Creating a Picture Ribbon Board (O'Connor)

These instructions offer a simple, step by step guideline on how to create your own picture ribbon board. Picture ribbon boards are commonly used to display pictures, but can also be used to display greeting cards, ticket stubs, little posters, or a combination of everything into a collage. Picture ribbon boards can be hung on a wall or set up on a table. They can also be designed in a variety of ways. The fabric and ribbon you choose is up to you. The different combinations can be based off of your school colors, favorite sports team, or to match present decor in a room. Creating your picture ribbon board will take you approximately an hour and materials should be purchased or gathered ahead of time. You don't need technical ability to complete this project, just creativity. In a short while, the picture ribbon board will be completed, and you will have a creative picture holder to display your pictures.

Step 1: Supplies

Staple Gun
Staples
Scissors
Hammer
Pen or Marker (not shown in picture)
Measuring Tape (not shown in picture)
2' x 2' 1/2 thick plywood (one side finished Burch) or any 2' by 2' sturdy light board
40 PC Thumbtacks (any finish or design)
8/9" x 19' Ribbon (any color or colors)
48" x 37" Batting
36" x 36" Fabric (any color or print)

Step 2:

Take plywood and lay, smooth side up, on working surface.

Step 3:

Fold batting in half and lay on smooth side of board.

Step 4:

Line batting up with corners of board.

Step 5:

Flip board over with batting to prepare for cutting.

Step 6:

Cut off any extra batting from the edges of the board with your scissors. Warning: Always use your scissors with care.

Step 7:

Flip board over with batting on top.

Step 8:

Place chosen fabric over the board and batting, leaving 2 - 2 1/2" of fabric past the board on each side. (If you line up two sides and one corner with the fabric, in the next step you will have less cutting.)

Step 9:

Cut excess fabric off of the two remaining sides, make sure to leave 2 - 2 1/2" on each side. Warning: Always use your scissors with care.

Step 10:

Flip fabric, batting, and board over, so the fabric is on your working surface.

Step 11:

To secure fabric and batting to board, start from one side and pull the fabric over the back of the board. Then use the staple gun to secure. Warning: Always use the staple gun with care.

Step 12:

Go to the opposite side of the board that you just secured the fabric on and pull and staple the fabric. Warning: Always use the staple gun with care.

Step 13:

To secure the last two sides, start at one corner by folding the corner up toward the board making a right angle with the board and fabric.

Step 14:

Pull the fabric tight and fasten with staple gun. Warning: Always use the staple gun with care.

Step 15:

Repeat steps 13 and 14 for the other three corners.

Step 16:

Once all the corners are secure, staple the remaining middle two sides to the board with the staple gun making sure to keep the fabric pulled tight. Warning: Always use the staple gun with care.

Step 17:

Measure 4" from each corner and mark with a dot, along the edge, using the marker and measuring tape. There should be 8 dots total.

Step 18:

Cut four 30" long ribbons. The four ribbons will go on each corner from side to side on the marks that were made in step 17. Warning: Always use the scissors with care.

Step 19:

Take one end of a ribbon and place on the far side of the dot from the corner. (Placing the ribbon on the far side keeps the 4 inches from the corner.)

Step 20:

Once the ribbon is in the correct position from the dot, secure with staples. Make sure half of each staple is on the ribbon and half on the fabric. Warning: Always use the staple gun with care.

Step 21:

Take the other end of the ribbon that you just secured, pull tight, and secure that end to the 4 " mark on the opposite corner. Warning: Always use the staple gun with care.

Step 22:

Repeat steps 19-21 for the other three ribbons.

Step 23:

Make dots at 11" with the marker and measuring tape from each corner on each side. There should be 8 dots total.

Step 24:

Cut four 18-1/2" long ribbons. The four ribbons will go on each corner from side to side on the marks that were made in step 23. Warning: Always use the scissors with care.

Step 25:

Take one end of a ribbon and place on the far side of the dot from the corner. (Placing the ribbon on the far side keeps the 11 inches from the corner.)

Step 26:

Once the ribbon is in the correct position from the dot, secure with staples. Make sure half of each staple is on the ribbon and half on the fabric. Warning: Always use the staple gun with care.

Step 27:

Take the other end of the ribbon that you just secured, pull tight, and secure that end to the 11" mark on the opposite corner. Warning: Always use the staple gun with care.

Step 28:

Repeat steps 25-27 for the other three ribbons.

Step 29:

Once all eight ribbons are placed, place a thumbtack at each intersection point of the ribbons. (12 thumbtacks total)

Step 30:

At one of the intersections, push the thumbtack down with your thumb to get stability of the thumbtack when using the hammer. Note thumbtacks could bend and break, preventing them from being put into the board, if this happens just grab a new one.

Step 31:

Now use the hammer to push the thumbtack through the board. Warning: When using the hammer on the thumbtack, keeps fingers away from thumbtack.

Step 32:

Repeat steps 31 and 32 for the remaining 7 thumbtacks. Warning: When using the hammer on the thumbtacks, keeps fingers away from thumbtacks.

Step 33: Finished!!

Congratulations! You are finished making your own picture ribbon board. You can now place whatever you want in the ribbons and enjoy. If you want to secure it to the wall, use either command hanging strips or drill into the wall.