Hi friends,
Oooh, I’m so excited this project is finished! Although, this is the first upcycle I’ve done where I didn’t previously pick the item up at a thrift store or yard sale. This cork board / bulletin board was left in my classroom last year before I moved in. It sat alone and plain behind my desk all year and I wanted to use it, but I wasn’t feeling the look. So when I got permission to paint it and make it over, I jumped at the chance to upcycle it! Check out the tutorial below for how I created this color block memo board!
The Rules:
- Upcycle an item(s) from a thrift store, resale store, or garage sale into a new piece of decor.
- There’s no monthly theme.
- There’s no budget to stick to.
Meet the Hosts!
Amanda | Domestically Creative Kim | Made in a Day Victoria | Dazzle While Frazzled Pili | Sweet Things
Debra | Shoppe No. 5 Sue | A Purdy Little House Chelc | Inside the Fox Den Kimm | Reinvented
Ann | Duct Tape and Denim Sara | Twelve on Main Kim | Farmhouse Made Toni | Small Home Soul
Chelsea | Making Manzanita Leanna | Of Faerie and Fauna Denise | My Thrifty House Lindsay | Crazy Organized
Florence | Vintage Southern Picks Shirley | Intelligent Domestications Angela | Simply Beautiful by Angela
Michelle | Michelle J. Designs Michelle | Our Crafty Mom Marie | DIY Adulation
Make sure you follow our board on Pinterest for more upcycled decor inspiration!
It was perfectly functional as it was, just super duper boring. I knew I wanted to use my favorite color combo of white, navy, and rose gold (are we really surprised?) but I wasn’t sure of the overall look. I sketched out a few options, but ultimately decided to go with a simple color block design.
Supplies Used
- cork board
- white paint
- rose gold paint
- navy paint
- painter’s tape
- aluminum foil (optional)
Instructions
1. Because I was planning on painting a section rose gold, I didn’t want two metals competing with one another. So I grabbed a blue-gray spray paint and painted the memo board’s border. I let it dry overnight and then covered with painter’s tape before moving onto step #2.
2. I had truly planned on using spray paint for the white section, but the white spray paint I did have sucked. Like, royally. So I took the project inside and used acrylic paint. With using acrylic paint I did have to use 2 coats, but I like how it turned out. I started about 1/3-ish in from the top left and ended diagonally 1/3-ish in from the bottom right and let it dry.
3. Once the white was completely dry I covered the sections (with foil because I’m so paranoid that spray paint will go through newspaper or something) I didn’t want to get misted with rose gold and painted my rose gold section. I painted about 2 even coats to get the finish I wanted.
4. Finally, I taped off my final section and used my favorite navy paint that has a chalky finish. Like the two sections before, I painted 2 coats and let dry.
5. I took off the tape & foil, added my decorations and hung it up!
I really love how this looks hanging up in my classroom and it is sooooo going to come in handy this school year! Anything to help me stay more organized is never a bad thing.
How do you organize your office / work space?
And now for more thrifty goodness!
Check out what my fellow upcyclers created below!
You are so right, this is such a huge improvement. I remember those boring bulletin boards from my school days. This easy paint improvement will surely brighten up the classroom. I think pretty things make organizing so much easier.
Toni | Small Home Soul recently posted…DIY Mirrored Jewelry Tray – Easy Picture Frame Upcycle
Oooooh, I love this! Those colors are gorgeous, and I never thought to paint my cork board!
I love this! Great transformation of a blah cork board! It has so much style and personality!
sara s syrett recently posted…Thrift Store Headboard to Farmhouse Style Wall Decor
This is so pretty! I love the colors that you chose they compliment each other so well!!
Beautiful memo board! The color block idea is awesome!!
Michelle James recently posted…NewAir Portable Dryer-Perfect For Apartment Living
This looks fantastic. To pretty to cover with papers. It will certainly brighten your classroom and keep you organized.
I love the color combo and you really dressed up that boring cork board. They are pretty expensive to purchase new and yours looks like it was in great shape. It looks so much better now. It always amazes me how much a little paint can do to something.
This turned out great and i love the colors you chose.
This looks great Chelc! Love the color combo.
Amanda recently posted…DIY Litter Box Cabinet
What a great way to turn a bulletin board into art! Love the graphic pattern.
Kimm at Reinvented recently posted…DIY Farmhouse Decor From Thrifted Wall Art
Very cool upcycle! Love navy with anything! I am in love with that cactus wall hanging!
Kim
Kim~madeinaday recently posted…Make your own Kilim Throw Pillow Covers from a Rug
Omg! I love the large scale of this bulletin board and how chic your classroom is. Great job! I’m going to keep an eye out for that rose gold paint :)
Sue Purdy recently posted…Pool Cabana Furnished with Thrift Store Finds
Love the color block idea and especially your color combo! I never would have thought to paint the cork board. You’re going to love this in your classroom this year. I need one for my craft room.
Shirley Wood recently posted…DIY Two Tier Spinning Craft Room Storage Tray
Turned out great! Love it!!
That’s going to look so great in your classroom! Hope you had a good summer and are excited for the schoolyear! Those kiddos are lucky to have you as their teacher.
I would have never thought of painting a cork board. This turned out so well!!
Love, love! Sharing on social media #MM
Kim
Kim~madeinaday recently posted…DIY Fall Wreath Ideas for Every Decor