Saturday, September 8, 2012

DIY pattern cork board


I've been using tissue paper pattern pieces in mixed media art for many years now, so when I decided to spruce up a boring old cork board for my sewing room re-do, this seemed like a really fun (and fitting!) technique to use.  It's not rocket science, so I didn't bother making a step-by-step tutorial or anything like that.  All you do is decoupage over the cork with your pattern pieces and keep overlapping them and layering them until you get the look that you want.  I would normally recommend using Modge Podge for this sort of thing, but I didn't have any on hand, so I used watered down Elmer's glue this time, and that worked great too.


The tissue patterns create a beautiful antique-looking surface that reminds me of parchment or leather.  It almost seems a shame to cover it up with stuff on my pin board.  But this technique would also work great as surface decoration for lampshades, furniture, or other sewing room nick-knacks.  I thought about pattern-collaging those big letters that you hang on your walls... if I could just figure out what to make it say.  I don't think "she who dies with the most fabric wins" would fit on the walls of my small sewing room.  Darn.

I finished it up the board by painting the wood frame with glossy black paint, and I'm using some short ball-headed sewing pins to pin things to my board.

And BTW - thanks to all of you who have been sharing pics and project ideas from your own sewing rooms.  It has been so much fun to see how other costumers organize and decorate their spaces.


7 comments:

jennylafleur said...

I love it!! I've been thinking about trying to dress up my costuming corkboard - I might just have to try this!

Maggie said...

I love this!

Anonymous said...

This is awesome and beautiful! What a clever idea!

Anonymous said...

Thats really cute, I love the color of your walls. Sadly all that hangs on my board is a lonely piece of bias tape. Cant wait to see the rest of your sewing room.

Anonymous said...

I've been looking for something to recover my inspiration board with, and this is a perfect idea. Is it ok if I use this too?

Jen Thompson said...

Oh please do! That's why I posted it here - I was hoping other people might see it and get inspired. :)

Aubry said...

I LOVE this! Such a cute idea.

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