Ribbon Board Thingy Tutorial

 

I've had a few requests from friends interested in making these padded ribbon boards, so while I made one for my own kitchen I decided to take some pics along the way and show you how easy it is to do!

 

First, you need a picture frame, a piece of flat cardboard to fit, a piece of quilt batting the same size as the cardboard, a piece of fabric an inch or two larger than the cardboard on each side, some ribbon, and some thumbtacks.

 

If you have some spray adhesive, spray (OUT OF DOORS, so you don't get tacky residue on your floor!) the cardboard and place the quilt batting over the sprayed side of the cardboard.  If any batting extends beyond the cardboard, trim it off.  If you don't have spray adhesive, no big deal.

Place the fabric face down on a flat surface, then place the batting and the cardboard on top.  Make sure there is extra fabric extending along each side of cardboard.

 

Then just gently pull the edges up and over the cardboard, fixing in place with some masking tape.  Note my highly professional and utterly neat application of tape (not).  If your fabric has an obvious design which has a definite linear pattern to it, take care to make sure the edges of the cardboard line up with the design so the fabric doesn't look crooked.  Fabric should be firmly pulled to the back, but not so tightly that the tape struggles to hold it in place.

 

Flip the board over and place your ribbon first from corner to corner, then mark the middle of each edge with a pencil and place the shorter ribbons so that they touch the midsection of each edge.  Leave extra "tails" of the ribbon around the edges so they may be pulled back behind later.

Using a glue gun, attach one end of each ribbon to the board, then when the glue is set you can gently pull the other end tight (but not too tight!) and glue the other end of each of the ribbons.  Just put a dot of hot glue on the part of the ribbon that touches the edge of the board.  Flip board to the backside and hotglue the "tails" of ribbon in place. 

 

Insert board in frame to make sure it fits and secure board to frame using framing tacks (a special tool sort-of like a big stapler) or just put some tape around the edges to keep the board from falling out.

 

To give it a quilted appearance and to make the ribbons snug, first take a simple straight pin and poke it down through the layers at each intersection.  When it is all the way down and poking out the back, bend the pin so it creates a quilted depression at the intersection.  Tape the bent pin in place on the back of the board.  Then, take a thumbtack and poke down at the same spot (mine were originally white and I spraypainted them) for a more finished look.  You could also hot-glue buttons or other decorative things at the intersections, but be sure to use the straight pin first to get the fabric to dimple down a little bit.

And there you have it!  Your very own, customized ribbon board thingy.  I'm sure these have an official name, I just can't think of it at the moment.

 

Now for all my photo-deprived relatives, here are a few shots of Hazel.  She's now chauffering me around town because she thinks I'm not a good driver, or whatever else the noise "muubwaaaaa" means in baby language.  One can only speculate.

 

Here she is checking the odometer to make sure we won't run out of gas.  I couldn't get that girl to turn and smile for me at all, no matter how many crazy noises I made!  Hazel is not a performer, and will usually not play into anyone's attempts to get her to do any given thing.  What a live wire she is becoming, and so rambunctious!  She is ALWAYS getting into something or climbing somewhere she shouldn't be.  Her curiousity never ceases.  It's a good thing she's so darn cute!  She can charm her way out of anything - it's impossible to get upset at her, even after she's broken something.  Cuteness is the saving grace of toddlers sometimes, isn't it?

Comments

[Rachel]

I love the padding, it looks great! I'll be linking to this post if you don't mind.

I am totally jealous of Hazel's adorable skirt!

[Cathie Jones]

Shelley,
I love that frame (or padding !),I will surely have a go at it and send a photo of it. I've just added your site's adress to my favorite to come back to see you ! I know the feeling to try to take photo of my little one and he wouldn't even look at me ! Is it something to do with us being softer with our third one !?

[andrea]

Did you secure the back with something other than tape? Did you get a new car?

[GLORIA WOLIN]

What a lovely home. A lot of work for your deck and steps. Your husband did a fantastic job and you did also. Thank you for sharing your crafts and your wonderfull music. It was so nice to have the music in the back ground when going through your pictures and tutoral.
Happy Holidays!

[Haley]

Wow! Your ribbon board looks incredible! I used your tutorial to make my own, (although I used an old pinboard instead of a frame) and I am really happy with the results! When I post the pics to my blog I will link back to this site! Thanks again!

xHaleyx

[Margaret]

Thanks for this - I was wondering what to do with some extra fabric I used for an interior awning (to block light above the window and convince him to sleep in past 6 am!) in my 6 month old's room. This will look great on the wall. I am NOT artistic but your well-laid out instructions are inspiring me.

[Esmeralda Carter]

Wow Shelley, your Blog is really fun and exciting. I am in the process of making an Oriental Bulletin Board for a dear friend so I will use your tips on getting it to look quilted. Would it be bad to use pressboard instead of cardboard? She wants quite a large one for her office. Thanks for sharing your great ideas and your home looks wonderful. You are truly blessed to have so many talents to share with others.

[Victoria @ Mommy Marginalia]

Thank you! This is exactly what I needed to make a ribbon board for my little girl's nursery!