My best friend of 17 years has the same birthday as me (fun fact: I am 5 hours and 1 minute older than her) and this year for our present exchange I decided to make her gifts since I had the time because I wasn’t working (and therefore also trying to be frugal).
I found this great frame and lamp base at a local op-shop and got to work. The frame was a great find. The satin flower print was horrible but the frame was metal and in great shape. I thought about getting mirror cut for it but in the end I decided to make a pinboard with some leftover cream hessian (burlap) from my chair upholstery adventure and a corkboard I had left over from my pin board art. The bestie has a fondness for pinning interesting and inspiring little snippets on a mood board so I thought this would be a nice version for her new apartment.
The lamp was an easy spray paint job and you can find a more detailed tutorial for that here.
To make a Fancy Framed Pinboard you will need
Frame with backing
Matt black spray paint
Spray adhesive
Corkboard
Hessian (you could also use calico or canvas or any sturdy fabric)
Scissors
Exacto knife
Ribbon
Staple gun or hot glue gun
Take the backing out of the frame. Clean and dry the frame and spray with 3 coats of spray paint, letting each coat dry before the next.
Using the backing as a guide, cut out the shape of the corkboard to fit the frame using an Exacto knife.
Cut out two pieces of hessian in the same shape.
In a well ventilated area, glue one piece of hessian onto the corkboard using the spray adhesive and the glue the next piece on top of that.
Using the staple gun or hot glue gun, attach the ribbon in whatever design you like by wrapping it around the hessian covered corkboard and securing it at the back.
Attach it to the frame and you’re done!
Don’t you think this one looks a bit like a Victorian brooch? I was tempted to keep it for myself!
The lamp (although I think it was quite nice to begin with) also got a chic matt black update.
And the birthday girl? She loved them!
what maddy did next 