Somebody Put A Cork In Us…
… cause we’re done with our latest swift and simple DIY project. We wanted to create a convenient little bulletin board in the kitchen to keep favorite recipes and meal ideas on hand (and on our mind- anything in a recipe book is so far out of sight that it’s immediately forgotten). But we also didn’t want our collection of clippings to clutter things up in the kitchen.
Our solution? A hidden pin board that we created in around ten minutes for under $5. And all we needed were a four-pack of cork tiles from Target (snagged for less than 5 clams) and a bunch of push pins (which we already had in our junk drawer). The cork tiles came with little self adhesive squares for easy hanging, so the entire process was fast and furious.
Here’s what we started with: a blank interior door, a pile of cork squares, and a stack of recipes and easy make ahead meals that we’re constantly forgetting about:
In minutes I had my first tile up on the door. Other than making sure that the cork square was super straight before sticking it on, this step was no sweat.
I decided I wanted a bit of space between the tiles, and determined just by holding them up that three squares would fit perfectly on the door with a little breathing room between ‘em. Houston, we have a pin board.
Then I just got to work pinning up all of the forgotten recipes, meal ideas, and food related paraphernalia that we used to collect and neglect. Finally they have a proper place right in front of my face.
The result is an inspiration board of meal ideas and recipes that remind us of their presence every time we reach for the spices or the olive oil. I even see it in the morning when I’m making oatmeal so I have time to think about what we could have for dinner waaay ahead of time, which is actually a novel idea (no more forgetting to defrost things). And it’s also a great place to pin shopping lists or grocery store coupons so they’re all in one spot.
We even toyed with the idea of painting the inside of the opposite cabinet with chalkboard paint to create a message center for jotting down notes, reminders, and even shopping lists- but we actually wondered if the fumes from the paint were the best idea in such a contained space full of food (maybe there’s no VOC chalkboard paint, which would definitely make us reconsider).
But even without the chalkboard, you gotta love that the whole cork square project was easy, efficient, and super inexpensive. Plus it can be adapted to display anything from chore lists for your kids to extra curricular schedules that usually clutter up your fridge. Kitchen organization never tasted so good!
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Comments
Quick question, I know this was posted a while ago, but I’m a new reader so you’ll have to forgive me for rummaging through your archives…
Seeing as I live in an apartment, do you think the little adhesive squares that hang them would work for easy removal as well? Or do you think it would leave some nasty residue or take paint off the cabinets? Just wondering before I ruin something.
Thanks for your thoughts!
Hey Hally,
Glad you’re making your way through our archives! Our modification for this project to ensure that it’s residue free for renters would be to snag Command Picture Hanging Strips (by 3M sold at Target or Bed Bath & Beyond, etc) and use them to hold the cork squares in place instead of the stickier squares that come with the cork. The beauty of the Command Strips is that they release without leaving a mark (with a simple tug of the strip when you’re ready to move) so it should be foolpoof. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
xo,
s
My old neighbour and I were toying with idea of doing this in our old cabinets! We both love creative cooking ideas and lived in base housing at the time where we couldn’t permanently change anything.
She ended up doing her kitchen table top with whiteboard paint instead, which was awesome since she has two small boys. You can see the finished project at her blog, http://geekdetails.wordpress.com/
Given how you were concerned about the potential dangers of using chalkboard paint in your cabinet, I wondered if you could use whiteboard paint instead and found this site, http://www.ideapaint.com/ which says it doesn’t contain formaldehyde or produce any harmful gasses once it dries.
It would be really great to have inside a cabinet to jot down all those little things you need to pick up next time you go shopping!
Hey Sherry- Great idea! You can make your own chalkboard paint with your favorite paint (no VOC included)! Here’s how:
Start with flat-finish latex paint in any shade. For small areas, such as a door panel, mix 1 cup at a time.
1. Pour 1 cup of paint into a container. Add 2 tablespoons of unsanded tile grout. Mix with a paint stirrer, carefully breaking up clumps.
2. Apply paint with a roller or a sponge paintbrush to a primed or painted surface. Work in small sections, going over the same spot several times to ensure full, even coverage. Let dry.
3. Smooth area with 150-grit sandpaper, and wipe off dust.
4. To condition: Rub the side of a piece of chalk over entire surface. Wipe away residue with a barely damp sponge.
Hope this helps! You’ve inspired me to do more with my home! Thank you!
What a great idea!! I just LOVE LOVE LOVE your site!!! Thanks so much for all your wonderful ideas!!
Oh… as if I didn’t have enough DIY projects going today… now I have to add this one!! :) Thanks!
That’s too funny…I’ve been wanting to do something like this since my husband and I purchased our new home in September. Thanks for all the ideas. We haven’t started remodeling yet, so your site is coming in handy!
we’re planning to do something similar with magnet boards for our spices. my husband’s formidable spice collection lives in shakers with magnetized backs and labeled, see-through lids. currently they reside impressively on the side of our fridge, but the ultimate goal is to put them in a cupboard so as to keep the spices out of light and heat.
Oooh, command strips, I have a ton of those! Why didn’t I think of that? Also, I wanted to comment on your chalkboard idea. Uppercase Living (and maybe other sources) have those rub-on chalkboards. You peel it off the backing and then use the credit card thingy that comes with it to smooth it on. That might work for you guys if you’re still interested!! Thanks for the post tip. :)
what a great idea! then when you’re looking in your cabinet you can get ideas about what to make!