I’ve come to realize, if you can’t find what you want, you’ll have to make it. At least in the world of home decor and design that is. After all, the best inventions come from a lack of supply for a specific need right? Well, my need was a gold framed cork board (at a specific price), and the supply was definitely lacking (don’t forget, at a specific price). The array of burlap or linen covered cork boards available is vast, in various shapes and sizes of course.
Due to my previous experience with decor improvisation due to a lack of resources, I was willing to customize a pre-designed board to my liking. However, in this case, my efforts were futile in accomplishing a budget friendly design, as I slowly discovered my improvisational options would still lead to a significant dent in my grocery budget, and that just doesn’t seem worth it.
A girls gotta eat. Many of the well designed cork boards of my desired dimensions priced just over $100. Therefore, another DIY project was born. I bring you, my DIY gold framed cork board.
I must say, this DIY project was one of the easiest I’ve ever completed, and required few materials: frame, cork board, and glue gun. Can’t beat that!
While on an impromptu thrift stop at Goodwill, I leisurely perused the busy shelves for any frame that caught my eye, though not expecting to find much. As I pushed through piles of various frames, I landed on this beauty. A sleek gold framed Henry Matisse print, in the exact dimensions I needed.
Could it be? Well yes, yes it could, and it was. Don’t get me wrong, this piece was pretty banged up. Scratches and dings lined the gold framing, the mounting board was nonexistent, and the overall frame was too loose for comfort, but the potential was too great to ignore. I just knew I could make something of this rejected piece of art.
Did I mention the $3.00 price tag? Score! Not many items were needed to complete the board, therefore this turned into quite the budget friendly project, which I must admit, tends to give a girl a sense of pride. Staring in awe of the beauty one has created, and money saved still in the bank can be so rewarding can’t it? But, I digress. Let’s get to it.
Here’s what you need:
- Frame with acrylic/glass glazing included- of your preferred size and framing
- Cork sheet
- Scissors
- Glue gun
Frame Preparation
First, remove print and securing materials. This included any backing material, staples, tape, etc. You will see below, the print and securing tape were the only included items needing removal.
Next, remove the acrylic or glass glazing.
Measure and Cut
Now, place your cork sheet on a flat surface and lay your glass/acrylic glaze on top. Measure the glaze, mark the cork sheet to its exact dimensions, and cut. Fortunately, I was able to find a cork sheet at Corkology for $4.99, with the exact width needed to fit within the frame, therefore only a couple of inches needed trimming off the length of the sheet.
Assemble Frame
Now, place the cork within the frame. Next, place the glaze within the frame as well. This will be the board’s backing.
If your frame is thrifted, it will most likely be a bit wobbly and loose. Due to the density of both the cork and glaze, the wire holders will not be secure enough to sustain both within the frame. This is where the glue gun comes in handy. Using the glue gun, squeeze hot glue between any space existing between the cork and glaze, and the frame’s edge. Do this in small sections and squeeze the frame to the cork’s edge after applying the hot glue. Repeat until you make your way around the entire frame.
Once dry, you’re all set! Hang your board and stand back in awe.
How easy was that? I hope I’ve given you a little inspiration to tackle your own board.
Though I’m known to put a little blood and sweat into my projects, this one takes the cake for least time and effort, which I happily accept. Especially around the holidays when more time should be spent relaxing and reflecting. I hope you’re taking a little time to do the same.
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