crafty projects: "french" bulletin board

I had a burst of energy this weekend, and didn't just pull up the tiles in the bathroom... At 11pm on Friday night, I also started a project I'd been planning for months.

I'd been wanting to make a picture board for our guest room. I wanted a place where I could put all my favorite pictures of the friends that would be frequenting the room. I eyed some of the ones being sold at Pottery Barn and besides being the wrong colors, I thought they were pretty expensive for what they were. Additionally, the fabulously talented Chatty Cricket made a picture board last year and it turned out beautifully. I knew I could do it.

So I picked out fabric that matched the room.



Green fabric on green walls would have been too much, so I picked a slightly contrasting tan that pulled a color out of the curtains.





I also purchase a canvas at an art store, whatever size is best for you. Mine is pretty big because the area above the bed where I'm hanging this is rather large. Any canvas that has a wooden frame will work. I waited for a sale, because a painter's canvas is expensive.

Then I gathered my tools:



Staple gun
Tape measure
Color-coordinated ribbon (I needed two rolls)
Scissors (good for trimming fabric)





And I got to work. I criss-crossed along the length of the board first, forming a big X. I'd wrap the ribbon around the back and staple it down, holding it very taut. Then I started alternating sides, criss crossing each side, and measuring the distance to make sure the gaps between ribbons was equal.


Make sense? For example, I'd measure halfway between the right side and the top, and make sure I was starting the ribbon in the middle on both sides. Once I'd done that in on the four corners, it formed a diamond shape on the picture board. Then I'd start stapling down the ribbon again on the diagonal.


In the picture above, three sides of the diagonal and the initial big X are done.

The only trick I didn't realize until it was complete, is that I could have alternated all the ribbons and they would have interlocked against each other, thereby keeping pictures from sliding underneath. It turned out cute in the end, though.





Here is the finished product!







I've been trying to decide whether I want to add little upholstery tacks at the intersection of each ribbon, or whether I like it as is. What do you all think?

It was a pretty fun project, and took me less than an hour once I'd collected enough materials. I assumed one roll of ribbon would be enough, but I used every last little bit of both rolls. I'll also be using the fabric to make a seat cushion and pillows for the guest bed. Maybe this weekend?