DIY Craft: Cork Display Frame


I made this Display Frame for tiny collections during LA-TV yesterday and it was my favorite episode so far... we laughed, listened to music, crafted and talked about favorite things :)

Unfortunately, the second half of the show didn't record and the funniest moment of my craft life wasn't captured. After creating this frame for two hours, selecting the perfect buttons and placement and assembling it with superglee, I turned it around to make sure no pins were sticking out the back... and every button fell off, rolling all over and making me and the watchers burst out laughing! It was a classic LA ;)

If you want to make this project, it's very simple and really fun!
1. Remove the backing & glass from the frame.
2. Paint the frame with 2 coats of acrylic paint.
3. Using a utility knife and carefulness, cut a piece of thick cork to insert & nestle in the frame from behind (size it bigger than the window). I used a cork pot holder.
IMG_1491
4. Choose a piece of fabric to cover & disguise the cork.
5. Spray adhesive a thin layer of glue onto the cork, then attach the fabric and pat down.
6. Trim off the excess fabric.
7. Apply crazy glue or instant-drying glue to the inside of the frame, then press your fabric covered cork into the frame.
8. Attach a hook, stand or hanging wire to the back of the frame.
9. Use straight pins or corsage pins to hold & display your favorite tiny collection.
10. Hang and squeal :)

31 comments:

  1. haha this is crazy bc i just made a giant version of this a couple months ago and was going to do a tutorial.
    yours is so bright and beautiful1 ;D

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wonderful idea! I'll definitely do this, though maybe stitching the buttons to the background... The idea of them having pins sticking out of them makes me think of them as dead butterflies or sth...

    ReplyDelete
  3. aww i missed the best part! Shouldn't have left too soon! Glad you had fun LA. I did!! xo

    ReplyDelete
  4. Very cute and simple. I like this a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I|m so sad because of the second part..because I wanted to see your face when the buttons fell off agai! :P I had a great time, thanks for that!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great tutorial, thank you for sharing it!

    ReplyDelete
  7. i totally made one of these last summer! :] i made a giant one to hang on my wall and serve as a chalkboard, but the smaller one i made into a cork board like this one :) i love it so much!

    ps, kind of bummed i missed LA-TV...they always seem to fall when i'm working :/

    ReplyDelete
  8. tooo cute!!!!! i'm going to have to try this. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. this is so darling! love it! thanks for the tutorial. happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  10. So cute! I'm totally crafting that today!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh no!!! I can't believe that didn't record, it was sooo funny.

    I had so much fun with you and everyone in the chat during LA-TV yesterday, thanks for sharing some birthday fun with us. :)

    I wrote a little post about it last night, and included some of the music you played if you want to check it out!
    http://atlanticatlantis.blogspot.com/2010/04/go-steady-with-me.html

    ReplyDelete
  12. Fantastic! I love that they look like button specimens. So clever...

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ahhhh! It was SO fun! I can't believe I missed the buttons falling off, but the singing and the dancing and the laughing were all worth it! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  14. OMG your face was precious when all the buttons fell off! Sad that it didn't record, but glad I stopped by to see it in real time. =D

    ReplyDelete
  15. that's really neat! need to find an awesome frame and give it a try.

    i would have turned it around without thinking of that too.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Such a cute project, LaLa! You KNOW I love that frame. Dirty Mustard!

    ReplyDelete
  17. What a great idea!!! And I just received a ton of vintage buttons from family!!! I think I may have to do this! Great conversation piece as well!

    Thanks for sharing!!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. i absolutely love this and it couldn't come at a more perfect time for me! i just bought two vintage metal frames (small) and have been wondering what i would do with them...and ouila!
    here you've given me a plan! yay! thanks so much:)

    ReplyDelete
  19. cute as a button. sad i couldnt see the whole thing!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Oh no!!! I can't believe it didn't record! I'm so glad I was there! You are so so adorable and even more endearing on camera! xoxo Happy happy birthday!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I just wish I could be as carefree as you on camera. Ah...maybe someday. Anyway thanks for the great tutorial and some great laughs.

    ReplyDelete
  22. That is awesome! I must make one, NOW!

    ReplyDelete
  23. That's a very very good idea :)
    And happy happy birthday, LA!
    Or "Eppie Bird-day", as I use to say :).

    Sweet Birthdaywishes from Belgium,

    Janina x

    ReplyDelete
  24. so sad I missed the blooper! :( LOL!!!

    xo.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I LOVE this idea! I'm in the process of redecorating my apartment, so I might steal this idea for my bathroom, since I can't seem to figure out what I want to put on the walls.

    ReplyDelete
  26. soooo cute! definitely going to try this one.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Something fun to do with the frames I've been collecting and the vintage button collection that I have which keeps on growing and growing. Yay! Thank you :)

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for reading. I now blog over at http://FreckledNest.typepad.com ...if you have any questions, please email me at LA[@]FreckledNest[.]com