DIY Personalized Story Board

Storyboards are a great tool for kids to make up their own stories or to retell a story from a book.  I didn't know how much my 3 year old would actually play with one though, so I didn't want to spend much money (or time) making one.  I found some directions here, but didn't follow them exactly.  I also didn't model my storyboard after a specific book or story, I just chose a construction theme that I thought would interest him.

Here's what I used:

• canvas board (I got mine on clearance from Michael's - 50 cents for 3! - but heavy cardboard would work too)
• a piece of felt large enough to cover the board with some overlap
• sandpaper
• pictures and/or clip art printed on cardstock
• duct tape
• glue
• scissors

Center the felt on the board and cut a square out of each corner so it will lay right when you fold it over (I'm sure there's some technical sewing term for this but I don't know it.) Duct tape the felt to the back of the board, pulling it tight. If the look of the back concerns you, you could use colored duct tape or hot glue another piece of felt over the entire back.  Or stick it in a frame and leave the glass out.

Glue the pictures onto the back of the sandpaper and cut them out. The sandpaper will make the pictures stick to the felt.

I couldn't resist personalizing the construction guy.

I also added some roads and piles of dirt out of black and brown felt.

We played with it for a little while, but I'm glad I didn't invest much.  This came in under $2 (with my Michael's Labor Day coupon for the felt and the awesome canvas deal) and only about 10 minutes.  We'll see if he picks it up again tomorrow or if it ends up as a dog hair collector.  

Update:  He sure did play with it! Now I need to tell you something that is probably obvious to you but for some reason wasn't obvious to me.  Because of the sandpaper, this is a good toy for the floor and not for the table that you spent many precious naptimes refinishing.  For a more furniture friendly version back the pieces with felt!