Recycled Crafts – Faux Quilted Bulletin Board

The husband works for a company that gets large parts in daily and they are packaged with styrofoam around them for protection.  So, of course I confiscated some.  I am a huge fan of creating crafts from recycled materials.  I decided to create a bulletin board that gives the look of quilting, but is actually incredibly easy to do.  It is a colorful addition to my sewing room!  Want to know how to make your own?

For this project I used:

One sheet of styrofoam packing material (36″ x 12″ x 1/2″) If you do not have access to packing material, your local craft store sells it in similar size sheets.
*Assorted fabrics, cut in strips for easy handling
free house quilt pattern
Ruler
Sharpie Pen
Craft Knife
Butter knife or credit card for pushing fabric into the styrofoam
Sheet of foam board
Thumb tacks

*If you would like the same print selection, I used the jelly roll selection called “Mardi Gras” from Discount Sewing Supply, along with some creme colored fabric from my stash.  Discount Sewing Supply is offering a 5% discount off the Mardi Gras jelly roll exclusively for Sitcom readers.  Just enter the coupon code SSBB1301 at the end of the checkout process.  Free shipping on all their jelly rolls!  (This is not a sponsored post- I just love their fabrics!)

My pattern is a 12″ square, so I was able to make three repeats of it across the width of the styrofoam sheet.  I used a pencil and ruler to mark it out, and then used a sharpie pen to darken the lines.

Once the pattern is complete, I chose a variety of fabrics to use.  My original plan was to go with a wintery look, but after searching through my fabric stash, I was drawn to the warm summery colors.  I chose about 8 different coordinating fabrics, and then cut them in 2- 1/2″ wide strips for easier handling.

Choose a place to begin and cut a piece of fabric big enough to overlap all four sides of the area by about 1/2″.  Use the craft knife to cut into the styrofoam along the line.  Be careful not to cut entirely through the styrofoam sheet.  You want to go about half way through.

Use a butter knife or credit card to push the edges of the fabric down into the styrofoam along the cut lines.

Choose your fabrics as you go and repeat the above steps, pushing the extra fabric into the cracks.

On the edges, simply overlap the fabric over the edge and push into the crevices made by your craft knife.

Because the sheet of styrofoam has been compromised, it is a bit weak.  To ensure that it does not break, cut a piece of foam board big enough to glue to the back of the styrofoam using low temp hot glue.  Cut strips of fabric about 2- 1/2″ wide to use as the edging fabric.  Use the low temp hot glue gun to glue the strip along the edges of the back.

Fold the strip of fabric over the side of the project, fold the edge where it meets the front, and press in place with a thumbtack.  If your thumbtack will not stay in place, use a dot of hot glue on the tip of it before you punch it in.

And there you have it.  A sunny, colorful bulletin board with the look of a fancy quilt.  A perfect decoration for my sewing room.

Do you like recycled craft projects?  Then be sure to check out the following!

Faux Metal Wall Art from toilet paper tubes
Faux Tin Tiles from a disposable cookie sheet
Paper Reed Frames from recycled magazines

For over 100 more tutorials for all ages, be sure to visit my Tutorial Page!

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Tagged as: fabric, quilting, wall art