Pin-up Girl

I was hoping to have a newly revamped front hall closet to show you, but when Tom started cutting into the drywall at about 3pm on Sunday, I knew there wasn't going to be a Monday post.  He had the framing in and was trying to hang the doors level when he realized that the opening wasn't straight. Turns out that there was a twisted 2x4 in the wall right at the end.  Who puts the twisted board at the end (if you're going to use a twisted board at all)? 

So instead, I'm going to show off the cute little bulletin boards I put together. 

I used fabric from Goodwill - previously used on those sad stuffed turtles, ribbon from the $1 bin at Michael's, and two bulletin boards from Value Village priced at $3 each.  I bet it cost less than $10 to do both boards.

I rubbed some Minwax stain in Jacobean into the frames to provide more contrast between the wall and the boards.  I didn't sand one of them enough so the colours aren't the same. The frames are a bit too thin so I may switch them out later for some picture frames, just to give the boards more presence.

I'm not the first person ever to do this, so while my post is a tutorial, I'm sure you can figure out what was done.

I removed the cork board from the frame and cut a piece of yellow fabric slightly larger than the board.  The cork got a little damaged when being removed but, if that happens to you, don't worry since it'll all be covered with fabric.

Using a standard stapler I stapled the edges of the fabric to the back of the board, starting in the center of each side and pulling the fabric taut.  I then worked my way out to the corners so that the fabric was secure.

Let's stop to admire that for a moment. I like it already.

I used a pretty fabric ribbon in a coral colour so that items could be added to the board without having to put a tack through them.  I have ribbon in the same colour as the fabric, but the room is pretty neutral already, so it needed that pop of coral.

I started at a corner, stapled the ribbon to the back, went diagonally across the board to the opposite corner and stapled the ribbon to the back there.  Repeat for the other diagonal. 

I then found the center of each side and stapled the ribbon from the center of one side to the center of the next.  And apparently only took pictures of the measuring tape.

Make sure you keep track of whether the ribbon should cross over or under the ribbon already attached, so that you get a nice basket-weave effect.

I hot-glued buttons to the spots where the ribbons cross, just for some visual interest and to add more texture.

I then put the board back in the frame and was done.

I still need to mount them to the wall, but for now they are fully functional just resting on the worktable.  I decorated them with photos of my girls, my letter B (first purchase ever from Hobby Lobby!), and my ornament made of elephant dung.

Yes, you read that right. Come on, don't you have an ornament made of animal dung? 

You don't know what you're missing.

I love how there's so much going on - the yellow background, the white pattern on the fabric, the coral ribbon, the buttons, and then whatever I choose to pin onto the board.  Having so much together is very unlike me - but I've got to say, I'm really digging it.

~~~~~

I'm linking to these parties this week!