DIY: Menu Board

So, I'm lame. I hardly update on here, choosing to veg after work instead of letting you know about all the fun things I've been doing.

I'm behind on posting. So behind that I actually made this before the new year so that I could start using it on January 1st. Well, after using my menu board for 2 1/2 months, I can say that I LOVE IT!!!!!!

This was my inspiration found here.

Robin was amazing and even sent me all of her recipe cards and menu labels. Once I bought my calendar, I realized that it was smaller than the inspiration one. I had to cut down all of the menu labels in order for them to fit in each day's box. Also due to my smaller calendar, I couldn't put the desserts and the color code labels on the calendar. I decided I just "had" to make a cute cork board to go with my menu board. Twist my arm about it why don't you! =)

I found a piece of cork, with built in hangers on the back, that was as tall as my calendar. So, this picture shows the cork going side to side not up & down.

Sad picture I know but I wanted you to see the empty cork board.

The first thing I did was pick my ribbon for the border around the cork board. I decided to go for the obvious and make it Oklahoma State colors, officially my favorites now. Haha. Actually, I already had these ribbons for that reason, the colors and patterns. The black and white gingham was leftover from my BOO Jars. The white polka dots on orange ribbon was purchased on a whim because of the wonderful colors and pattern. =)

I bought these at Hobby Lobby.

I took the gingham and used it to frame the cork board. I used a hot glue gun to make sure that it would never move. I wrapped the ribbon over the sides to hide the cork all the way around. I did this on all the sides except for the top. I'll explain in a second.

Wrapped around the edge.

Once I did the short ends, I wrapped the long sides. I just put the gingham on top and just kept gluing.

The corner.

Ok, now why I didn't wrap the top over the edge. I wanted the full width of the gingham ribbon so that I could layer the polka dot ribbon on top. If I wrapped it over the edge, you wouldn't have been able to see the gingham at all. I centered the orange ribbon in the middle of the gingham and used hot glue to secure it.

Don't they work so well together?

I then created a bow out of the orange ribbon. I learned this trick making a college-themed light box as a Christmas present for my brother's girlfriend. (tutorial coming - will include the bow)

I forgot the picture until it was all done. Oops!

I then added the color code menu labels onto my completed cork board. I also put the two desserts that I wanted to make first onto the board.

Yes, I'm slightly OCD. But I love the colors fading into each other like that.

This is a picture of my menu board. I printed all of the things Robin sent me. I printed them on card stock according to the color code in the above picture. I then randomly (as random as I could with my slight OCD) placed recipes on the board. The push pins at the bottom are where the recipes would hang (sorted by recipe type/color) if I was going to hang the board on the wall.

Dark Blue (Scrounge Night) is Leftover Night.

This is how my board looks right now. Since I'm still at my parents house, Mom doesn't hang much up on  walls. Mom is a little scared of bright colors so this is sitting on the built-in desk next to the kitchen. It works really well for us, which kind of surprised me. I know what to go shopping for every weekend. Mom (and everyone for that matter) knows what's for dinner and that we have everything already to make it. Sometimes, Mom even has dinner started or prepped when we get home from work. That's one of the perks of living with your parents and you do the part they don't like, grocery shopping!

I hope you guys find this helpful!