{DIY} :: Custom Message Board

Hi there! Happy Friday! 

Need a little DIY inspiration? Remember the Weekend Project Series that I started? 

Well I finally get to show you the project. It took forever to get the fabric order in. Thank you to those who gave your input on the fabric selection. I ended up choosing the Braemore Konya Ikat in Pond from fabric.com. Just be mindful of their long order processing and shipping. They aren't in a hurry there.

Plus, to be honest, I am a little behind on blogging...

So what was I using the fabric for? A custom message board! I have this small space under my kitchen cabinets that collects paper, cards, and invitations. We were making a cork board out of wine corks but I didn't like the look of it and it was too small for the space. I couldn't purchase a store-bought message board because this area was a unique space, so customizing one was a must!  Here is the DIY How-To:

Custom Shape Message Board

Materials Needed:

• Wood Panel or Particle Board
• Cork Tiles (found at Michael's)
• Cotton Batting (thin, basic kind. Found at Hancock Fabrics)
• Decorative Fabric (i only needed 1 yard, but measure your project first)
• Nail Heads Used for Upholstery (found at Lowe's in the hardware section)

Tools Needed:

• Pencil (and string if you do a round shape)
• Measuring Tape
• Circular Saw
• Palm Sander or Sand Paper (course grit)
• Hammer
• Staple Gun

So here was the plan: I measured the space and decided on a shape:

Then, using a piece of wood shelving that I had laying around the basement, I measured, traced, and cut the wood to the right shape. Obviously the blade of a saw doesn't cut round shapes, so I did the best I could. You can use a palm sander to soften the edges if you choose to do a similar shape.

After it was cut into the correct shape, I attached the store-bought cork tiles. They were easy to cut down with a box cutter so that it fit perfect to the shape of the board. I just used the double-sided tape that came with the cork tiles to attach it to the wood. You could also use hot glue or Elmer's.

This what the board looked like after attaching the cork.  At this point, you want to move to a clean working environment, which is why I moved from the basement to upstairs.

I ironed the fabric and the batting and laid both face-down on a clean surface, then laid the wood on top close the edge (cork side facing down). I left about 2 inches on the sides.

Using a staple gun, staple the edges of the fabric to the board as you pull tightly. 

The curved edges were a little tricky.

After you have tightly stapled the fabric around the entire piece, cut the extra fabric.

At this point, this is what it should look like.

Finish with nail head trim. I purchased a pack of 20 nail heads at Lowe's for a little over $2. Make sure to have a few extras because some will break if you hammer them too hard. It took me about 3 packs to complete this board. Space the nail heads accordingly and tap them [lightly] into the board using a hammer.

 

This is the completed project! Not the best photo, but you get the idea.

I was recently commissioned to make one for a friend to give as a Christmas gift...she wanted to use natural canvas and I really love the way it looks with the bronze nail head.

Is your nest in need of a custom message board? 

It's the perfect DIY project for a rainy {or fingers crossed, snowy} day.