How to...Make an Inspiration Board

If you're anything like me then you love an inspiration board. Reinventing your inspiration board keeps your imagination flowing and there are so many ways to create one. Think outside the pinboard square and try something totally new!

Fabric Covered Pinboard

This lovely pin board is via Kati Taylor's blog Country Interiors at Touches. These are quite common now, and there are loads of tutorials on the net - just type in inspiration board or pin board and nearly all the results will be how-to articles. The beauty of these is their versatility - you can make one out of just about anything. Hunt through garage sales and markets for old bits of cork; pick up a cheap basic pin board; cover a canvas with foam - just wrap some beautiful fabric around and lace over with ribbon. Easy!

Magnetic Board

A magnetic board is also great in the same way that the fabric and ribbon boards are - you can put up bits and pieces without punching holes in them with push pins. A magnetic board is versatile also, you can go for a clean look or a messy one. This board comes from IKEA [Estetisk writing/magnet board - AU$49.00] and is painted in blackboard paint, so you can scribble over it in chalk as well - awesome! I like that this one is a bit more masculine. You can also pick up funky handmade magnets and push pins covered in pretty fabrics over at Etsy.

Vintage Photo Frames

Now this is one that I've always wanted to try. Collect together a whole bunch of photo frames in varying sizes, shapes and colours (or all the same if you prefer). Arrange them in a random sequence - try out a few different layouts. A good way to sort this out before you drill holes in the wall is to lay all the frames (with artwork inside) on the floor and arrange them until you're happy. You can fill the frames with single pieces or collages. Cover the backing board with some wallpaper or wrapping paper - it will peek out of the spaces and look rather cool.

Neon Clip Board

For something quick and fun - get hold of some clip boards. The traditional wooden ones are great if you want a distressed look - but I quite like transparent neon plastic ones (this one is from greenlightoffice.com, US$6.40). Hang them from the hole at the top (some are hidden). Easy to take down and refresh and very funky.

Glass Covered Desk

If you have a desk that you don't always clutter (or need a good reason to clean up) then you might like to try covering it will a sheet of acrylic (cheaper and safer than glass). Lots of people do this to their coffee tables - putting photos and postcards from their travels on display. This is a great way to have an inspiration board without attacking you walls (great if you're renting).

Mini Wooden Pegs

You can get hold of mini wooden pegs everywhere these days - try a craft store for cheap ones in bulk. Put up a piece of ribbon or string and hang your pegs from it. A very cute way to put up bits and bobs (just like Deanna Staffo's desk up the top).

Bulldog Clips

Instead of wooden pegs - why not cute bulldog clips. Or colourful plastic pegs. Check out your local craft or art store of a variety of options. There are loads of boutique stationary stores these days and even the big name office supply chains carry fashion stationary lines. These cuties are from Kikki.K [Accessorise Bulldog Clips - AU$4.95 (3 pk)].

Other Ideas

Those are just the tip of the iceberg. There are plenty of variations of those themes or totally different ways. Above is an image of inspirational stuff from my room and workspace. I picked up the pinboard from a charity shop for $2 - it's fabric over foam on canvas. I found the wooden pegs in a craft store for next to nothing.

I also have two conventional pinboards that I cover - I print off images from the net or cut things out of magazines and glue them to two sheets of A3 paper. They serve as mood boards for particular themes for my t-shirt collections, so I can layer over with other mood board sheets.

This top is gorgeous. But I look awful in it! I was seduced by the sparkles in the store and handed over the plastic. Unfortunately it makes me look like I'm carrying a bun in the oven - with the matching milk bar popping out the top. But it's just so beautiful to look at. So I threw it onto this crazy pink feather boa hanger my Mum gave me. Now I can look at it all the time.

• Wall Decals - There are lots of beautiful designs out there you can paste up on your wall and use as 'frames'. The top picture is from she.likes.cute - how cool is it!

• Inspiration Walls - Why stop with a board? If you can stick stuff all over the walls go for it - try different layouts each week. Even better, if you can cover the wall with cork you can go crazy all over the wall!

• Digital Photo Frames - This is blow the budget type stuff, but if that's your thing that this is a wicked idea. Mount a bunch of digital photo frames and load theme-based USBs in them. You'll have a constant (or timer set) wall of inspiration that keeps changing! [Note: for all of us poor buggers, you can set your desktop to change the wallpaper every 5 seconds and get a similar effect.]

Check out the group on Flickr Inspiration Boards - they even have their own blog where you can read interviews with members.

What to do you for your inspiration wall? Where do you get great ideas?

J xx