French Memory Board: Sew Simple Gift to Craft

Submitted by Cynthia Townley Ewer on June 25, 2008 - 10:34am

french memory boardIt's a pretty place for photos, cards and mementos: a French memory board! If you can sew a button and wield a stapler, you can make it.

Begin with a stretched artist's canvas, add batting, cover with cotton fabric, then criss-cross with ribbons. Novelty buttons secure ribbons to the canvas and add a bright touch. Light, pretty and oh, so easy!

To make your gift special, select fabric, ribbons and buttons to create a personalized memory board. Choose a child's favorite cartoon character and add bright ribbons. Carry out a sister's decorating scheme with coordinating fabrics and buttons. Give your favorite sports fan a place to display ticket stub and programs, done up in fabric displaying team logos.

Materials and Supplies:

  • 16-inch by 20-inch stretched artist's canvas
    (find artist's canvas at crafts stores, art supply stores or the crafts section of Wal-Mart)
  • 2/3 yard lightweight cotton fabric (45 inches wide)
    (makes two memory boards; buy fabric online from joann.com)
  • 2/3 yard polyester batting (45 to 60 inches wide)
  • 4 1/2 yard woven ribbon
  • 5 novelty buttons with shank
  • 5 flat buttons
  • heavy-duty upholstery thread
  • tapestry needle
  • staple gun
Instructions:

memory board craft project:materials1. Cut one 20-inch by 24-inch rectangle from cotton fabric. Press.

2. Cut two 16-inch by 20-inch rectangle from polyester batting. Stack batting layers on top of artist's canvas. Place fabric rectangle over the canvas and batting; carefully turn the stack over to the back side.

3. Using the staple gun, begin stapling the cotton fabric to the underside of the artist's canvas. Staple all four sides at the center of each side, pulling the fabric taut but not tight. Work toward the corners, stapling every inch or so.

memory board craft4. Carefully fold the fabric around each corner, mitering fabric to fit. Staple to secure.

memory board craft project5. Begin attaching ribbon by stapling to the back side of the memory board. Start by stapling one strip of ribbon diagonally from corner to corner. Staple ribbon Pull the ribbon taut but not tight. Staple at opposite end. Add a second ribbon diagonal to make a large "X".

memory board craft6. Add four more strips of ribbon, running them parallel to the first pair of ribbons to create a criss-cross pattern. Staple each ribbon on the back side of the memory board.

memory board craft7. To attach buttons, thread needle with upholstery thread. Insert needle through one hole of the flat button, then from the back of the canvas to the front at the intersection of each ribbon pair. Thread the needle through the novelty button, then back through the canvas and the flat button. Tie the ends of the thread tightly. The two buttons will "sandwich" the canvas, batting, fabric and ribbons. Repeat at the other intersections between the ribbons.