Craze. Maria and I developed a friendship after she came to my garage sale (sounds weird, I know) two years ago. Maria is also from Michigan, but lives about 45 minutes away. I advertised that I was selling all of my teaching supplies when I decided to leave my teaching position to pursue Schoolgirl Style full time. Maria contacted me through my blog and she made the drive to my house. Long story short, we became good friends.
Maria and I love to talk about decorating. During one of our conversations, I offered to help her decorate her classroom for the upcoming school year. This is where it all began.
I asked her the important questions…
What are your favorite colors? What are you drawn to? What don’t you like? The list went on and on and on…
Ultimately, we decided on a rainbow pattern, but decided to add chalkboard to it. I won’t bore you with the details, but Maria was VERY nervous. I remember saying to her…”Just trust me.”
Well, thank goodness she did because this is how it turned out…
“Beautiful” doesn’t even BEGIN to describe this space!
I envisioned a playful environment that celebrates young children…that’s where the silhouette idea came from.
Maria adores bright colors and knew that she had to have a palette of pinks, greens, turquoise, lavender, orange, and yellow (her favorite color)!
Check out her awesome classroom library. How sweet is that silhouette? It looks PERFECT in that particular spot!
This was the area above Maria’s windows. We decided to make this the focal point of her classroom, since this is the first thing you see when you walk in. I knew this is where our “WOW” factor needed to be. These adorable silhouettes sets the tone AND the theme for our classroom design.
We dressed up boring windows with this pretty pennant banner! One of the best things about Schoolgirl Style products…print out as much as you like! You never have to worry about running out. Once you own the file, you have an unlimited amount of decor at your fingertips!
Maria created an adorable name banner above her desk! I LOVE the ribbon accents!
Lanterns, border, paper, and caddies can all be purchased in the Schoolgirl Style Shop.
Maria used my labels to create daily work bins.
Can you imagine walking into this room everyday? Maria used accents of pink chevron throughout her room. She used it on her prayer table (she teaches in a Catholic school), as cushion covers in her reading area, and in her computer area.
Maria spray painted the file cabinets her favorite color…YELLOW! I love the cute silhouette accents!
This is a view of Maria’s guided reading area and desk/teacher work area.
Maria also created several decor items to coordinate with her room. She has a number line, an alphabet line, and several other items. Head over to the Kinder-Craze blog to see EVERYTHING!
Decor close-ups
Below are photos of the Rainbow Chalkboard collection. You can see all of the beautiful items that come in the set. Lanterns, bulletin board paper, border, and caddies can all be purchased in the Schoolgirl Style Shop. Most of the decor items are editable…just click in the highlighted field and type away. We used the font KG Lego House for Maria’s room.
Giveaway!
Do you want YOUR classroom to look just like Maria’s? Now is YOUR chance to own this beautiful collection along with your bulletin board paper and border from Pacon. Plus, I’m going to give you coordinating lanterns to hang in your room too!
I’ve teamed up with Maria to offer you an amazing prize package!
Just curious…do you follow Maria yet?
You’ve peeked inside Maria’s classroom, but do you know her as a blogger?
Maria is one of the BEST bloggers out there…hands down. Now when I say “best blogger,” I’m talking about the content on her blog and the products she creates. Maria sets the bar pretty high when it comes to her attention to detail (something that I really appreciate and value AND you can see this in her classroom design). Everything she puts out there is impeccable. I follow her not only because she is my good friend, but because she is one of the best at what she does!
I would love for all of you to “meet” Maria and take a look at her amazing blog! Head on over to her site and you can take a look around AND enter our giveaway!
Here are the prizes:
-Rainbow Chalkboard full digital collection from Schoolgirl Style
-Fadeless paper from Pacon
-Coordinating border from Pacon
-Lanterns from the Schoolgirl Style Shop
Over $100 value!
Click HERE to head on over to the Kinder-Craze blog!
Let’s Go Shopping!
Photography: E.C. Campbell Photography (E’lisa took the photos below Maria’s classroom photos)
Rainbow Chalkaboard decor: Schoolgirl Style Shop
Fadeless bulletin board paper: Schoolgirl Style Shop
lanterns: Schoolgirl Style Shop
children silhouettes: Schoolgirl Style Shop
border: Schoolgirl Style Shop
metal pails, black cube baskets: Target
large clothespins, ribbon, flowers: Michaels
ribbon: Joann Fabrics
Colored buckets: Party City
paper: Staples (I used a high gloss photo paper for best results)
Most items are editable and can be personalized for a custom look (Type in your student’s names and customize classroom labels…perfect handwriting every time!)
I have tried several times, but I can’t find the silhouettes in your shop? Help!
Do you sell the children’s silhouettes? I’d LOVE to purchase them, but can’t seem to find them. Thanks!
I just added them, Melissa! 🙂
Hi! I just found your website and I must say, I’m obsessed!!!! I will definitely be bugging you for some help setting up my classroom. It’s my first classroom and I’m super excited. I am definitely interested in the silhouettes. But can’t seem to find them. Thanks 🙂
They are under my Rainbow Chalkboard collection. 🙂
Hi Melanie! Do you sell the Rainbow Chalkboard pennant banner separate? ADORABLE! : )
Maria is one of my favorite people, and seeing her room always makes me smile! What a team you two make!! I am continuously inspired by both of you! Thank you for sharing your talents with us! How much would I need to pay you to come visit my classroom in Mississippi??
Laura, thank you so much for the compliments!
I love all the bright colors in this set! I bet it just makes everyone happy as they enter! I’m having so much fun with your blog everyday. It’s all so new and fresh.
Maria’s room is simply to die for! It’s on of those images on Pinterest I’ve pinned and will pull up just to look at and sigh a happy sigh. Everything is such complete perfection! Like Maria, I can totally understand her hesitancy to include black in her classroom. I work in an older school building and fear that it would make my room appear too dark, but it totally works here for her!
I can’t wait to check back and see what you have for tomorrow!
Erin, I had to take a LOT of deep breaths to let the black into my classroom. Now that I have, I am obsessed with the black accents!
Awe! Thanks Erin!
Melanie, Thank you so much for sharing your creativity! I have pinned photos of Maria’s classroom to a couple of my boards. I also teach in a Catholic school, and have been trying to decide how to decorate for my firsties and the rainbow chalkboard theme is awesome! I have been furiously taking notes and scribbling ideas in a notebook. I don’t want this year to end yet, but am super excited to start getting ready for next year! Thank you again!
Thank you, Kimberly! This is a really fun theme for sure! Thinking about next year NOW is so normal…I was ready to change my theme by January every year! 🙂
Love, love, LOVE the silhouette idea!!! I’m thinking of a teaching theme for next year already (6 1/2 weeks of school left!) and I think this is going to be the start of my design. I also love your Hot Pink, Black and Grey Chevron classroom, but I don’t like pink, so I think I’m going to combine the two! I’ve been using inspiration from your designs for a while…happy to find a new blog with Kinder Craze!
Ashley
Tacky the Teacher
I can’t find the silhouettes either.. These really make the collection stand out.
How do you purchase the silhouettes? I don’t see them on your website 🙁
We just added them! 🙂
This is such a make-your-heart-happy collection! The colors are just beautiful– truly! I have a feeling that it is a real reflection of Maria… Lovely work, Melanie!
Diana, you are correct! This collection fits me to a “T”
I love this theme and the entire collection is actually in my TPT shopping cart right now! I am wondering…. what color of Pacon Boredette trim did Maria use? The colors all look faded on the Pacon website and I wanted to make sure I order the right colors to use with your collection! Thanks so much! Beautiful Work!! 🙂
Have you checked my shop? You can purchase everything there! 🙂 Maria used Azure, Magenta, Canary Yellow, and Black Bordette. 🙂
Here is the link…
http://schoolgirl-style.myshopify.com/collections/rai2000
What a sweet theme! What are the dimensions on the children’s silhouettes? Also, do you sell the blue backdrop with the clouds or is it fabric? Thank you!
That is bulletin board paper…I will be getting that in my shop too. The dimensions of the silhouettes just depends on how big you want to make them. You need to project them on a wall, trace them, then cut them out. You can make them any size! 🙂
Melanie,
I just LOVE all of your collections. I would really like to redo my room for next year. I am leaning towards the rainbow chalkboard collection as I love bright colors. I really want to work with you on how to upgrade my room. Do you think we can connect? I live in northwest Indiana too, so I would be willing to do a litttle driving to meet. Please get back to me and check out my blog: fabulousfirstgradestars.blogspot.com
I hope to hear from you son!
Maria,
Where did you get your alphabet with pictures? Love them and they match so well!
Keely…Maria (Kinder-Craze) made those. You can purchase them from her shop on Teachers Pay Teachers!
I just purchased this collection, and I am very excited about getting things together for my classroom this summer. I pulled up the PDFs in Adobe Acrobat to look and edit them. When editing, my computer just put in a small plain type. Do you have an helpful hints on how to edit them to match the rest of the collection? Which fonts are used? I normally work with Word, so I’m not very skilled on how to get the files to edit correctly in Acrobat. Thanks in advance!
Hi Kari! We would be happy to help you! If you email me at schoolgirlstyle@gmail.com, my assistant can walk you through the process! 🙂 ~Melanie
Hi Melanie,
I have completely fallen in love with this Rainbow Chalkboard collection!! Thank you for your hard work- you are very talented!! I recently had a baby and returning to school after my maternity leave was extremely hard for me. I am loving summertime with my sweet baby!! Going back in the fall has been a daunting thought for me already. After going through and being inspired by all of your collections, this one really sparked something inside me. Redecorating my classroom completely for the fall with this theme will help bring a new life to my classroom and help me refocus on organization and design to help maximize learning!
Awe! Thank you so much! I can definitely relate and know how hard it is.:( Decorating always helped me get excited about going back each year. 🙂
Hi. I’m thinking this is the theme I’m going to go with. I have shelving that needs curtains. I was wanting to do a chevron print. Do you think that would look okay or should I go with a solid? Thanks!
Either one would look fine. Since the the primary pattern is stripes, it is okay to do a chevron. If you have a lot of windows, I may go with a solid to avoid making the room look too busy. If you have 2-3 windows, a chevron would be great too! 🙂
Hi. I finally made up my mind for sure and purchased this collection. Does anyone have any advice on curtains that will go well with this? Thanks! Heather
Hi Melanie,
Love your designs! Is it possible to just purchase the rainbow pennant banner? It would be the perfect final touch to my classroom!
Thanks,
Cara
Absolutely! Just email me and we can set up a reserved listing for you. 🙂
Hi there,
I want to order the rainbow border, but I can’t find it anywhere on your site. Where should I look?
Thanks,
Lucretia
Is this the border that you saw in Maria’s room along the windows? If so, it’s not really border…it is the rainbow paper that we just cut to line her windows. This paper comes in the collection. 🙂
I used the sports theme in my resource room this year, what a hit! Everyone wanted to “be in my room”
I love your designs. I also love that you were a teacher before you became a designer, so you know what teachers are looking for. I am a special education teacher, I was wondering if you might be willing to add a silhouette of a child in a wheelchair? That would be AMAZING. Thanks!
I would absolutely love that! I will talk to my graphic designer…
I would love to know when there’s a kiddo in a wheelchair. I, too, am a special ed teacher and will have a child who uses a wheelchair this coming year again.
We have them included in our multicultural superhero package. 🙂
I have the rainbow chalkboard set and was wondering if you would consider a wheelchair silhouette? I am an alternate curriculum teacher. I have 2 kiddos using wheelchairs and would love, love, love to have a silhouette that represents how they play.
Hi! I love his classroom theme so much! I will have a kindergarten room in September and I think I want to go with this theme. I love the classroom rules but idid not see them, are they available? Also, what would be the best way to print everything? Thanks!
You can purchase the classroom rules from Maria Manore from Kinder-Craze – she created those to coordinate with this collection. 🙂 Here is the link to her store…
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Kinder-craze
I always print everything on photo paper.:)
Trying to come up with a way to use the lanterns even though I’m not allowed to hang them from the ceiling. Ideas? I really, really want to use them somehow. Also, what kinds of items do you think I could store in the gable boxes? Are the big enough for students to use to store their journals, folders, workbooks? Love getting ready for this theme! 🙂
I saw a suggestion somewhere for you to tie a string like a clothesline across the room with command hooks and tie the lanterns to the line.
I have been admiring this theme for months! I have a quick question…..how much ink is it going to take to print the component of this theme? Also, I was just bumped from first to fourth grade. Do you think this is still an appropriate theme for fourth grade? Thank you!
Hi,
I have purchased the silhouettes and I am ready to enlarge them. I am not able to put them over my windows due to the way they are made. I have a wall in the back of my room where I could put them as my focal point. Do you have any suggestions of how I should display the? Should I use them another way. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks you so much,
Kim
PS thank you for the way you use your talents to bless others.
I am in LOVE!! I am trying to find the rainbow border you used (under the silhouettes). Do you sell it or was it purchased somewhere else?
Thanks!
I just downloaded the theme. I’m so excited!! I’m on vacation now and I’m planning where everything will be going. I’m obsessed! Thanks for wonderful, creative products!!!
Also, I had a quick question and the email I received came back quickly with great help! LOVE it!!
Hi. I was finally able to get into my room and start my bulletin boards. I was having a hard time getting the bordette to look even and straight all the way around. I’m doing the three layers. Do you have any tips?
Thanks!
Heather
Hi!!!! I am obssesed with this collection and can’t wait to get into my classroom and get started with it!!! I love the colors 🙂 quick question ….. I love the simple bunting that Maria has over her windows. I had some bunting in my classroom this last year that I made but I felt like it was too small . From the pictures, Maria’s bunting looks large and I love it! I wanted to know what the measurements are on her bunting and just a basic overview of how you made the bunting 🙂 thank you again and both of you are amazing!!!!!
Well, you’re just a genius! Just discovered your blog…
Question, do you have a abc file that can be added (scissors and glue) to the rainbow chalkboard pennant for an abc line?
Thank you very much!!!
Hi, I was wondering where you got the alphabet strip that is shown in the classroom. It is chalkboard style, but with pictures on it. Also the chalkboard poster about children and play. I love the ideas and the classroom style 🙂 Thanks so much!
I’m about to purchase the Happy Rainbow collection, but I love the”Keep Calm and Let them Play” poster in the Chalkboard Rainbow collection. Can I purchase the poster separately?
You can have it for free, Keri! Just email me at schoolgirlstyle@gmail.com🙂 ~Melanie
Done! Thank you so much!