How to Convert a Bulletin Board into a Magnet Board

I volunteer at my kids’ school’s PTA.  I hold contest for all of the painless fundraiser items such as Box Tops for Eduction, Labels for Education, Coke Rewards Codes for School, Community Coffee Cash for Schools, and Tyson Project A+.  My first year as coordinator, I did a traditional bulletin board with a horse race.

However, this required a lot of time to make the sticky tack pliable each week for all of the horses.  I wanted something that would be easier and faster.

So, I found a company called Kling.com that specializes in Paper Steel (they have a standardized retail product they call Magic Wall).  However, I custom ordered mine.  My order was 4 cloud panels 23-11/32 inches x 23-11/32 inches, and 4 black (reverse white) panels 23-11/32 inches x 23-11/32 inches.  All panels have the steel inset by 1/2 of an inch all the way around.  This cost me about $240 for the 8 panels, custom labor charge, and shipping.  I found this a cheaper (and more flexible) option than having them print on the panels -- which they can do.

Then, I set off to find magnets that I could use on my magnetic receptive material.  I found www.esigns.com which offered custom car/van magnetic signs for a decent price.  I ordered several different magnet sheets -- some with the horses (one for each teacher), lanes, start/finish lines, Contest Deadline sign , Contest Winner sign, etc.  I used scissors to cut out the shapes from the magnetic sheets.  My dad helped me cut out the lanes (which I opted for max length of 2 feet) and other straight lined items.

I used a craft hole puncher (smaller than the standard hole puncher), to punch holes on all 4 of the sides of each panel.  I will use thumb tacks through these holes to hold the panels onto the bulletin board.