Oversized and inexpensive cork board

My Grandma and Papa started quite a legacy when they got married 57 years ago. 3 daughters, 6 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren (and counting). With all these decedents come loads and loads of photos. My Grandma has more photos than she has frames, and since she moved into her new house house she's been talking about getting a few photo boards. For Mother's Day my family bought her a sheet of soundboard and promised her we'd make her a huge cork board. So, tonight we ordered a pizza and got after it!

Supplies-

A sheet of soundboard (it costs around 6 dollars at Home Depot) 4 foot by 8 foot

3 yards of 54in/decorator fabric

5 wood screws with decorative washers (also at Home Depot)

5 drywall anchors

An awl

A drill

An impact driver

A level

A load of thumbtacks (about 40)

White paint and a brush (if your soundboard is dark colored and you fabric is light)

Lots of fun photos to display

I know it seems like a lot, but it really isn't. 

So, as I previously noted, you will need some soundboard. Soundboard is the key here. It is very much like cork board, but it's much cheaper. Ours had this black, thick coating on it, and the fabric we chose was light, so we chose to go over it quickly with a coat of white paint+primer, but this isn't any big deal. The soundboard we've purchased in the past had not been treated, so this was a new step for us. 

Once the paint is all dry it's time to drill holes in the board. We drilled a hole at every corner, 2 inches out from the bottom/top and the side, and one in the dead center. Now it's time to cover up the board. I went ahead and covered the floor before I placed my fabric on the floor, right side down. I then set the board on top of the fabric, painted side down. 

Because our fabric was striped it was essential to keep everything lined up and square with the world. Never the less, line up your fabric so it's about equal on all sides. First, fold the fabric of one of long edges over and tack it down about every 12 inches.

Now stand the board up onto the folded edge. Pull the fabric gently upright until there are minimal wrinkles left. Again, tack the fabric down every 12 inches. 

Next we shall do the short sides. While the board is still standing, fold the fabric directly over and tack every 12 inches

If you end up with excess fabric simply fold it on top of it's self and tack it, almost forming a pleat shape. 

The below photo illustrates what the backside of your board should now look like before hanging. 

Next we will need to feel around the board to find those holes we drilled earlier. When you find them, puncture the fabric with an awl.

Once all 5 holes are punctured it's time to get it level. Hold up the board to the wall and use your level to make sure that it's nice and straight. Mark the wall accordingly.

Now remove the board from the wall and insert drywall anchors into the wall after predrilling the hole for the top 2 corner holes. Then place your decorative screw and washer through the hole in the fabric and board.

Now lift the board back onto the wall and screw the board into the wall, but not completely. 

As it hangs there, take the awl and stab it through the hole in the fabric and board, and into the drywall. Do this for the remaining 3 holes. 

For the last time, unscrew your board from the wall, predrill the holes, and insert your drywall anchors at the locations indicated by the mark made by the awl. 

Lift the board back to the wall and affix it to the wall snugly using the decorative screws and washers.

For all the above steps you will most definitely need a partner.

Now we got my Grandma involved and she picked out some of her favorite photos, and I gladly hung them up!

We were limited to the number of tacks we had, but hopefully this weekend I'll be able to make her some fun and stylish pushpins go go with all the adorable grandkid pictures!

Looks great doesn't it? And here's the best part: It only cost $51! The fabric was a little on the pricey side, and I'm sure if we were to have bought IKEA's decorator fabric it would have been much less expensive, but this material is absolutely stunning, and it adds great texture to the room. 

To compare prices I did some googling and I found that a plain old 4 by 6 cork board (uncovered) was $80 all on it's own, and ours is 4 by 8, so, HA!

I am quite satisfied by the project, and it adds great colorful flair to my grandparent's guest room, which is due to be occupied many times this summer. 

Bonus:

#tbt of my dad holding both myself and my little cousin who has been affectionately dubbed "Baby Jordan" even though he is only 9 months younger than me. The nickname has still stuck into teenagerdom, and it's beautiful :)