How do I love thee, let me count the ways…

One:

Jute covered Demijohns

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Sneak Peek of Final Product:

There are many ways to cover a corkboard with fabric – this I have done, but I was curious about making a fabric covered magnetic board, so I started poking around online.  In doing my research, I saw that there were not a lot of fabric covered magnetic boards out there, but I did find some where the crafty creator is actually cutting steel for inside of a frame. Perhaps I am lazy, or just a bit chicken when it comes to cutting metal, but I just wanted to cover a magnetic board that I found at the local office supply store. 

Supplies:

1. 18” x 24” magnetic dry erase board from office supply store
2. Heavy duty nickel sized magnets from hardware store (not from office supply, those are too weak)
3. 5/8 yard of cotton fabric of choice (the thinner the better, but not transparent)
4. Decorative brads (or shells, or glass rocks, or whatever you choose to glue to your magnets.)
5. Decorative ribbon for “frame” and for optional hanging. 
6. Hot glue gun

Start by ironing your cotton fabric to remove any creases.  Then lay your magnetic board on top of the fabric.

Begin gluing the fabric to the top of the magnetic board.  (Note: This is easier to do if your fabric has some sort of pattern or stripe that you can follow to align the fabric as you glue.)  Then glue the bottom, and then glue the sides.  Go slowly, because you don’t want any puckering and you want your fabric pattern to be straight. 

My magnetic board came with tiny brackets for hanging on the wall, so I cut into the fabric where I wanted the bracket (16” apart is the width of most wall studs).  Then I glued around the bracket to solidify the fabric edging, and to secure the bracket in place. 

While your glue on the board dries, take your magnets and hot glue the brads on top of the magnets.  [Note: these magnets are powerful, and dangerous around small children, so I would not do this project around, or for, anyone under the age of 5]. 

Allow your new magnets to dry, and turn back to the ribbon “frame” on your magnetic board.  Lay out your ribbon, and glue it slowly, while you trim up the corners.  Apply glue underneath all of the ribbon and let dry. 

Optional:  If you do not want to use the brackets to hang your board, you can add a ribbon trim, like pictured below.   Make sure you use a lot of glue to secure the bow in place.  [Pretend the glue is collagen, and the bow is Meg Ryan’s lips and pump away !  Sorry Meg, I still love ya.]    

So here’s how it looks when it’s complete.  Total time is about 90 minutes. 

Idea Gallery:

Gal’s Office: Do a larger version of this with a dramatic patterned fabric and elegant ribbon, and use antique buttons or scrapbook “jewels” for the magnets. 

Guy’s Office:  Cover the board in slate gray, and make magnets out of polished rocks.  Or would he prefer beer bottle caps?  :-)

Boy’s Room:  For a pirate theme, find a fabric with a map pattern, and make magnets with gold coins.  If your boy loves cars, make a “racetrack” on the board  with gray or black ribbon, and find miniature cars for his magnets.  Zoom zoom.

Beach Style:  Find a cotton linen fabric, then make magnets with shells or sea glass. 

Kitchen:  Find a fabric that compliments your kitchen, then make magnets out of miniature food items found at your local craft store,  or from anything metallic that matches your hardware.

Mudroom/Home Organization Center:  Anything goes.

If you do this project, send me your photos and I will post them !

Oh, and check out these different style handmade magnetic boards on Etsy. These are very chic.  Also, look at Little Birdie Secrets version of a magnetic board.  And also her separate post on fabric covered button magnets.  Love them!

I circle the local thrift stores like a vulture.  Last week at the St. Vincent de Paul, I saw an abused coffee table with a beveled glass top and really great potential. 

The price tag read $25.  I walked away.  I came back two days later to bargain, and she was still there, but marked down to $17.  Yay for me!

I wrestled this puppy into my car with the help of my mom (thanks Mom!) and gingerly drove home, far below the speed limit and while biting my fingernails, cause I could hear that glass rattling in the back.  (I guess we should have asked for more duct tape.) At home, I prepped it for its spray paint makeover. 

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Many window treatment companies offer fabric valances for hundreds of dollars.  A (plain basic) valance from Smith and Noble similar to my final product was featured for $260. 

I am transitioning our bonus room from a toddler playroom into a media/game/art room.  I have chosen spice colors in burnt orange, green, espresso, and cream as the base colors to blend with the rest of our home.  I found a plaid lined 84” curtain at our local Bed, Bath and Beyond store on clearance for $15.  I liked the fabric for its color scheme, its lining, and its price!  (This fabric would cost twice as much by the yard without any lining at a fabric store.)

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I’ve owned a dozen clear glass plates for about 10 years. I was about to donate them to the Goodwill thrift store when I saw a photo in a recent BH&G magazine of a plate painted with a bird stencil. This inspired me to paint my stash of clear plates for the first meeting of my newly founded Martini Book Club. I wanted to make a monogrammed plate with the initials “MBC” for my club.

Here’s a peek at my final plate:

I went to the local craft store and purchased paint made specifically for glass and ceramics.

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