Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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How To Make A Fabric Covered Bulletin Board

It’s time for a board meeting guys. Nothing official, just an actual meeting of cork boards, like so:

Cork Board2

Let’s back up. I had this random idea that a hidden bulletin board in my closet would be a fun place to tack up a bunch of pages I’ve torn out of magazines. You know, cute outfits, haircuts, and other various tips/reminders that I rip out (like how to check my freckles for signs of skin cancer – yes I actually do that). That way, instead of shoving them somewhere like a drawer or letting them pile up on my desk, I can see them all at a glance… with the push of a few hangers.

See what I mean?

Cork Board0

When I push my clothes to the side there’s a nice big swatch of unused wall space on my side of the closet. And that way my lady mag cuttings won’t be all up in John’s face (or anyone else’s really) except for mine – when I want to see them. And if I don’t I can just leave my hangers in their normal position and my incognito board is… incognito.

So to make a little fabric covered cork bulletin board, I grabbed two $6 packs of cork from Target (for a total of eight squares, but I only used six so I think I’ll use the other two to make cork flooring for Clara’s someday dollhouse – haha). Oh and I had leftover fabric (called Khanjali Peacock by Robert Allen) from making the curtains in the dining room and upholstering the chairs in the office (originally snagged on clearance for $12 a yard from a local fabric outlet called U-Fab). So I opted to use that already-owned fabric to dress up my cork.

Cork Board 1

That makes the total cost of this project $12 for the cork (since I already had the fabric), but it might run you $15-$25 to make a board this big if you don’t have fabric on hand and have to buy some. A smaller board with just four squares will only run you six bucks for the cork though, so that’s another option.

Anyway, back to the meeting of boards. I just lined up six of them like this and used duct tape to connect them (the cork is exactly the same on both sides, so just use whatever side that you tape together as the back).

Cork Board3

Then I added a little more duct tape to reinforce it (since thin sheets of cork are pretty floppy).

Cork Board4

Then I cut a piece of fabric that was about 2″ larger (on all sides) than the 36 x 24″ cork rectangle that I had made.

Cork Board5.5

And I pulled them around the back and used duct tape to secure them nice and tight.

Cork Board5

Oh and before I cut my remnant I paid attention to the pattern so it would look nice and centered. Here she is from the front after her nip and tuck:

Cork Board7

And here she is after I used six small nails to tap the four corners (and the top middle and bottom middle) right into the wall to secure it. This way I can just remove the nails to free up my board if I ever want to remove it to repaint the closet for example – or want to hang it somewhere else someday.

Cork Board8

Then I started pinning things up. First I pinned some notes/reminders I took about three years ago from a book called Gorgeously Green (love that book). And an article about how-to-alleviate-allergies from Real Simple (this pollen is trying to kill me). And a skin cancer checklist thing from Glamour magazine to keep me from being neurotic and thinking every last freckle is bad news. What? I was burned a lot as a kid. And you know $herdog rocks the pasty white limbs (evidenced here and here).

Cork Board9

Then it was time for the fun stuff: People/bags/coats/hair that I like (you know, to help me combat the dreaded Mom Slump that I most definitely have fallen into).

Cork Board10

It was about this moment that I realized that patterned fabric + a junkload of stuff pinned at random = chaos. So if you’re more of a less-is-more person, using a more subtle fabric (like tan burlap or linen) or even leaving the cork boards naked might be more your speed. But oddly enough, I love it. Imperfectly cluttered and all. Maybe because I used to make crazy-busy magazine collages as a kid? And it’s especially convenient in the back of my closet because I can just slide my hangers into their normal positions and hide it all away from view.

So what did I do? I piled even more on there. Haha.

Cork Board11

It might not always be this paper-riddled and crazy down the line (I have vague plans to remove some things once I try the hairstyle or buy the item that inspired me to rip it out). But it’s so much fun to stare at that I’m having a hard time leaving my closet.

Cork Board12

So you’ll be comforted to know that I’m not any more fabulous or well coiffed, but I spent the better part of last night hanging out in a 5 x 6 space with lots of people who are. And the good times were rolling.

Whenever I feel bad for subjecting John to my Lady-Business Board, I just slide those hangers closed and it looks like this:

Cork Board13

I think it takes me back to grade school when I had a poster of Joey Mcintyre (yes, of New Kids On The Block fame) hidden in the back of my closet so I could go in there and sigh at him. Which I did every day after school. At length.

*slides hangers back to unveil Joey poster* Oh Joey. *sighs, slides hangers back to hide Joey poster, wistfully leaves closet*

Anyone else hiding things behind other things? Or tearing out haircuts and clothing far more fabulous than your own (sometimes pretty things are just fun to look at). Or embracing a little controlled chaos? Sure my $12 pinboard was pretty without all that stuff on it, but seeing all of my tear sheets hanging out together in front of it makes me nerd out.

Psst- Check out another pinboard project involving cork squares here.

Comments

  1. Brooke says

    I totally forgot to mention above, but we went to The Tile Shop to pick out our tile because it seemed like you guys always had such great experiences there, and guess what? They knew you! In PA! We got to talking about penny rounds and I said I read a blog written by some folks that had just put some up in a kitchen and before I finished the guy was like ‘Oh, do you mean John and Sherry?’ My fiance busted out laughing because I always refer to things like, well Sherry said… so now he thinks the whole world reads your blog :) Anyway, apparently the Tile Shop guy had just emailed you to ask about the wall color in your kitchen because he was interested in it for his own house. Too funny!

    Reply

  2. Beth says

    I love your entire inspiration board, but I especially love that you included a skin check reminder:)!

    I’m 32 and just had a melanoma removed in January…scariest thing ever! I have fair skin and while I’ve never been a tanner, nor do I recall burning as a child, I did play years of outdoor sports all summer long. I’ve made regular dermatology visits for ‘mole checks’ my whole life, and would definitely recommend routine checks for anyone with a similar skin type or family history of skin issues. (My melanoma was on the back of my arm and was discovered by my dermatologist on a routine visit.) Thanks for posting such a great reminder, especially as summer approaches = Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen!

    Reply

  4. Maggie says

    I WANT so badly to have a walk-in-closet like yours. Now my closet also function as a storage for anything, from unused clothes to luggage to detergent :<
    I used to put my torn-out magazine pages on the map (so many of them!!), organized by theme. But now I use the computer to save pictures. While the maps sits nicely on the overloaded cabinet, waiting for me to open them again someday. soon. hope so. :D
    greetings from Indonesia to u guys !!!!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Aw greetings back atcha Maggie! I’m sure you’ll end up with a walk-in closet someday! In our last house I was dying for one, so here’s hoping you find yours someday!

      xo,
      s

  5. Christine says

    I should make this and get my ugly mole chart off my bathroom mirror. I’m sure my hubby gets sick of seeing it first thing every morning. But you can never be too careful says the lady diagnosed with melanoma at 30 weeks pregnant.

    Reply

  6. Rachel says

    I love that you hid Joey Mcintyre in your closet. When I was in 4th grade and a bit embarrassed to admit to my parents that I loved JTT, I would hide posters of him behind my kitten and puppy posters. Once one of my posters fell down to reveal my hidden crush. I was so mortified. Hilarious to think of now, though!

    Reply

  8. Claudine says

    Oh, my God!!! You and your followers (including me) are hilarious!! Because you are SO POPULAR and I had to scroll down THREE MILLION posts to leave mine and I read a bunch of comments and your answers! Maybe you should print some of these stuff and bind it! It would be a great coffee book table for your guests and family (and kids) to enjoy!
    I love your blog!!!
    Oh, and GREAT idea!!! I could not believe you were using duct tape!!! Brilliant!!

    Reply

  9. Kitty says

    I love this idea, I’ve been trying to think of a way to incorporate a more pretty noticeboard into our kitchen re-do and this is it!

    Reply

  12. Chrissie says

    So clever, and pretty too… actually, it’s kind of like you if you were a pinboard. I think there’s something in that for all of us.

    I’ve only ever seen these used in kitchens and the like, it’s so clever to use it in your bedroom.

    Reply

  13. Katie says

    So cute! They also sell the cork squares at michaels so with a coupon, this project can cost even less! I’ve been wanting to do something similar for my craft room- thanks for the nudge!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yes, I bet if you had a frame lying around you could take the glass out and glue or tape the cork to the back of the frame and it would be a framed pinboard. You could also build a frame around it with molding or trim!

      xo,
      s

  15. lesli devito says

    Hi Guys. LOVE the cork board idea!!!And the fabric, as always is spectacular!

    I did a similar type thingy with of all things, foam core board…check it out.

    Getting excited for the big day. I happen to love the “twos”, but I remember each time one of the kids turned 2, and seemed to immediately, ” BE” two, we would look at each other and say…”they got the call…and now they are in the TWO club!”

    http://myoldcountryhouse.blogspot.com/2012/02/tutorial-snazzy-message-board.html

    Have a great day, I am driving a field trip to Richmond Friday…I will honk if I see ya!

    Reply

  16. Megan says

    That’s a great idea! I’m right there with you on the mom slump. I am going to do something similar; I’ve been getting lots of outfit idea’s from fashion blogs. I’m a total digital girl, but sometimes you just need a hard copy of your inspiration. I’ve decided to keep a photo album in my closet and print out the outfits that I like so I can flip through it regularly.

    Reply

  17. Sabrina says

    I am totally doing this. I have so many clippings in my top drawer. I hear that Mom slump. I blew out my hair the other day and the hubs asked me why I was getting so dressed up lol

    Reply

  18. Nancy S says

    I wish my closet was big enough for a lady-business board :)
    I just wanted to add an fyi. I’ve put up the cork squares in a lot of places(inside armoire doors & kitchen cupboard doors). I’ve had problems with the cork being to thin to hold the thumbtacks in place. Now, I put a piece of foam board behind the cord & it works like a charm!

    Reply

  19. Dana P. says

    I’ve been reading through the comments and never realized hanging posters in closets was a thing. Maybe it’s because my closet was so small growing up, but my posters were on the wall by my bed (and on the next wall, and next wall…). You have good taste…Joey was my man too :)

    Reply

  20. Andrea Roberge says

    I noticed a couple pictures there of shorter bobs with side swept bangs- this would be so cute on you! I love magazine clippings like that to motivate me to try something different with an outfit, and get out of the “same old, same old”. I jsut wish I had enough room in my closet to move the hangers out of the way! haha…. maybe some spring cleaning is in order….

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      See, that’s my fantasy haircut. Unfortunately I have a super annoying cowlick in the front that even hairdressers think they can master with a flat iron and a blowout, so they cut my those bangs and then end up saying “oops, guess you’ll have to pin them bangs back until they grow out” – it’s a mean twist of fate I tell ya!

      xo,
      s

  21. Julia says

    Lol – reading this post literally caused me to smack myself on the forehead and say “Duh!” out loud – while at work! :)

    Reply

  22. Ashley says

    I’m just wishing my closet wasn’t so packed to the gills with clothes that I could actually move things away and see the back wall! :)

    I’ve got a binder of stuff… but I almost never actually look at the stuff after it’s been torn out. My husband’s just happy I’ve stopped hording the magazines and now just hord little bits of them….

    Reply

  23. [email protected] says

    In case no one has mentioned this, a much easier way than taping all the cork squares together is to just purchase a regular corkboard (though it does have a wooden trim) and cover that for the same price (available at Target/Staples/etc). I did this to hang big chunky necklaces from in my closet – might have to add another one as an idea board though! Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply

  24. Kim Davis says

    What a great idea!
    I repurposed an old school bulletin board (literally a bulletin board from an old school… snort) and used it as my inspiration board slash storage for my jewelry.

    It was locked when I bought it, hence the $30 price tag (and of course no key) so we had to “gently” bust the locks and now I use some old keys that I had as handles when inserted into the original locks. We just had to remove the flourescent light fixture, replace the cork board, give it a good rub with some Murphy’s oil soap and… Viola!

    I change out the inspiration pieces with the seasons. I also use it as another place for my daughters artwork that especially love (which who am I kidding I love it ALL).

    Anyways, as always love your shizzle.
    K

    Reply

  25. Cathy says

    This reminded me of the one I created but abandoned…need to get back on that pinning horse pronto! FYI, I made mine using IKEA’s VÄGGIS corkboard for only $6.

    Reply

  26. Kelly says

    Sherry, you never cease to amaze me with your ideas. I never would have thought to do this and now that I have a nice walk in closet, I will be using this idea to dress the walls up in there. Plus, the clippings won’t be hidden in a file cabinet or cluttering up my dining room table!

    Brilliant! Thank you!
    :-)

    Reply

  27. Lesley says

    So, Great! I just did this for an art display wall for my 2 year old to hang in our hallway:) I had a large, old framed cork board, great scrap of fabric and some paint for the frame. Poof, a great way to brag about the munchkins scribbles:)

    Now, I do have a second cork board and will be doing a mommy inspiration board soon….

    Reply

  28. Sarah says

    I love this! I don’t actually have a closet – small apartment, one closet, hubs had more clothes so he won out – but I have an armoire. I did something vaguely similar only it was on the inside of the armoire doors, and I used bluetack to put up a bunch of inspiring magazine photos – celebs who I admire, motivational quotes, that sort of thing.

    Reply

  29. Trissta says

    Seriously, this is a super smart idea. No more going through your clothes and saying you have nothing to wear. This will help you pick stuff out that you like!! I’ve done this with insulation board, but put it in my office. Never thought about hanging it in my closet. Genius.

    Much Love,
    Trissta

    Reply

  30. Ellen says

    AWESOME idea! I’ve currently got a short stack of pages ripped out of magazines sitting on my coffee table, just waiting to go into a notebook. Of course, the notebook is in my desk and never gets looked at, so what’s the point? However, I have some fabric scraps that have just been waiting to be used so this is the perfect project. I may even do a smaller version on the back of the linen/storage closet door in the bathroom for makeup/hair/etc. tips!

    Reply

  31. Olivia says

    I love this! I actually just did something very similar with a corkboard I inherited from work after a recent remodel. Yay for free stuff! I painted the frame around it white ad picked up a couple yards of cheapy fabric from Wal-Mart.

    Also, I have to comment on the fact that I LOVE that you pulled out the check-your-moles chart from a magazine. I do the same thing. And stash them in my nightstand drawer. And then pester my boyfriend with them as an annoying reminder to check his moles. So I’m right there with you!

    Reply

  32. Colleen P. says

    I’m sure dermatologists everywhere wish all their patients were as diligent! I was born a pale redheaded child in a family of bronzed people that never burned, thus I suffered a LOT of burns as a child! I am covered with moles as well, so I have many many many things to check at my yearly skin check. I am SO with you on the skin checks and sunblock and rockin’ the pale skin!!! AND for slathering the lovely bean in sunblock as well-I only wish anyone had thought of it when I was a little bean myself!

    Reply

  33. Kristina says

    Haha I love the “lady business” comment. I hope you watch “Up All Night,” cause it totally reminded me of that. “I don’t want a man in my lady business!” lol

    Reply

  35. Jessica says

    Great post! Three things:
    1. I had a huge crush on JTT. But I had my poster on my wall by my bed! No hiding that crush. I always felt awkward watching Home Improvement with the family and wondered what they were thinking about me watching my crush, haha.

    2. I just gave all of my old cork boards to Good Will! I wish I had seen this post earlier. I could have sneakily hidden all of my crazy papers in a closet. Who knew?! Oh and at work, I put all of my post it notes in a desk drawer. That way I can still be reminded without everyone thinking I’ve gone off the deep end. I call that drawer the inside of my mind.

    3. A little over a month ago I went to my first ever dermatologist appointment to get all of my moles checked out. I’m waaaay pasty, so I knew it was something I should be doing. I was very disappointed by the doctor, though. I will definitely be finding someone new for my next visit. She barely glanced at me. I don’t know how long a visit is supposed to take, but I definitely feel it should take more than five minutes to inspect a person’s whole body. Do you have John inspect the moles on your back?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yes, we both go (I make John, haha). It usually takes about ten minutes but they look in our hair, between our toes, etc. so it’s thorough!

      xo,
      s

  36. Rachel says

    Love the idea! I wish I had enough room in my closet to push the clothes to the sida. First step, larger closet. Second, make cork board!

    PS. The girl in the photo in yellow and heels, about looking taller, I went to college with her :)

    Reply

  37. georgia says

    Such a cool idea!!! Im always in a slump with clothes, sometimes i wish i could scrap it all and start from scratch and do a capsule wardrobe of the basics.
    Now where is the duct tape…

    Reply

  38. Rebecca says

    Hi Sherry, I am a YHL fan – congrats on a wonderful blog! You and John should be so proud of the success that has come your way – you are proof that passion and hard work pays off. This is my first time commenting and I was compelled to do so because of your Joey McIntyre admission. Of all the reasons… lol! I was a massive New Kids fan and had a major crush on Joe too! My room was wallpapered with their posters, and I even had a Joe doll, which has since been added to my daughter’s Barbie collection. Going to their Sydney Australia concert when I was 14 was one of the highlights of my teenage years. All these years later they are coming to Australia again and my sister and I are going to see them – ah the memories! I have a wonderful, gorgeous husband, but I still think Joe is swoon-worthy.

    Reply

  41. Ty Lee says

    Love it! I did something similar, covering cork with fabric, but I put it in a frame and then hung it on a wall. It’s where I pin photos, receipts, RXs that need refilling, whatever! It’s better than piling it on the counter tops, where it looks chaotic and messy. I love that you used duct tape! :)

    Reply

  42. Mary says

    WOW. . . and all this time I thought I was the only person in the world who had a poster of Joey from New Kids on the Block hanging in my closet?!?!?! I used to do the EXACT same thing, which is pretty hilarious now that I think about it!

    Reply

  43. Elisha says

    You all are mind readers everytime I want to do a project I go to your site and there you are walking me step by wonderful step on what to do!!!! And with perfect timing!

    Reply

  45. Ann says

    The “mom slump” happens to non-moms too! I think there’s a point after you are married and leave your early twenties when you just get bogged down by day to day and really realize that you’re wearing the same thing all the time! When you are younger, you’re just discovering your tastes and it is exciting (and you’re tiny so fit into all kinds of pretty things) but as you get older, you have to find a way to almost maintain that sense of playing dress up. My virtual version on pinterest has helped too but I’m loving this quick and easy fix!

    Reply

  48. leanne says

    I absolutely love this! And I totally know what you mean – I totally had a poster of Josh Hartnett in my closet hidden behind my clothes! Ha!

    Reply

  49. Lynn Morris says

    I love the idea but isn’t pinning them to pinterest even handier(is that a word?)? I love using pinterest because I don’t have to be neat and tidy with my “pages”!
    Just the same I may make a board liek this to pin up pictures of my favorite rock stars, my grandsons! Thanks for having such an awesome blog with great such ideas!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I use Pinterest too, these are just things I didn’t want to scan and size and upload to Pinterest, so pinning them on a board I can glance at while getting dressed is easier!

      xo,
      s

  50. Bianca C. says

    Haha, well I have to say I never hid things like that I can remember, last time I had a bedroom was when I was around 11, I can’t wait for the day I am able to make a space my own, a room, a house, till then, I constantly dream about it a pin about 20 things a day on pinterest :)

    Reply

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