Here is How We Made The Tremendous Squiggly DIY Cork Board For My Niece’s Bed room

Final week we revealed my niece’s tween bed room makeover and whereas I didn’t must do one other loopy customized bulletin board, I do know that tweens love them (and massive ones are surprisingly costly). I additionally needed to ensure that this room (with all dope AllModern furnishings) was nonetheless youthful and playful and had some trendier parts to maintain it from being too subtle. And pay attention, this wacky corkboard is giving Nickelodeon vibes for certain, however you would take the identical steps and do your individual sample (even simply scalloped edges with bowls), utilizing the identical instruments. So right here goes…a enjoyable squiggly DIY corkboard for you (or the tween/teen in your life).

Cork Roll | XL Foam Core (purchased individually in-store) | Spray Glue | Sizzling Glue Gun | Bowls

I had a large roll of cork I’d been hoarding for a challenge akin to this. By itself, the cork is skinny and may tear simply for those who’re not cautious, so Gretchen discovered a big piece of froth core at Blick’s to function the backing. We knew we needed to hold this above my niece’s dresser, in order that meant it wanted to be sufficiently big to take up ample area on such a big wall, however not so large that it might take over. The board we went with is about 40”x 60” and fairly thick, like 1/2”, in order that future push pins have sufficient to stay into.

To hint the squiggle form we took a stack of bowls and lined them up, aspect by aspect, across the fringe of the board. These bowls had been snagged from my brother’s kitchen. I by chance dropped and broke one on the way in which exterior and acquired Sharpie on most of them from tracing–sorry little bro, I owe you some new bowls! So for those who’re impressed to try this DIY your self, follow one thing you don’t thoughts perhaps messing up somewhat. However know that Sharpie does wash off of ceramic bowls fairly simply.

Now, it simply so occurred these bowls match virtually precisely across the board. This was useful in maintaining all of them lined as much as the sting as I traced round every of them, going across the bowl about midway, earlier than leaping over to the following bowl to complete the curve, creating the “squiggle” you see right here. We needed to lean into the extra wild wiggle form, however you would additionally hint solely half means up/down the bowls to present it a extra scalloped look OR simply freehand no matter form you’d like! We simply needed to ensure the form felt fluid and that the squiggle didn’t lower off bizarre.

Mission achieved. As soon as we had the define, it was time to chop it out. At first, we tried utilizing X-acto knives, which could’ve labored higher on a thinner board, nevertheless it was SUCH a trouble to get it to undergo. As an alternative, I grabbed a steak knife which labored hilariously nicely, virtually like somewhat noticed (which might most likely work simply as nicely or higher for this, tbh). It got here out somewhat tough across the edges, however not too dangerous! It went quick and that’s what I cared about at this stage.

I hit the perimeters with sandpaper to easy them out a bit earlier than gluing. You could be questioning why I made a decision to chop the board now when the cork is nowhere in sight. Effectively, because the cork roll was so skinny and fragile, it appeared like gluing the 2 collectively first may make the lower even rougher, with the potential for tears alongside the cork if spots weren’t as glued down. By slicing the board, then gluing the cork roll, then slicing once more, we’d have a rough-but-thick, pre-shaped edge to gingerly lower alongside. And skinny sufficient to make use of scissors on, too, which was means simpler!

In order that’s what we did. After I lower the form, I spray-glued the again of the board and rolled out the cork flat on prime. I smoothed it out to ensure it was actually caught down. The spray glue labored fairly nicely, however as I suspected, it didn’t follow the perimeters tremendous nicely. We went again round including somewhat little bit of cheesy glue to ensure it might actually keep down.

As soon as the cork was adhered to the board, we flipped the entire thing over so our define could be simple to see. At this stage, each Gretch and I experimented with X-acto knives and scissors to chop out the form a second time. Each labored fairly nicely, however as a result of we did this exterior on the grass for many of the slicing, the floor under made it more durable to slip the blade in a clear means. That’s why I say go together with scissors, however for those who’re engaged on a desk or have a slicing mat giant sufficient, I feel a blade will get you tighter, cleaner strains.

We went again over the board with stated blade, this time proper aspect up, to the touch up any obviously apparent defects. Fortunately, I needn’t fear too a lot about clear strains right here, as a result of it was the plan all alongside so as to add trim to this corkboard. With such a easy DIY like this, including the trim is admittedly what takes it from any previous craft to one thing you’d truly be blissful to hold in your wall.

I had purchased fairly a couple of choices for trim as a result of I couldn’t make up my thoughts. On my first run to the shop, I snagged some white rope and a paracord-like materials as a result of that was actually all they’d. Gretch and I contemplated utilizing it nevertheless it simply wasn’t proper. So I hit a unique retailer and fortunately (relying on who you ask) discovered wayyy too many good trim choices to convey again. It got here right down to one in every of these two velvets. This was us bringing the unfinished corkboard to the room and draping all of the trims on it to determine. It was a detailed name, however we landed on blue.

At one level we contemplated utilizing flexi-moulding, however after an in-store evaluate, it simply wasn’t a match. Cloth trim was means friendlier to make use of and extra tween room applicable anyway. This trim specifically labored completely as a result of it’s basically readymade piping. That means it had a bull nostril form with seam allowance that collectively occurred to be the precise width of the brand new board. The simplest path ahead was to simply sizzling glue it on, piping aspect up (clearly). I used my handy-dandy wi-fi glue gun and made fast work of it!

We made certain to start out the place we needed it to finish–someplace inconspicuous, so we may tuck the tip piece out of sight. I’ll say, for those who’re working quick like we did, you’ll possible run into some glue-ups. The new glue acquired somewhat messy and would fudge up on the velvet. So for those who deal with this challenge your self, put aside sufficient time to go good and gradual. However similar to that, we had a squiggly corkboard! It’s not excellent, nevertheless it was made with love and it’s a challenge I might undoubtedly attempt once more.

We used a easy picture-hanging package to connect a wire on the bottom for straightforward hanging. Just a few nails within the wall later and right here it’s on her wall, trying so good! However somewhat too empty…

It’s a lot extra enjoyable together with her private touches–polaroids of family and friends, little crafts she’s made over time, butterfly doodads, and a few Teen Beat cut-outs as a result of…duh! The perfect half is that this DIY is completely kid-friendly with somewhat supervision. We shocked my niece with this room, however I feel this is able to be a very quick and enjoyable challenge to do together with your children/tweens to contain them in a makeover. I certain felt achieved as soon as we noticed it on the wall! And it solely took a couple of day and ~$100 to get it completed. I’d name {that a} win.

The corkboard appears so cute in her whimsical room and my niece loves having the liberty to stay no matter ephemera she desires up there! This can be a room meant to develop together with her, so going DIY on a bit like this, simply made essentially the most sense. It’s not meant to be too valuable, simply artistic and enjoyable. A giant due to Gretch who labored on this challenge with me, Kaitlin for her fairly pictures (go take a look at the room reveal for those who haven’t already), and my niece for trusting me together with her area! 🙂

*After Photographs by Kaitlin Inexperienced