French Memo Board Instructions

Fabric-covered bulletin board

A French memo board is a decorative bulletin board covered in fabric and decorated with ribbons. You can make a French memo board that is custom-sized to your specifications from soft plywood such as balsam. An artist canvas with a wooden frame also works as the background for the memo board. Insert photos, notes and other thin paper items between the ribbons on the French memo board, or attach items to the board with push pins.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2-inch-thick balsam wood
• Measuring tape
• Saw
• Batting
• Scissors
• Staple gun
• Fabric
• 1/4-inch wide ribbon
• Upholstery nails
• Hammer

Instructions

1. Cut a 1/2-inch thick sheet of balsam wood to fit the desired dimensions of the French memo board. Balsam wood is soft enough that you can insert push pins into the board.

2. Cut a section of batting that is 4 inches wider and 4 inches longer than the face of the plywood. Place the batting on a flat work surface.

3. Center the balsam wood for the memo board on top of the batting. Wrap the batting around the edges of the memo board. Staple the batting to the back of the balsam board with a staple gun. Begin stapling in the center of any side and staple toward the outside edge. Place the staples into the batting every 1/2 inch or so along the length of each side of the plywood board. Fold the batting over itself at the corners and staple it in place.

4. Cut a section of fabric that is 6 inches wider and 6 inches longer than the face of the balsam board. Place the fabric face-down on a flat work surface.

5. Center the batting-covered balsam board on top of the fabric. Wrap the fabric over the edges of the memo board. Staple it to the backside the same way as you stapled the batting.

6. Cut strips of 1/4-inch wide ribbon to fit diagonally across the front of the memo board. Begin measuring the ribbon placement 3 to 4 inches from the top left corner. Add 3 inches to the length of each ribbon to account for wrapping and stapling. Cut ribbons to fit across the board diagonally every 3 to 4 inches, from the top left corner to the bottom right corner.

7. Staple the ends of the ribbons to the backside of the plywood board. Make sure that the ribbons are evenly spaced and taut, but not too tight.

8. Repeat Steps 6 and 7 to cut and attach ribbons diagonally from the bottom left corner to the top right corner.

9. Hammer decorative upholstery nails into the French memo board wherever the ribbons cross.

References

• Craftster: How to Make a French Memo Board

Resources

• Hometips: How to Cut Wood with a Handsaw