Learn how to make creative bulletin boards and door decs

1. Creating Bulletin Boards
EXPLORING THE MAGIC OF PAPER, SCISSORS, AND STAPLES

2. Background Material Options
 Butcher Block Paper (located in the Resource Room in Colonnades A)
 Wrapping Paper
 Newspaper
 Tissue Paper
 Fabric
 Anything else that is not super distracting and can be stapled down on the
bulletin board neatly

3. Things to keep in mind
 Before stapling a background to the bulletin board, make sure all staples
have been removed.
 It is easier to get a piece of paper that is a bit larger so you can cut it to fit
within the bulletin board
 Measure the bulletin board before you go to get paper
 If you do this part neatly, you can reuse the background multiple times
 Sustainability is cool.

4. Example

5. Border
 To make the bulletin board look crisp and eye catching, a border should
be added to the bulletin board.
 There are borders in the Resource Room. You can also get creative with
these!
 This is a way to cover up any little accidents that happened when putting
the background on
 Please re-use or return used borders to the resource room if you want to
change it up

6. Border Example

7. Read all about it!
 The goal of the bulletin board is to help residents learn something.
 You can create an interactive board with your residents so they learn about each
other
 You can base it on a theme for that month
 Think about what your residents need
 Do not use 8.5x11 sheets of paper- Rectangles become white noise. Get a pair
of scissors and snip away!
 Putting flyers on the bulletin board does not count. Flyers are great, but they
should be put up separately (please talk to your supervisor for specifics).
 Great Creative! We know you have got it in you!

8. Final Example of Bulletin Board

9. Door Decs – Why do we make those?
 Building Community – It’s a great way to welcome residents to their room
by their name and it helps them feel a sense of ownership over their
space.
 Safety – it helps university officials know who is living in the room and who is
not living in the space.

10. Door Dec Expectations
 Door decs must be completed once a semester (J-Term counts!)
 No 8.5''x11'' paper!
 Only use first names, spell names correctly, and always use students'
preferred names (make extra door decs to accommodate students who
may have different preferred names!)
 Don't use "Boy/Girl" colors or base them on gender stereotypes
 ONLY hang with blue painters’ tape! NO scotch tape, duct tape, putty,
or command strips, they damage the doors!
 Remember, your supervisor may have different/additional expectations!

11. Good Just no….
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
The name is misspelled or
crossed out. Take the time to
spell the resident’s name
correctly.
Colorful and creative!
Simple, but still visually appealing!
Although the minions are
really cute, door decs
cannot include the
resident’s last name.

12. Where can I find inspiration?
 Pinterest has a lot of door dec and bulletin board examples.
 Residentassistant.com is another great resource designed specifically for
RAs.
 Think about what your RA did last year. It’s ok to base your idea on
something you’ve seen before!