MAKE | Memories Board

AS PREVIOUSLY WRITTEN FOR THE MARKS & SPENCER SHWOPPING BLOG...

This DIY is the perfect way to display those photos, pictures, postcards and letters which are shoved in a shoebox at the back of your wardrobe. This craft can be cheap and easy and bring a unique, colour co-ordinated accessory to any room.

It’s easy to just charity shop by your dress size but don’t neglect pieces which catch your eye for their prints and patterns as there are plenty of ways they can be used in different projects. This craft uses a Shwopped M&S dressing gown with a fantastic, retro print.

YOU WILL NEED…

• AN OLD PILLOW
• ITEM OF CLOTHING WITH A FABULOUS PATTERN
• OLD PINBOARD (or stiff cardboard)
• SPLIT PINS (make sure they are long and strong enough to pierce through the padding)
• LONG STRIPS OF RIBBON
• SCISSORS
• PENCIL
• STAPLER
• DRAWING PINS
• HAMMER
• SMALL TACKS/PINS

1. Lay your chosen item right side down on a flat surface. We’ve used this old M&S dressing gown picked up in Oxfam.

2. Place your pin board on your clothing and draw around it.

3. Cut it out leaving a good few inches around your outline to ensure it will easily cover the board with padding. Put this to one side.

4. Cut open an old pillow and spread the padding over your board evenly, just enough to give it a bit of cushioning.

5. Put your patterned fabric on top of your board and padding. Tuck the edges round the sides of the board, pulling tight, and temporarily secure with pins. Keep adjusting to ensure the fabric is pulled as tight as possible.

6. Turn the board over and staple around the edge of the excess fabric, keeping the fabric as tight as possible and tucking the corners in neatly.

7. Hammer a tack or pin into the side edge at each corner of the board or wherever you would like your ribbons to begin from.

8. Cut several lengths of ribbon long enough to stretch over diagonally across the board.

9. Knot the ribbon around the tack at one corner and pull it down tightly to the diagonal opposite corner and tie to that tack. Repeat this on the opposite corners. We are using wrapping ribbon which will split if punctured but if using fabric ribbon you could just tack through it to hold it in place.

10. Take a split pin and push it through the centre point formed by your crossing ribbons. Use a pin to create an initial hole if necessary and hammering it can help force it through the pin board. When it punctures through the other side be sure to bend it flat so it doesn’t catch or scratch.

11. Repeat this process for the amount of ribbons you want on your board. Insert split pins at every ribbon cross point and tuck the ribbon around the head.

12. To hang the board you need to cut and attach another length of ribbon or string to the back of the board.  We stapled ours. Hang your new memories board pride of place and use to display your favourite photos, letters, pictures or knick knacks.

TOP TIP 1: You can paint the golden heads of the split pins in complimentary or contrasting colours using paint or even nail varnish. You could also glue buttons on top of them for a quirky, crafty look.

TOP TIP 2: Cut your pinboard into a shape or letter for a really individual creation.