As I’ve said before, I’m a very visual person.  And I’m always getting ideas for new projects.  I have a huge stack of index cards, full of ideas.  But they’re filed away in a file box.  I’ve found that when I have an idea that I want to get started on right away, putting the index card on a memo board keeps me on track.  When the idea is filed away in it’s ‘proper place’, I can forget about it. Because of that, I’ve made 2 memo boards.  One by the sewing machine, (this one has a side that is metal to use magnets & the right hand side is cork)  and one by the crafting area of my room (all cork).  Besides that, plain brown cork just doesn’t go in my sewing room. 

And I’m not a fan of brown.  Purple or lilac is what it had to be to go in my sewing room. (Remember, this is for my room.  You can chose any color that goes in your home)

This is how I made them.

I wanted it to be  purple & I wanted to use the same fabric that I used for my curtains.  I could change the frame with no problem, but the brown cork  would show through the satin. So,  I got out the paints.

I first painted the frame with a pearl finish purple, but it was too pale & the brown still showed through.    I put a second coat of purple glitter paint on it & the brown was covered completely.  I didn’t want the brown cork to show through the the fabric so I painted the cork white.  That also took 2 coats.

When the paint had finally dried, I measured & cut a piece of fabric that was about 1″ larger in length & width.  That would give me 1/2″ on all sides to tuck under the frame. 

Using a butter knife, I started on one side, then moved to its opposite side.  I found out the hard way, don’t tuck it in too hard.  You’ll pull the fabric out of the other side.  Go slowly.  It takes time, but it’s worth the patients.

I worked on the corners last.  Work slowly so you don’t pull out the fabric that’s already tucked under the frame.

Then I got out the ribbon that I wanted to use,  (I chose silver, just because I liked the way it looked.  Pick a color that goes with your room) and the thumb tacks that I had previously made.  I laid out the ribbon & then cut it leaving enough to either tuck under or fold under to hide the ends.  (I had 2 corners that were too tight to tuck under, so I folded the ribbon under)

I anchored the ribbon at a corner with a thumb tack.  Then I went to the opposite corner & anchored the other end of the ribbon with another thumb tack.  I repeated this for the 2 remaining corners.  X made.

Once the ribbons were anchored in each corner, I added a thumb tack to the center of the X where the ribbons crossed over each other.  With another piece of ribbon, I started at the center of the board & used a pin to hold it in place.  Then I went to the next center of the frame & pinned it, repeating on all 4 sides. (Diamond shape made)When I had gotten the ribbon where I wanted it, I cut off the excess.  One at a time, I removed the pins & replaced them with thumb tacks.  The beginning of the ribbon & the end were secured together with a single thumb tack.

Now the little memo board sits next to my sewing machine

And the large memo board is right next to the crafting area of my room.

Because I use these boards for my inspiration, I added a favorite picture of my son,  and a cross, because everything I am is by the Grace of God.

I hope you’ll try this for your home.  It can help to keep you organized as well as add a pop of color to your home.