Guest Blog Post: She’s Crafty: Decorative Corkboards
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Recently a photographer friend asked to come over to take photos of my Posta Bella artist studio. I told her that sounded great. And then I panicked.
My studio was a mess. Well, not exactly. I mean, it wasn’t dirty. Studios are supposed to be covered in paint splats and eraser dust, so that wasn’t the problem. I was more concerned that she might expect something cool and artsy. My white walls and makeshift corkboard haphazardly sprinkled with reference pictures were going to be a big disappointment. Frankly, it was a disappointment to me. A couple of years ago when I first set up my studio, I wanted big pretty corkboards for my walls. I went shopping for them, but to my surprise all I could find were hideous, boring, sad-looking ones. And even those were going to set me back $50. So I returned home with dashed hopes and some $10 cork wall tiles and tried to make the best of it. With the impending photography shoot, I now had the perfect impetus to come up with a better, handmade solution. I made two unique and lovely new corkboards, and you can too. Here’s how I did it:
Hawaiian Print Corkboard
Materials:
•Decorative Frame without Glass – Aaron Bros. penny sale is always a good deal, Hobby Lobby has 40% off coupons almost every week or custom frame shops sometimes have odd sized mismeasured frames they will sell you for cheap.
•Roll of Cork – available at office supply stores
•Foam Core
•Acrylic Paint – I used artists’ acrylics, but craft acrylics will work fine.
•Stencil for the pattern – I freehanded the pattern, but the cork was tough to get smooth edges. A stencil would have worked better.
•Spray Adhesive
•Staple Gun (optional)
1.Cut the foam core and the cork to fit in the frame.
2.Use the spray adhesive to stick the cork to the foam core. (If you value your lungs, do this outdoors.)
3.Use the stencil and paint to create a decorative pattern on the cork. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly.
4.Place the cork into the frame. If your frame doesn’t have clips to secure the cork in place, use a staple gun to place staples into the side of the frame just above the foam core. Don’t push too hard, but just enough so that the staple sticks out a bit and holds the foam core in place.
5.Hang and enjoy!
Silver Cloverleaf Corkboard
Materials:
•Decorative Frame without Glass
•Radiator Screen – available at hardware stores
•Roll of Cork (or cork tiles, the radiator screen will hide the seams)
•Foam Core
•Spray Adhesive
•Staple Gun (optional)
•Tin Snips (optional)
1.Cut the foam core, cork and radiator screen to fit in the frame. I was able to cut the radiator screen with scissors, but it wasn’t easy. If you have trouble use tin snips.
2.Use the spray adhesive to stick the cork to the foam core. (Again, if you value your lungs, do this outdoors.)
3.Place the radiator screen and the cork into the frame. If your frame doesn’t have clips to secure the cork in place, use a staple gun to place staples into the side of the frame just above the foam core. Don’t push too hard, but just enough so that the staple sticks out a bit and holds the foam core in place.
4.Hang and enjoy!
Like the look, but don’t need a corkboard? Skip the cork and foam core. Secure the radiator screen into the frame, staple fabric across the back and voilà! You now have a beautiful and convenient display for your favorite earrings.
For more from Jamie, please visit: http://posta-bella.com/blog/
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So creative! Thanks Jamie!
Very cool! I want to try making the earring holder you suggested.
Hi
I am a newbie here.
Glad to find this forum…as what I am looking for
it so coll.
Thanks Jamie!