Project 1: From Melissa
“I love coming up with a theme for my classroom. I use Diamondhard on all of my projects for my theme. I normally keep the same theme for a few years so I expect what I make over the summer to hold-up. After my school district painted my room, I decided that I should start with a new theme. I chose a Candy-land theme and knew that I would need to make several items that I didn’t want to spend the money to buy. I wanted to make the entrance to my room look like you were walking into the board game and I found candy striped archways that you could purchase for almost a hundred dollars on the internet. This was much more than I could spend. Instead, I used half-pints of Diamondhard and foam core. After two years, it still looks great and I was able to customize the columns by adding glitter.
I love finding creative outlets over the summer and decided that I could make my ceiling a little more fun by painting my ceiling tiles. I started by only painting a few the first year and continued to do a few each summer. I always use Diamondhard spray paint to start. It creates a smooth surface and sticks perfectly to the porous surface of the ceiling tiles. I then use various half-pints of Diamondhard and get creative! Several of my tiles are many years old and they still are as bright and vibrant as the day I painted them. Every year I receive many compliments from parents about my ceiling tiles! It is such a simple way to make a huge difference in the look of your classroom.”
Project 2: From Stacie
“Just like other school districts, mine is on a strict budget. Items are not replaced unless absolutely needed. In many cases this means that you have older items in your classroom that are still fully functional, but not as appealing to the eye as you may like. I have found that a quick paint job can dramatically change the look of these items. My teacher desk was a very plain color gray with lots of scratches and dents. Compared to all of the color I had in my room, the desk looked very out of place. Last summer before my floors were cleaned I decided that I would paint my desk. The metal surface was in very rough condition. I used Diamondhard spray and after two thin coats my desk was transformed! I started a trend in my building and before the end of the summer; four other teachers had painted their desks with Diamondhard. Some used Diamondhard spray and some used a quart and a brush. Both yielded the same results, a completely different looking desk! The paint stuck perfectly to the metal surface and dried quickly. Because of the durability of Diamondhard I will not have to repaint my desk for several years!
I have used Diamondhard for several other mini-projects in my classroom. An old stool was made new again with Diamondhard spray and a new cover. Instead of an old black stool with chipping paint, I now have a clean and bright stool in our school colors.
I needed a storage rack for my student’s data binders. I found several that I could order out of teaching magazines for a very high price. Instead, I built my own and used Diamondhard to finish the project. It works perfectly and looks great!”
Project 3: From Lindsay
“As a teacher I am always trying to find ways to save money on items for my classroom. When I finish a project, I want it to last and be durable. I like to find ways to make items instead of purchasing them. Diamondhard Acrylic Enamel has fit these requirements in my classroom on many occasions.
A few years ago, our district hired painters to paint our classrooms. They agreed to supply builders paint with a few colors to pick from. Instead, I opted to purchase a few gallons of Diamondhard for the painters to use. Several of my teacher friends thought I was crazy for paying for paint when they were going to supply it, but now they are wishing they would have done the same. After only two years there is already a huge difference between the walls of my classroom and theirs. After just a year of putting up with scuffs, posters, and hand-prints, their paint is already starting to chip – while mine looks perfect. When cleaning a spot or a mark on their wall, they not only lose the spot but they wipe away the paint as well. When cleaning my room, I can easily wipe the walls knowing that the paint will stay in place.
I am more than happy with my choice of Diamondhard for my walls and know that it will continue to look new and last for many more years.”
