can you tell me how to make the memory board? and how hard is it? <--that means can somebody who is not crafty at all do this? i am thinking it might make a nice christmas present for DS teachers.
First, it is not hard at all, just best to plan ahead and lay out things before starting. The instructions are below. You don't have to be very crafty, just handy with a staple gun.
To make the Memory Board:
Cut your batting (if using) the same approximate size as your canvas (canvas can be found at any craft store like Jo-Ans or Michaels). Don't worry about making this perfect as it will be covered up by the fabric. Cut your fabric about 3 inches larger than your canvas (so if your canvas is 12x12, you'll want your fabric to be about 15x15). Once again, these cuts don't have to be perfect as they will be on the back of the board. Clear off a larger work area. Lay your fabric, design side down, on the table. Lay the batting in the center of the fabric and the canvas over the batting. Pick a side to start with and wrap the fabric around the back of the canvas and staple to the canvas. Start in the center and work your way out to smooth and pull the fabric as you go. Do the side opposite the first pulling the canvas taught with each staple. Complete for remaining two sides. Do the corners last, folding like a christmas present and adhereing in the back with staples.
Attaching Ribbon:
Cut each piece of ribbon about 5 inches longer than the width of the board. Turn the board over and lay the ribbons where you'd like them to fall ensuring there is pleanty of overhang on each side of the canvas. Use straight pins to hold in place (I didn't do this with the golf one and the ribbon was spaced weird). Once they are all pinned, turn the board over and staple one side of the ribbon into place. Pull out the straight pins and pull the ribbon taught before stapling the other side of the ribbon. This is important because if the ribbon isn't taught, anything you put on the board will just fall.
Buttons:
The buttons I used had backings on them - I just cut them off with my hubby's wire cutters (very easy) and hot glued them in place (could also use fabric or tacky glue for this). I then put a bit of glue under the button where the ribbon crossed and pressed down to adhere.
HTH. I am making another one later next week and can take pictures through the process if you let me know.
