Cork Board ReFresh for WFH or Virtual School

Happy New Year, fellow ReStore shoppers. It’s Sarah of www.sadieseasongoods.com again, with a new upcycling project idea to share with you!

Nothing says January to me quite like organization; and with virtual school and the home office more important than ever, I decided to create something that will help us ALL stay organized and focused. A plain cork board from the Charlotte Region ReStore is super handy and also super boring- but a quick and easy makeover turns it into a bright, inspiring piece that livens up your work-from-home space!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Cork board of any size/shape like the ones found at the CLT Region ReStore
• Painter’s tape
• Butter knife or other flat edge (optional but handy)
• Box cutter or scissors
• Paint (acrylic or latex) and brush (Several colors- I used three in total)
• Drop cloth or newspaper (anything to protect your indoor crafting space)
• Stencil(s) and stencil brushes (and a rag/paper towel to wipe off excess paint from your brush)
• Push pins (optional but handy)

Safety first!

As with all paints, make sure you have a well-ventilated space to paint in. And if you use a box cutter or other sharp edge, take care to cut away from your body and keep fingers out of the way.

Here’s how to Transform your “Blah” Cork Board:

• Head to your local Charlotte Region ReStore and look for a cork board. I found mine in the framed art section at the Wendover ReStore.
• Carefully line the inner edge of the cork board with painter’s tape. Use a butter knife (or something similar) to press the tape underneath the wood frame to ensure super clean lines. For perfectly straight edges, press the tape up against the corners, and use a box cutter to cut away the excess.
• Paint the wood frame of the cork board. When the paint is completely dry, remove and discard the painter’s tape.
• Now for the fun part- stenciling a design directly onto the cork. I LOVE to stencil on cork- it’s such an unexpected surface for a stenciled design. If you’re unfamiliar with stenciling, I included some tips and tricks in this Charlotte Region ReStore blog post.

Happy 2021!

Neither working from home nor virtual school is an ideal situation for most of us. But making the best out of it with refreshed office/school supplies can really help. I know I’m personally inspired and uplifted by bright colors. And the ways to personalize this project with color AND stencils (shapes, spelling out a first name, etc.) are positively endless.

Are you feeling this DIY for January organization? We would love to see your fancy cork boards! Take a snap and tag us ( @cltregionrestore and @sadieseasongoods ) with the hashtag #ReStoreWFHIdeas!