DIY Pin & Magnetic Board

Something needed to go above my daughters dresser, it looked a bit sparse sitting in the corner all by its lonesome. Mirror? Or perhaps a few framed photos? I love the look of a finely decorated wall space, but I'm also a die hard practical.
Finally I settled on something I knew my ever artistic daughter would put to good use...a pinboard! What a great way for her to showcase her latest drawings (and hopefully keep all that paper off the floor). 

Pinboard/Magnetic Board
I wanted to create more than just a pinboard, I wanted to provide her the opportunity to pin up notes, but sometimes she has pictures or other items she doesn't want pin holes in. So why choose? There are benefits to either... So I created the left side as a pin board to accommodate tacks and push pins, and the right side is magnetic only.

One of the benefits of having half magnetic board is using these little magnetic storage canisters I found on sale at Michaels for $1 each. My daughter can store push pins and magnets, paper clips, hair clips, and any other knick knacks she desires in these magnetic canisters.

Another fantastic (and super easy) project is to make pretty magnets and push pins for your pinboard! But I'll share the details on how to do that in the next post. **Read how here.** First let me show you how to make the board itself! 

Necessary Materials

• Picture Frame (no glass)
• Foam Board
• Sheet Metal (or disassembled dry erase board**)
• Cork Roll (or thin squares)
• Batting (optional)
• Spray Adhesive or Adhesive Strips
• Furniture Staple Gun 

**I disassembled an old dry erase board that had been written on with permanent marker. Simply remove the cardboard backing and plastic edges using a flat head screwdriver. Then take out the magnetic sheet to use for the new pinboard... it's cheaper and reuses old materials! 

Steps to Make
Step 1: Cut the foam board to fit in your frame snugly (if there is a frame backing use that as a template to cut to size...but it must be a snug fit!). The foam board acts as the new backing to the frame, as well as additional cushion for your push pins. Pins will pass through the thin cork into the foam board and not your wall!

Step 2: Adhere the cork to one half of the foam board,  and magnetic board to the other half. You can use a spray glue or use the adhesive strips that usually come with the cork squares.

Step 3: Cut your batting and/or choice of fabric to overlap the area of the foam board by a couple inches. (The batting is optional, as it is purely for aesthetic purposes...it rounds out the look of the pin & magnetic board so it doesn't look too flat)

Step 4: Wrap the foam board/magnetic sheet/cork combo with your batting and fabric. Pop it into your frame (it should hold the fabric snugly in place), and use duck tape to secure the fabric flat against the back. 

Step 5: This part is purely securing your foam board within your frame. You will use the same technique framers use: staple into the frame staying flush with the foam board. If you need to, use a tool to push the staples down tight against the backing. Optionally cover the frame backing with brown paper or the wrong side of wrapping paper (just so you don't have to see the ugly backside when you move!). Hang, and you're done!

My daughter loves her pin & magnetic board! She rotates her favorite drawings, and notes, and I believe it will be even more useful as she grows and learns all about living an organized life! Doesn't it look lovely above her newly updated dresser?

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