Supplies Required
• 1 stretched artist’s canvas, any size (available at craft stores or online)
• 1 piece of background fabric, cut to 2-3” wider than canvas on every side
• 1 piece of lightweight batting, cut to same size as background fabric
• Ribbon, ¼” to ½” wide (length depends on selected canvas size and preferred number of “trellis” strips
• Staple gun
![Fabric Bulletin Board](https://sewmamasew.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Fabric-Bulletin-Board.jpg)
Fabric bulletin boards are an opportunity to showcase not only the mementos they display, but also favorite fabric and ribbons. You could cover a board with novelty fabric, a piece of vintage embroidery (perhaps from a pillowcase or tablecloth), home-dec fabric that coordinates with other linens in the room, or even a pieced patchwork background. Also, linen or burlap would make a nice neutral base for novelty ribbons, printed linen tapes, or festive ric-rac.
So the first step is to select your background fabric and ribbon. For this tutorial, I’m using a tea towel I’ve been saving for a special project, and some gray grosgrain. I altered the tea towel slightly (removed a strip of cats and re-seamed) to make the size compatible with a 16” x 20” stretched canvas.
Next, iron the fabric to remove any creases. Place the batting on top of the canvas, and the fabric on top of the batting. Smooth the fabric/batting layer taut and position as desired. (In this case I want to make sure the towel’s cats and text are centered vertically and horizontally.) Holding the fabric and batting around the edges, turn the project over.
Staple each fabric/batting edge in the center, then turn the board over and make sure you’re happy with the position of the fabric. If not, remove stapes and redo.
![](https://sewmamasew.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Staple-fabric.jpg)
Staple gun in action.
![](https://sewmamasew.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Staple-gun-in-action.jpg)
First staples.
![](https://sewmamasew.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/First-staples.jpg)
Then staple the rest of the edges and the corners
![](https://sewmamasew.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/staple-the-rest-of-the-edges-and-the-corners.jpg)
Tucking corners in as neatly as possible.
![](https://sewmamasew.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Tucking-corners-in-as-neatly-as-possible.jpg)
Turn the board over. Determine whether you prefer to place the ribbon diagonally or horizontally, and cut strips to fit (plus 2”-3” extra at each end). I like to “weave” mine as I would with a pie crust lattice. Once you’re pleased with their positions, use bits of masking or painter’s tape to hold them in place.
![](https://sewmamasew.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Turn-the-board-over.jpg)
Carefully turn the board over. Following the angles of the ribbon pieces, wrap them around the edges, pulling taut, and staple into place.
![](https://sewmamasew.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Carefully-turn-the-board-over.jpg)
Trim any long ends.
![](https://sewmamasew.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Trim-any-long-ends.jpg)
Turn the board back over, remove the tape, and hang or display the finished bulletin board as desired.
![](https://sewmamasew.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Turn-the-board-back-over-and-remove-the-tape.jpg)
Other Fabric Bulletin Board Ideas
You can also use fabric to cover cork or foam-core boards. No ribbon is needed for these; you can use regular push pins to display mementos (or make your own push pins with vintage buttons, tacks, and a glue gun). A huge fabric yo-yo would be a charming cover for a circular cork board (you’d simply insert the cork inside the yo-yo before gathering the fabric).
If you prefer magnets, paint a piece of plywood with magnetic paint (at least three coats are recommended), then cover the board with a piece of lightweight fabric, using the stapling method described above. Rare-earth or sheet magnets are said to work best with magnetic paint. Google “magnetic paint” or visit your local home-improvement store to find these supplies.