Fabric-Covered Message Board {Tutorial}

I just recently bought a new desk for my computer and crafts.  The desk is an antique writing desk and has a large piece that goes on top that has two shelves, however my monitor is quite large and so my mom and I took one of the shelves off.  Except now I have this large open space and it's kind of irritating me.  And the wall that the desk is against had a large corkboard on it.  So, lost that because I don't have any other wall to put it on.

I started to think about making a message board and this sort of thing came to mind...

Well something like the above seemed like a lot of work, so I had these two cake rounds from a DIY cupcake stand.  And of course I have a ton of fabric and ribbon. 

Pretty sweet!

Fabric-Covered Message Board

What you'll need:

Fabric (at least a 17"x18" piece)

Cake rounds (I used 2 and 14" size you can use what you want, but be sure to change to size of the piece of fabric)

Ribbon

Fabric button cover kit

Spray glue

Scissors (obviously)

Since I used two cake rounds I sprayed one and placed the other on top of it.

Lay your fabric on top to make sure you glue it on straight.

Start at one side and spray the cake round (make sure you go a little at a time, if you do it all at once you're more likely to have a lot of wrinkles or it may be crooked)

Smooth the fabric down as you go.

Turn the fabric-covered board over and trim the edges.

Then make a cut every 1-2 inches all around the circle.

Spray the back with glue (do just a little at a time) and press the strips of fabric onto the board.

Your hands will be sticky and this will happen :)

The cake round I used was 14".  I decided to cut my ribbon 2" longer than the cake round is wide.

Lay the ribbon out to make sure you are good with the placement.

Spray the back of the board just where the ribbon needs to be glued down.  (The back is going to be sticky- you can let it dry overnight before you go on if need be.)

Follow the instructions on the fabric button cover kit and make yourself a few buttons.

It may seem kind of odd but I decided to sew my buttons on.  So, grab some thread and a thick needle to sew the button unto cardboard.

Now, for hanging the board I love these new Command picture hangers.  I just used two sets since the board is so light.

One set on top and one set on bottom.

Then...TA-DA!!!

No more bare "wall" at the back of my desk!

Make your own and let me know how it goes!

Jessica’s Office & a Fabric Cork Board Before & After

My sister has a home office for her photography business and we're trying to decorate it in the most DIY and hand-me-down stuff we can.

Her desk was my mom's desk that my sister bought from her then my mom painted it white for Jessica's office.

Her desk chair was a hand-me-down from me.  I had it when I lived with my parents, but now I have no room for it, so it got passed on.

There's a corner cabinet that I also passed on to her.  Eventually, it's going to be painted the same color as the desk and some different hardware put on it.

These shelves came all the way from West Virginia.  They were going to be put up in their last apartment, but now they've found the perfect home.

I also handed down this lamp.  They had it in their apartment too.  Yeah, it's a little dusty :)

A love seat for clients to sit on, purchased on Craigslist (and another place for Chad to fall asleep at 7pm).  And a pillow bought at Target.

Zorro is something old, and will never go out of style.  He is always in the office and even sleeps on the desk next to Jessica.

Now let's get to the whole purpose for this post.  The cork board.  Another hand-me-down.  I think the cork board has come all the way from Ohio with my parents.  Now, it's Jessica's.  She bought the fabric at a local fabric store.

Before:

After:

This project was really easy.  I sprayed the cork board with spray adhesive then spread the fabric over it.  The glue is really sticky, so I recommend doing it a little at a time.  Then I had fabric hanging over the sides so I trimmed it then used a flathead screwdriver to push it under the frame.  I know it would have been easier to take the frame off and wrap the cork, but NO it couldn't be that easy.

The board will be hanging on Jessica's wall before too long.  I think it's going to look really good.