Making a French Memo Board

Often when shopping around home decor stores, I have eyed the many French memo boards on display and imagined them in my home. There are just two obstacles to that dream however: 1) they cost too much, and 2) they don't come in the exact colors or pattern I want.
I wondered then how much it would cost to have an online seller who does custom French memo boards make one for me. After a bit of surfing, I realized that I was going to have to make one for myself. And for Sara and all you other non-sewers out there, don't worry - there is no sewing involved!
Here's what is involved:
I went to my local craft store and scavenged for materials to make my board. First, I needed a stretched artists canvas. I am blessed enough to have a local craft store that sells these very inexpensively (I paid $4.49 for a 12x12 canvas!) You are not going to get that kind of deal at Michaels or Joanns, but here's a hint: check out your local thrift stores for old canvas paintings. You're going to cover it up anyway, so use your resources!
Next, I needed fabric to match my bedroom. A flat quarter, which is precut fabric for making quilts, is the perfect size for covering the canvas. I found some fat quarters on sale for $1 each - and in the pile were two pieces of beautiful teal/brown floral fabric.
It was easy to obtain matching ribbon for the board. At Michaels, you can get a spool of 1/4" satin ribbon (10 yards) for 50 cents. This is more than enough ribbon for the board!
Finally I purchased some gold thumbtacks, a package of gold brads, and planned to use my staple gun as well.
And here's how to make this French memo board:

1) First, iron your fabric so that there are no creases or wrinkles. Stretch fabric tightly across the canvas and turn canvas over. Pulling fabric as tightly as you can, staple fabric in place on the left and right sides of the canvas.

2) Trim excess fabric as shown in the photo above.

3) Carefully fold in each corner as if you were wrapping a present. Hold each fold in place with a thumbtack.

4) Fold down the other two sides of the fabric and staple in place, stretching fabric as tightly as possible.

5) Turn over canvas - it should look like the photo above.

6) Now get ready to attach the ribbon. Measure off each side in three-inch increments and mark them with thumbtacks. (Note - do not push thumbtacks all the way in as you will be removing them later)

7) Beginning at one corner, stretch ribbon from one thumbtack to the next to make six diagonal stripes across your board, like in the photo above. Each time the ribbon goes underneath the canvas, tack it firmly in place with a thumbtack or staple gun. Don't forget to pull ribbon very tightly as you work. (With this process, I never brought the ribbon across the back of the canvas but rather worked around the sides of the canvas).

8) Do another set of six diagonal stripes in the opposite direction, weaving them under and over the previously place ribbon. Pierce ribbon intersections with a thumbtack and then place a brad in the hole you have created. Turn canvas over and seal brads.

And viola! you have your own French memo board. Try different ribbon striping patterns or sew buttons instead of the brads. (Or glue buttons to the tops of brads, if you want to avoid sewing.) Try different canvas sizes and fun fabrics and ribbons for kids' rooms, your kitchen, or as a very thoughtful gift for a friend!