A Big (Cheap!) DIY Memo Board

 

 

My 8-year-old had long been asking for a bulletin board for his room.  I knew I wanted something big to fill the space above his desk but am trying to spend as little as possible since we may be playing musical rooms here soon and changing everybody around.

So, I referred back to the custom memo board that my friend Katie made for her kitchen when we redid her desk area.

 

I used the same insulating sheathing product (available at Lowes or Home Depot), and had them cut it at the store to my measurement—approximately $8 for the whole piece. (I did have to have a little help getting it into my van because of the size.  I ended up coming home with two 4x4 sheets.) 

 

 

I also used the canvas painter’s drop cloth to cover it.  The only thing I did differently from Katie’s was to skip the adhesive spray and just pull it around, staple gunning it to the back, which worked fine.

 

I also took some stencils and painted all of the years that Kentucky has won the national (basketball) championship.  Because he’s obsessed.  And, I thought a big, plain board might be a little boring.  (On a side note, it’s not looking like I’ll be painting 2013 there this year.)

 

 

 

 

It wasn’t the neatest job I’ve ever done, but I thought the messiness gave it an old stamped look.  (Aren’t I imaginative?)

 

 

 

 

 

I have another piece of this sheathing left and am thinking of doing another board for our laundry room.  You could definitely get creative with some tape and paint. . .

 

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As for how to hang this big piece of canvas-covered sheathing. . . .take it from me, and do not use velcro on your painted walls.  This seemed like a swell idea until the whole thing fell in the floor one night after leaving the ceiling fan on.  And, you probably already know this, but pulling velcro off of your wall completely tears it up.  Not good. 

 

My husband came up with the idea of using monkey hooks.  Have you used these?  No hammering required.  You just push them into the wall and twist.

 

 

 

 

The four corners of the “board” fit perfectly into the hooks:

 

 

 

 

And, I got one last shot before giving him free reign to start making it all his own :)

 

(Btw, I took this picture while the velcro was still on.  But, trust me, use the monkey hooks.)

 

 

PS—If you have an urge to vote for a blog so that it *might* win an award, mine is nominated for the Apartment Therapy Homies in the best home design blog category.  Just an idea . . .   :)