How to Make a Memory Board

A memory board is like a scrapbook for your walls, gathering together and displaying photos and other mementos. Relatively easy to make, a memory board is a fabric-covered bulletin board laced across with ribbon to help hold precious memories without damaging them. Read on to learn how to make a memory board.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Plywood
• Batting
• Fabric
• Staple gun
• Staples
• Ribbon
• Scissors
• Measuring tape
• Screw eyes or other hanging hardware
• Picture wire

1. Think about what you want to display. A memory board can be a permanent display or you can change the display to reflect your family's latest adventure, gathering or accomplishment.

2. Decide on the shape and size of your memory board. The easiest memory board to make is a rectangle, but you can create any shape you would like to reflect the theme of the board or to fit into your decor.

3. Buy a sheet of plywood and cut it to the size and shape you want. Most stores can cut it for you if you want a rectangular or square memory board. You need to use a jigsaw to cut fancier shapes, or you may be able to find wood in the shape you want at a local craft store.

4. Purchase batting, fabric and ribbon. You need enough batting and fabric to cover the entire board, plus a few extra inches. The amount of ribbon you need depends on the way you decide to use it, so get more than you think you need.

5. Cut the batting and fabric to size, leaving at least 2 inches extra to staple to the plywood. Place the fabric on a clean surface and line the batting up on top of it. Center the plywood on top.

6. Use a staple gun to stable the fabric and batting to the plywood every few inches, making sure that the fabric is taut as you go.

7. Add the ribbon in any design you want. The classic design is criss-crossing the ribbon. To do this, start by making an X that runs from one corner to another. Staple the ribbon in place. Then, staple ribbon at regular intervals parallel to your original X. Measure as you go to make sure your ribbons are at the right intervals.

8. Install screw eyes or other hardware and use picture wire to hang your memory board.

Tips & Warnings

• To add extra beauty and whimsy to your memory board, sew small decorative buttons or other objects at each ribbon intersection.

• If you want to make a lighter board, use pre-stretched canvas as your base rather than plywood. Proceed in the same way as with plywood but omit the batting. Staple the fabric directly onto the canvas's wooden frame.

• You can replace the ribbon with colored elastic if functionality is more important to you than beauty.

• Once you understand the basic approach to making a memory board, you can make one out almost of any materials.