Magnet Board Tutorial

(Updated: If you would like to see the video tutorial of this same project, click HERE.)

Hello, ladies!

I am a little disappointed about my post today. I worked all day Saturday on creating a video to show you how to make my Ballard Designs inspired magnet board. Then I spent several hours yesterday and this morning trying to upload it, and I couldn’t get it to work! UGH!

I had a lot of fun making the video and was excited to share it with you. However, it’s not going to happen today. If for some reason, I figure out how to make it work, I might post it later.

Here is my inspiration:

I love these magnet boards from Ballard Designs. But they are $39 a piece! I immediately said, “I can make that!” And for a lot less!

So I found a 12x18 sheet of aluminum at Lowe’s for $4.66.

It is a very thin piece of metal, so I decided to “thicken” it up a bit by adding cork board to the back. I had found these squares of cork at Goodwill for 50 cents each. They are about a centimeter thick, and can be purchased at most craft stores, maybe even at Walmart.

Lowe’s had two types of 12x18 sheets of metal. One was more expensive than the one I purchased, so I took a picture of the exact one you want to buy…

Then I cut the cork board into two inch wide strips and hot glued it down the sides of the magnet board. You could cover the entire back of the board with cork, but I was trying to save the cork board I had for other projects.

It will look like this when you are finished gluing the cork down…

Lay the board on the material you want to use. I am using leftover drop cloth material for this one.

Fold the material over the edges and hot glue in down.

Fold over the corners and hot glue them down. Don’t worry if they do not lay down perfectly, it’s on the back and no one will ever see it! :)

Add some ribbon by hot gluing it down in the middle and cutting the ends.

Hot glue your ribbon to the back of the board…

You can leave the back like this, or you can cover the back with material. I cover the back with material for the ones I sell in my Etsy shop because it gives more of a finished look.

To make some custom magnets, I picked up this package of “Spare parts” at Hobby Lobby for half off. ($2.50) The round magnets were two dollars, I think. Then I just hot glued the “spare parts” onto my magnets, and that was it!

They are so cute on my burlap magnet board.

FYI: If you cover your metal board with burlap, be sure to spray paint the front of the metal with white or off white paint. This keeps the metal from “shinning” through the burlap. (I know this from experience.) :)

Here is another board I made for my Etsy shop. I’ve been dying to make one with some pink on it. I think these would be so cute in a little girl’s room. I chose a brown material with pink polk-a-dots and a pink ribbon. (The back is covered in the same material.)

That’s it! These are super easy to do, and I know all you crafty ladies out there could make some fabulous ones. You can use any color of material and ribbon to match your own home decor.

Let me know if you try this!

And if you don’t want to make it yourself, I can make it for you.

They are for sale in my Etsy shop. You can visit it by clicking on the button in my side bar.

If you have any questions, just let me know!

I am sharing this project at

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Make it for Monday at Cottage Instincts

Make your Monday at Twice Remembered

Get Your Craft On at Today’s Creative Blog

DIY day at A Soft Place to Land

Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design

Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage

Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors

Blessings!