Easy Wall Art Ideas | Chapter Three: Ribbon Board

We’re on Chapter Three of this Easy Wall Art Ideas series: Ribbon Board. These colorful boards are a pretty way to hold useful items like tickets, photos, recipes, and invitations without push pins or magnets. You can use your own fabric and ribbon to make this work for your home (or dorm room!).

Just like the last two Easy Wall Art Ideas, this project is easy to make, you don’t have to spend a lot of money, and it will add a personal touch to your home.

You’ll need the following materials:

• A framed cork board – I found mine at Michael’s and it’s 17 x 23”
• Fabric – cut to be about 4” larger than your board around all edges (check the discount tables!)
• Ribbon – I used a little over 8 yards per board to create my diamond pattern
• Batting – I used the 6oz. mid-weight thickness and cut it to the same size as my board
• Rounded tacks or decorative nails
• Scissors, ruler and a staple gun

First, place your batting on top of your cork board. Trim it to fit if needed and staple the batting to hold it in place.

Next, wrap your fabric around the batting and board and staple it to the back of the cork board. Be sure to staple the fabric into the wood frame to be extra secure.

For the corners, wrap the fabric like a hospital bed sheet – tucking one side under and overlapping the other. Be sure to staple all the fabric pulling it tight as you go.

Turn the board over and you’ll see how it has a nice soft, pillow-like top. Now you’ll need to attach the ribbon. I made a diamond pattern using a total of 14 pieces and I cut them all about 3” longer on each end to wrap around the edges of the board.

I attached the two longest pieces first that extended from corner to corner, making an X pattern. I wrapped this ribbon around the board and stapled it onto the wood frame on the back.

Next, I attached the four smaller pieces of ribbon, making a center diamond shape. I measured the center spot on each of the sides and marked it lightly on my board.

I continued to attach the remaining ribbon pieces so the diamonds were smaller and able to hold more items. Be sure to measure the center marks for each ribbon piece and pull them tight when stapling. Staple each end into the wood frame in the back too until you finish your pattern.

Once all your ribbon is attached, add your rounded thumb tacks or decorative nails where any of the ribbon overlaps. This helps to hold any papers in place and it also makes the piece look pretty. I also added a dot of hot glue under each tack and ribbon to hold it in place.

I added a saw tooth hanging bracket on the back of my board – be sure it’s centered on the frame. Now your DIY ribbon bulletin board is ready to hang and display all the fun, useful items.

You can customize your Ribbon Board with different fabrics and ribbons making them a little more personal and great gift ideas. This piece would look great in a girl’s bedroom, a family command center, a home office or a dorm room.

Stay tuned for more in the Easy Wall Art Ideas series. And if you missed the last two chapters, click here for Chapter One: Painted Bulletin Board and click here for Chapter Two: Watercolor Stripes. All fun, easy stuff!