Monday, December 7, 2009

Tutorial Time + GIVEAWAY...CLOSED

Message Board & Calendar Holder Tutorial
Brought to you by The Fabric Market
+
GIVEAWAY
My message board design evolved from the shape and size of salvaged wood I retrieved from a local cabinet maker. I often get long narrow pieces and wanted to come up with something that would hold a calendar and this was it. The elastic band was added for the purpose of holding messages, invitations, and appointment cards.


And now you can make your own with this nifty tutorial.



SUPPLIES
~ wood
(you can use any size that will work with your calendar, mine is 15"w x 4"h)
~ fabric
~ staple gun
~ felt
~ nail
~ glue gun(not pictured)
~ cup hook 1/4"
~ elastic (I use cotton elastic)
~ sawtooth hangers
~ rotary cutter
~ mat
~ quilt ruler
~ pencil
~ decorative embellishment (optional)


This is my decorative embellishment to be added to the front of the elastic band. I made my own flower pattern and cut it from felt and added little pearls for the center, cuteness.


{1}

On one side of your wood piece find the center and mark with a pencil--this will be the bottom of your message board. * You can also mark the back of your wood so you remember which end is the bottom it can come in handy when you add your embellishment to the front.

{2}
Place your nail on your pencil mark and hammer the nail in about 1/4", this hole will be used to screw your cup hook in. *If you are using a really hard wood you may need to drill a pilot hole instead.

{3}

Cut your fabric piece to be approximately 2" larger then your board on all FOUR sides. *This will make your fabric four inches wider and taller. Place your wood centered on your fabric piece. If you are using a repeat patterned fabric like mine, you will want to line your wood evenly with your pattern.


{4}

Pull your fabric over your wood firmly on the center of one side and staple, repeat this to each side.


The center of all four sides stapled should look like the above picture.


{5}

Continue to staple around each side--making sure to pull the fabric tightly while stapling so the fabric is nice and snug to the wood. *You can alternate your sides to keep your pattern even. Your staples should be relatively close together, once you have stapled along each side you will have little flaps of fabric on each corner.


{6}

Taking care of the corners. Pinch the corner fabric together.


{7}

With you corner piece pinched, pull the piece tightly over the top and to the back and staple 2-3 times. It will create a little triangle as shown in the picture above.


{8}

Once all four corners are stapled, cut the excess fabric to reduce bulk on the back.

All cut.


{9}

Add your elastic band by placing it on the back centered and staple multiple times. Pull your elastic band around the front tightly and staple to the opposite side.


Band added.


{9 1/2}

I did not add pen holders to the tutorial message board but they can easily be added after your band is added. Simply cut two elastic piece about 2" long and create a little loop and staple the ends multiple times to the back of your wood. I generally place them about 3-4" from the side. *See the above picture for an example, you can even sew little buttons to the loops if you want.


{10}
With a rotary cutter, ruler and mat cut a felt piece approximately 1/4" smaller than the size of your wood on all FOUR sides. *Your piece will be a 1/2" smaller than the width of your board and 1/2" smaller than the height of your board.


{11}

Using your glue gun run a small bead along the top of your felt and glue to your on all four sides.


{12}

Add your sawtooth hangers to the back.


{13}

Add your embellishment with needle and thread.

{14}

Remember that hole you made with your nail, using the same nail find the hole and puncture the fabric. By using a nail you reduce the chances of the fabric running.
{15}
Screw your cup hook into the hole previously made.
{16}
Find a really great place to hang your new message board and this one is up for grabs!

Here is how to enter to WIN this message board:

1st entry: Leave a comment letting us know how you found our blog.

2nd entry: previous followers or become a new follower, leave a second comment letting us know you are a follower.

The giveaway will CLOSE on 12/13/09 and the winner will be announced on 12/14/09
Winner must confirm within three days or another winner will be announced.
*If an email is left with your comment, we will contact you to let you know you have been selected as a winner.
*Offer available to U.S. and Canada Residents Only

39 comments:

  1. Just found your cute site from tip junkie!

    heatherdemke(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I originally found your blog through the Tip Junkie. I loved your fabric so much I bought a yard and now you are a one of my favorites on Etsy. laprochaine@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I found your blog through Tip Junkie.
    dmb161@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. i found your site through tip junkie, what a cute idea, love it!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am not sure I remember how I found your blog. I have been following for a while though.

    www.themudpuddleproject.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am an old follower.

    www.themudpuddleproject.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I also found you on the linky at tip junkie.

    ajolly1456 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm not sure how I stumbled upon your blog either, but i found it when it was brand new, and have loved it!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I've also been a loyal follower:)

    ReplyDelete
  10. I found you through TIP JUNKIE GIVEAWAY DIRECTORY. Love what I have seen so far! Thanks!
    22luvroses22 (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I came over through tip junkie!! I have been in dire need of a message board! if I don't win, thanks anyway for the tutorial!
    annemolino at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Found your cute site on tip junkie!

    ReplyDelete
  13. found you from tipjunkie

    mancusni@bc.edu

    ReplyDelete
  14. I found you through tipjunkie. Love the message board; beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I found your adorable blog from tip junkie! Thanks for the chance to win!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I am following! jamesbdarling@frontiernet.net

    ReplyDelete
  17. Originally found ya from Tip Junkie! ;)

    thesweetestpetunia AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Blog follower!

    thesweetestpetunia AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  19. I must confess that I found you at Tip Junkie! The message board is VERY cute!

    lisabradford101@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Found you through Tip Junkie's blog! This is adorable!

    rachelannmac@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I'm now a follower!

    rachelannmac@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. I found you thru tip junkie. amypugmire@live.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. new follower. amypugmire@live.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. New Follower. I found you through Tip Junkie.

    tess(dot)boyd(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  25. So cute, thanks for giving us a chance to win!
    Heather
    hrmoore78(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  26. I've been following already
    hrmoore78(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Love this! Found you through Tip Junkie.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I just found your site through Tip Junkie. I love fabrics but never know how much to buy; seems I never buy enough of one or I buy too much of another. And I pay far too much. I'm excited to see what I can do with fabric and where to purchase other fabrics

    ReplyDelete
  29. Thanks so much for sharing all of the steps you took making this ADORABLE calender holder, I love it.

    I am already a follower, I check your blog daily, but I am not a stalker, just an admirer from a distance.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I found you CUTE blog from TJ.
    I'm lucky. you are holly ceative person :)

    cheers,
    puri
    http://idekuhandmade.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  31. This is reallly cute and seems pretty easy to make. Thanks for adding to my project list ;)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Oh man I just found this, and how COOL. The same type of idea could be used to make a funky notice board for the sewing/craft room. I've seen some fun elastics around, so I might have to get them and make some. What a great idea.

    ReplyDelete