Farmhouse Style Corkboard – Cute Christmas Card Idea

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Want a super cute Christmas card idea? Use free pallet wood to make this farmhouse-style cork board to display your cards all year round.

For years we used to tape all of our annual Christmas cards on the doors of the fridge and leave them all year long. It was a wonderful landscape of family and friends, and it helped me remember to pray for the people in my life. 

Then one year after we removed the cards our house cleaner made the doors sparkle and I realized how much bigger it made my kitchen look to have the doors clean and bare which meant I needed a different place to showcase our many blessings.

Using materials around our house I made this farmhouse-style corkboard. Grab a free pallet rack and use the wood to create your own organizer and use it as a cute Christmas card idea, a board to display your kids’ best artwork, family photos, etc.

For more Christmas inspiration be sure to check out:

Farmhouse Style Cork Board Organizer

This random plank of wood came from my grandfather’s 200-year-old barn.  It was sitting in our garage, and it became the frame for my corkboard.  You can use any piece of plank wood or free pallet wood to make this frame.

Make sure you can get 4 pieces out of it.  In this case, I vertically cut this plank into 4 equal pieces.

Supplies:

• Plank of wood for the frame
• 1/4″ plywood for the backing
• 8 flat L plate brackets
• Cork squares
• Self-adhesive mounting squares
• Hot glue gun
• Fabric

Tools:

• Table saw
• Miter saw
• Brad nailer
• Circular saw
• Power drill

Farmhouse Style Corkboard – Cute Christmas Card Idea

#1  Cut your plank to give you the 4 frame edge pieces.

I love my DeWalt table saw.  I actually found this new table saw on Craigslist for half the price.

If you are using reclaimed pallet wood, then you do not need to cut it down. Just make sure all 4 pieces are the same width.

Farmhouse Style Corkboard – Cute Christmas Card Idea

#2.  Miter the ends of the 4 edge pieces.

Once your framed edges are cut, use a miter saw to cut your 45-degree angles.

My sweet little helper wanted to sweep up the sawdust.  This worked better than his previous attempt at blowing the dust around with our tire pump.

I threw in a couple of brad nails with my Ryobi Brad Nailer (one of my FAVORITE tools) in the corners to help keep the frame together.

Use any thin (1/4″ – 1/2″) piece of plywood for the backing.  This is what you will cover with the corkboard.

 

Farmhouse Style Corkboard – Cute Christmas Card Idea

#3.  Trace the plywood backing

Lay your frame over the 1/4″ plywood and trace along the inside edge to create a border for the backing.  As you can see below I had to use two pieces of plywood because my frame was too big.

After you have traced it take a straight ruler and extent those edges approximately 1/2″ or as much as it takes to overlap the back of your frame because you will need to screw it into the back of the frame.

 

Farmhouse Style Corkboard – Cute Christmas Card Idea

#4. Cut the plywood backing

Cut the plywood backing with a circular saw.

When I remeasure and create a different line I ALWAYS make myself a note.  Hey stupid, don’t cut the wrong line 🙂

Once the plywood is cut to fit as the backing to the frame, it is time to secure your frame and attach the corkboard material!

 

Farmhouse Style Corkboard – Cute Christmas Card Idea

#5.  Brace the 4 Frame edges with l-plates

For this frame, I used two L plates for each corner.  A 2-inch brace for the inner aspect of the corner, and a 2 1/2 inch brace for the outer aspect of the corner.  Place the L plates in the corners and fasten them with screws to secure your frame.

The little man was in charge of the screws.

“Watch my fingers, Mommy!”

Double and triple-check that your screws are not too long for the width of your wood or they will go right through to the front!

With old barn wood, you have to be very careful with the power of your drill.  Use a low setting or else you may split your wood.

Speaking of splitting your wood, here you can see that I did not bother with a screw in that lower bracket.  There is already a split directly where I would have placed a screw.  There was no need to put one here as it was already anchored everywhere else.  Not worth completely splitting your reclaimed piece of 200-year-old barn wood.

Farmhouse Style Corkboard – Cute Christmas Card Idea

#6.  Secure the backing to the frame

Once you have secured your frame with the L plates then lay your plywood on the back of the frame.  Secure with only a couple screws to hold it in place.  You will need to take the back off again to cover your corkboard with fabric.  This is to keep the board in place while you attach the corkboard.

Farmhouse Style Corkboard – Cute Christmas Card Idea

#7. Attach the corkboard to the plywood backing

Flip it over and start attaching your corkboard.  I used cork squares just because they are easier to handle, but you can also buy a roll of cork.

Gracie was in charge of peeling off the sticker backings!  I used self-adhesive mounting squares as well as a hot glue gun to attach the boards to the plywood.

Last board!  You are ready for the fabric.

Farmhouse Style Corkboard – Cute Christmas Card Idea

#8.  Cover the corkboard with fabric.

At this point, you need to unscrew the backing, flip it to the front, and cover the corkboard with fabric.

#9.  Glue the fabric to the backboard

Cut around the edges leaving approximately 2-3″ extra to glue to the plywood.  Fabric scissors are recommended if you have one.

Glue the fabric to the back of your plywood and secure the plywood to the frame with screws.

Add any other decorations you may want such as fake flowers, accent fabrics, or other decals.  Find style-appropriate push pins for your board.  I am using these natural wooden push pins.

Voila!

Look how pretty!

A cute Christmas card idea, artwork organizer, family picture display. . .

Merry Christmas!

For more Christmas inspiration be sure to check out:

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