Updated Cork Board

I seem to hold onto everything. It is a blessing and it is a curse. Lets just say my basement holds enough stuff to furnish and decorate a whole other house. Tell me I’m not the only one! One of the things that has been hanging out in the basement for some time is a bulletin board. The bulletin board hung in my room as a teen displaying all the important things of my teen life. Pictures, dance tickets and various memorabilia. I believe the bulletin board was a birthday gift from the little sis.

Well our desk is sitting on a naked wall! Bare naked! I have been hemming and hawing with what to do with this wall. I still don’t have it all together, but I know this bulletin board is going to be displayed someway on the wall. In fact, since I am pushing thirty I am now going to call it my inspiration board, because I am just sophisticated like that. So here is the low down on how to get your very own inspiration board.

You will need a bulletin board. If you received one as a birthday gift when you were a teen and saved it for the last 15 years you are in luck! If not, you might have to buy one. I picked up burlap (3.99/yd) and upholstery tacks from Joann’s. Upholstery tacks run under $2 a box and I used three boxes (with some left over). Obviously you don’t have to use burlap, but since this is my sophisticated inspiration board I wanted something with texture but no color or pattern. Simple board to show off my fancy-schmancy inspiration.

Well it isn’t a complicated process and you probably could all figure it out. There are lots of ways one could probably rock this project, but this is how I did it. I dropped the bulletin board on the floor (right in the middle of the mess) and threw the fabric down over it. Some people measure and plan, I jump in and hope for the best. This could totally backfire, but in this case it worked like a charm! So I plopped my first upholstery tack right in the corner. At this point I realized I needed a spacer so I grabbed the tape measure and used its width as my spacer.

Now would be a good time to tell you that I am pushing the upholstery tacks right into the cork, butting them up to the wood frame.

After all the upholstery tacks were in I trimmed the excess and hot glued the burlap in the back. I didn’t use the staple gun, because I thought it might just shred the burlap over time. Now my inspiration board is prepped and ready to inspire. As soon as she is hanging and full of inspiration I will post some pics.

Hmm…did I mention that a similar board retails at Ballard Designs for around $89.00! I say around, because they don’t have my exact size. Check out Ballard’s version.

 

With a little burlap and upholstery tacks you can knock off your own Ballard Burlap Message Board.

 

I’m kind of in love with how it turned out. I cannot wait to find the perfect spot and get her all dressed up with inspiration! Don’t you love when you can get a high end look for a fraction of the price?

 

CLICK HERE TO SEE WHERE I PARTY AT

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  • http://twitter.com/whbsblog Ann Marie

    hahaha! I have the exact same bulletin board in my basement AND the exact same problem! I love this and will probably be tackling this project during the week…

    • http://www.balancinghome.com Megan Bray

      It is such a quickie. Best of luck :)

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=13701168 Ann Marie Heasley

        I finished it the next day and am just getting it posted for tomorrow. I linked back to your tutorial. Such a great project, thank you!

        • http://www.balancinghome.com Megan Bray

          Yours turned out great! Love the twist you put on it.

  • http://baylorsays.blogspot.com/ Lauren@BaylorSays…

    AWESOME job!!  I’ve been wanting and wanting to make something similar (even have some white wannabe linen laying around for the task) but can’t seem to make it happen.  Beautiful, I absolutely love it. XOXO

  • http://baylorsays.blogspot.com/ Lauren@BaylorSays…

    AWESOME job!!  I’ve been wanting and wanting to make something similar (even have some white wannabe linen laying around for the task) but can’t seem to make it happen.  Beautiful, I absolutely love it. XOXO

    • http://www.balancinghome.com Megan Bray

      Right? This has been on my to do list (along with a million other things) for so long. Lets focus on all we do get done. Right?

  • Beckypmuir

    I really like your cork board,  I was justlooking at mine last night (covered in scrapbook paper) thinking that looks bad.  I am gonna try this now.  found you at the whipperberry party.
    drop by my blog sometime.  beckyscraftcloset@blogspot.com

    • http://www.balancinghome.com Megan Bray

       We are always changing things up around here! Do I feel a new project coming on?

  • http://thelotteryhouse.wordpress.com/ Andrea

    This is adorable!! It looks so gorgeous and high-end.

    • http://www.balancinghome.com Megan Bray

       Thank you! So simple and so cheap :)

  • Kim @ Twigs and Twirls

    I just made a small version of this myself. Yours looks great !!!

    • http://www.balancinghome.com Megan Bray

       Thanks!

  • Anonymous

    yes! i loved those boards at ballard design too, but i would never pay that much for a bulletin board. i want to do a similar design with a board i bought from HomeGoods. where did you get your upholstery tacks from? i wasn’t sure what to use, so thank you!

    • http://www.balancinghome.com Megan Bray

      Joanna Fabrics. Ballard has great ideas, but I can’t afford them. Good luck!

  • Caroline @ Double the Decor

    love love love this!  I’m kicking myself for donating my old cork boards!

    • http://www.balancinghome.com Megan Bray

       Ouch! There is always next time. Or maybe you will run into one during rummage sale season for cheap! cheap! cheap!

  • Karen Whitney

    This is gorgeous!!!

    • http://www.balancinghome.com Megan Bray

       Thanks for the compliment and taking the time to leave a comment!

  • Gina Cannary

    This inspired me to immediately stop reading craft posts and get started on my desk wall.  I actually have the bulletin board already – can’t wait to get started~!

    • http://www.balancinghome.com Megan Bray

      LOL! I love it! All these craft posts can really suck you in. Then you throw Pinterest into the mix and whoa! Glad you got your mojo. Super-easy project and since you have the bulletin board it is super cheap! Can’t beat that.

  • Jamie D.

    I love this! I have one that I have been wanting to ”grow up” and this is perfect. Even better it involves no painting!

    • http://www.balancinghome.com Megan Bray

       LOL! It is the easiest project ever! Glad you liked it.

  • Emily

    I actually like your version waayy better than the ballards version! Totally making this!

    • http://www.balancinghome.com Megan Bray

      Thanks! I can’t tell you how wonderful it was to get this compliment today. Thanks for making me smile.