Happy Tuesday, sweet friends! Today’s makeover came from the same barn sale where I found this mirror harp turned shelf and this set of buffet lamps that I already made over from this current haul.
It’s this DIY bulletin board made by the woman who was having the sale:
The frame alone was worth the $5 she was asking for it, so I added it to my pile!
There’s nothing really wrong with it, but I thought I could brighten it up a bit.
Getting started
I started this makeover by removing the bulletin board and the frame inside the main frame that was covered in fabric.
I also removed the fabric that was attached with a hundred staples:
It ended up being just for fun because I didn’t even use that second frame!
I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
I gave the rest of the frame a good wipe down with White Lightning and a quick rinse, and I was ready for paint.
Paint
I knew I wanted to cover the bulletin board in fabric and the fabric I chose had a white background, so I painted the bulletin board in one generous coat of Cotton:
That way the white in the fabric would stay a nice, bright white.
Then I painted the frame, first in Cotton and then with Vintage Duck Egg Blue:
By not painting complete coats, I was able to get a weathered, beachy look.
Attaching the Fabric to the bulletin board
To attach the fabric to the bulletin board, I turned to my friend, Loctite spray adhesive.
This is the same spray adhesive I use with stencils to hold them firmly in place. To get a more permanent bond, you want to spray both surfaces that you are adhering together and allow them to sit for 10 minutes before bonding them.
I sprayed the bulletin board first and then the fabric and let them sit:
After waiting the suggested 10 minutes, I laid my fabric across the bulletin board and smoothed it out.
I secured it to the back using 1/4″ staples and my cheap staple gun:
Then I inserted the fabric-covered bulletin board into the frame and secured it in place using my Logan Point Driver:
But when I flipped it over, I didn’t love it.
The super bright white of the fabric was not working with the finish and was actually making the Cotton appear yellowish:
The wood of the frame might have tinted the white parts a bit as well. I also felt like the fabric and frame were competing for attention.
Plan B
Because I can’t stop until I’m completely satisfied, I decided to grab my Silk Fan Deck to see if I had a Silk color that would work well with this fabric.
I thought a solid color would work better here:
I decided to go with Quiet Cove:
Ahh yes…so much better! No need to seal since Silk has a built-in topcoat!
The Result
The layered paint I originally chose was just too busy for this print, but the Quiet Cove is so serene and really lets the fabric be the star of the show!
My adorable parents at my Mom’s 70th birthday surprise party:
I just love that photo of them!
We caught her reaction to the surprise on video here:
(If you have a hard time viewing, you can see it on YouTube HERE.)
My sister and her two daughters flew in from WI and my brother and his daughter drove up from SC. My mom had no idea and she was so surprised!
This soothing coastal color was such a great match to this pretty fabric. The Silk dries to an eggshell finish, so not quite flat, but not a whole lot of sheen either…
If you prefer more sheen, you can always add a coat of Clear Coat in Satin.
And of course I found this pretty fabric at my favorite fabric store…the drapery aisle at HomeGoods!
This is my third project that I’ve gotten out of these curtain panels so far, and I still have plenty left.
And of course, I’m getting as much mileage out of my hydrangeas as I can before they’re gone!
And here’s a quick peek at the back:
I covered it in this pretty patterned kraft paper, using Matte Mod Podge to adhere it.
I also added D-ring hanging hardware to the back for hanging:
I’ve made a few more fabric-covered bulletin boards in the past where I had to cut the bulletin board to fit.
These two HERE and HERE are my favorites!!
I hope y’all enjoyed this simple makeover! I think I succeeded at making it just a bit happier than before!
Want to see what else I did with this fabric?
It involves this glass door that I completely repurposed!
See what it became HERE!!
That’s one more project complete!
See what I’ve transformed so far at at the links below!
$3 Thrift Store Basket and Lid Repurposed
Summer Basket Wreath from a $3 Thrift Store Find
$7 Thrift Store Mirror Makeover
Vintage Cane Club Chairs Updated
$6 Thrift Store Shelf Makeover with Transfer
Pub Table Makeover
Becky’s Secretary Desk Makeover
Update a Thrift Store Box with Fabric
$5 Buffet Lamps Updated with Decoupage Paper
Mirror Harp Repurposed
I’ll be back with my Furniture Fixer Upper girls on Thursday sharing what I did with this dresser:
UPDATE: No need to come back! I think you’ll be surprised at what I did with this dresser… see it HERE now!
I hope to see y’all then!
XOXO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
If you like what you see, there are several ways to follow along!
Mary Kaiser says
Oh it turned out so beautiful once you re-painted it the other color. I love how beefy the frame is. That fabric is beautiful! I love this project. I can’t wait to see what you do with the dresser, love that mirror that goes with it!
Christy says
Thank you, Mary! The frame is really nice! See ya Thursday! XOXO
Valerie says
You have such an eye! I love how you weren’t going to stop until you got the frame color right. Well done!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Valerie! Yes, I had to keep at it ha ha! XOXO
Cheryl Atkinson says
Hi Christy! This bulletin board turned out so gorgeous. I must make one now. 🤗
Christy says
Thank you so much, Cheryl! XOXO
Christina says
Christy, I adored seeing the video of your mother’s surprise!! Wonderful!! I love that you all did that for her!!
This bulletin board is perfect! I think Quiet Cove was an inspired choice. Love the fabric and flashback to your build of the cabinet. Your skill set and creative artistry are amazing!
Have a great week!!
Christy says
I’m so glad you enjoyed the video, Christina! It’s really fun to look back and see her reaction! And thank you so much, my friend! I really enjoy building, but boy is it a lot of work lol! XOXO
Denise Cox says
Admittedly, changing the paint color was a vast improvement, but I did LOVE the beachy, weathered look your chose as well!! Would have been interesting to see what pretty fabric you would have chosen for that one… 🤔😊!!!!
Christy says
I feel the same way, Denise! I really loved the original beachy finish, but it just wasn’t working with the fabric! Thank you!! XOXO
Val says
Hi Christy, a simple project, accessible to everyone but which turned out so cute. I love that you also posted the first version that didn´t work so good. It´s important to show that even people with lots of experience in redoing stuff, sometimes don´t get it right at first! Have a great week! Val.
Christy says
Thank you, Val! I don’t always get it right either lol! Enjoy your week too! XOXO
Sue Mellette says
I love the final makeover. I agree with you, the distressed look really did not do the floral fabric justice! However your choice of Quiet Cove really does make the frame and the fabric pop. It is always nice to know that other artists are not always happy with a one – and – done look! Your patience paid off and the look is fabulous. Naturally, the addition of the backing paper you used really does finish this piece! Love the pics of your mom and I even watched the video again. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful week.
Christy says
Thank you, Sue! Yep, that is the wonderful thing about paint…if you don’t like it, you can paint it again! I’m glad you enjoyed seeing the video again, and I’m thrilled we were able to pull that surprise off just to see her reaction! Enjoy your week too! XOXO
Sharon L Austin says
You’re right, quiet cove worked better. However, now the piece can’t go into my cabin, which is where it was headed in my mind when you first started! LOL
Christy says
Ha ha!!
Mary King says
Love this! I am back at work and I have been struggling to get into the swing of things. I have not been always able to keep up with your post these last few months, but have enjoyed catching up. I want something like this to display an everchanging display of black and white copies of old family photos. Hope you and your family are well!
Christy says
Thank you, Mary! I can imagine it is difficult to get back to it. This would be ideal for all those treasured family photos! So good to hear from you, my friend! XOXO
Mandy says
Oh, I love it! The colors are beautiful. I’m usually not a huge fan of bulletin boards, but I’d LOVE one like this to pin up my idea for my furniture flips. It’s gorgeous.
Christy says
Thank you, Mandy! I agree…bulletin boards aren’t always the prettiest things to look at! XOXO
Michele M. says
Fascinating- I too initially thought the first way of painting the frame was going to be fabulous (oh it looked so freaking awesome,) only to completely understand why you changed it. Nailed it with the second color. It is beautiful!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Michele! I was really loving the way the frame was looking too. Glad it worked out in the end though! XOXO
Cecilia from Georgia says
This turned out so lovely! I liked the first colors but not with that fabric. The change of color is a perfect match!
Christy says
Thank you, Cecilia! I agree…and it was nice to get to try this pretty color! XOXO
Cindy says
A blah bulletin board is now art! What a transformation and so restful for the eye too. Enjoyed your surprise party for your Mom especially all the love in the room=)
Christy says
Aww thank you, Cindy! It was much improved ha ha! And yes…my husband was filming and I wish he had filmed just a little longer, but her reaction was priceless! Glad you enjoyed it too! XOXO
Debra Hubbs says
So pretty! I thought the first version came out nice also but then saw how much nicer it looked with the solid Silk paint. I love the colors in that paint line! Have not tried it yet though.
Christy says
Thank you, Debra! I just knew I was going to love that frame and fabric together, but nope! Luckily, silk to the rescue! There are some lovely colors in that line for sure! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
So happy now, Christy! I love that fabric and I actually liked the first treatment, but I can see that the solid blue looks even better. I’ve got to try Silk paint, every time you use it the results are magnificent.
Christy says
Thank you, Marcie! I too loved the first frame. I almost wish I had another fabric that would have worked with the original finish…oh well! I loved getting to try a new color! And yes, it is fabulous paint! XOXO
Diana Cosgrove says
Good Morning Christy…. You are amazing! The bulletin board is beautiful. You are so fortunate to have a video of your Mom’s surprise reaction … I wish I had a video of my dear Mother.
p.s. I hope to start my mirror this weekend! The weather in New England is supposed to be perfect!
Christy says
Aww thank you, Diana! I treasure that video so much. Have fun working on your mirror!! It’s perfect painting weather! XOXO
ROBIN says
LOVE IT. THE MATERIAL IS BEAUTIFUL AND THE FRAME JUST POPS IT.
Christy says
Thanks so much, Robin! XOXO
Kay says
Love this bulletin board! You did a great job of repainting the frame until it looked just right! What a pleasant surprise I had when I recognized the fabric. I just bought the same curtains from Home Goods that I am going to use for……curtains!! I enjoy your blog very much and you have great ideas to update your thrift haul.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Kay! And how funny that you just bought the same curtains! I absolutely love them! XOXO
Petra says
Very nice. It would actually make just a nice piece of art on the wall – that fabric is so pretty 😀
Christy says
Thank you, Petra! It sure would! XOXO
Becky says
How pretty! Good for you, seeing that the frame didn’t work with the fabric and finding the color that DID work! It’s hard not to get discouraged and stash it for a while! (That’s not just me, right?😬 ) So worth it in the end! Prettiest tack board ever! 😊
Christy says
Thank you, Becky!! I’m so glad the second color worked out better! You guys keep me accountable lol…if I didn’t have a blog, it very well may have ended up in a corner somewhere! Have a fantastic weekend, my friend! XOXO