How to Make a Chic Bulletin Board

Every dorm room needs a special touch, and a great way to give it that touch is by learning how to make a chic bulletin board. Chic fabric boards are great for displaying pictures, mementos, and notes without damaging the item or the wall. The boards are easy to make and can be designed and customized in any way that you like. Using blank artist canvas and upholstery fabric will give you durability and a ready made sturdy frame.

Step 1 – Cutting and Measuring.

Lay the upholstery fabric on a flat surface, placing the blank artist canvas in the center of the fabric. Mark an outline on the fabric, leaving three inches between the edge of the canvas and the mark of the outline. Cut the fabric along the outline. Cut strips of ribbon in various lengths to form a lattice work design over the face of the canvas. Measure the strips of ribbon two inches longer on each end so they can attach to the back of the board and be hidden.

Step 2 – Attach the Fabric.

Lay the upholstery fabric on a flat surface with the backside facing up. Place the blank canvas face down on the center of the fabric. Starting with the top side, fold the fabric down over the back of the canvas. Staple the fabric in place in the center and on the left and right sides. Repeat this for the bottom and sides. Be sure to pull the fabric tight so that it forms a type of second skin over the canvas.

Step 3 – Making the Pockets.

The key feature to a chic fabric bulletin boards are the pockets created by the lattice design ribbon work. The best way to achieve this is to lay the first layer of strips diagonally from the top right corner to the bottom left corner. Be sure to attach the ribbons with a staple to the back of the canvas so the ends are out of sight. Place the strips of ribbon an equal distance apart according to your own design needs. Lay the second layer of strips in an over and under pattern from the top left corner of the canvas to the bottom right. The end result will be a loose lattice work design.

Step 4 – Complete the Chic Fabric Board.

To complete the project, you will need to secure the ribbon pockets. A unique way to do this is to use scrap jewelry. Gather mismatched post earrings and use them as push pins. Place an earring push pin post at each point that the ribbons cross. This will secure the ribbons in place and form nice and neat diamond pockets for pictures and mementos. You can place photos in the pockets or attach memos and letters using the same style of earring push pin. The blank canvas underneath will withstand the pin holes, and the upholstery fabric will conform easily without tearing.