Welcome to my most mediocre of DIYs to date! The temporary magnetic letter board.
And this is why my blog isn't more successful. I should tell you this is my favourite DIY of all time and it's really cute and it will probably change your life (at least your pretend Instagram life).
But the truth is I only kind of like this DIY.
It isn't really the DIY that's bad although it is kind of clunky, it's more the whole idea of words on walls and letter boards. I'm not really a fan of either. They're just so ... something. I'm not sure what. I could say they're overdone, but I have lots of things in my house that are overdone. Helloooo Eames chair, tulip table, Danish Farmhouse kitchen.
I guess maybe I'm just not a huge fan of letter boards in general.
BUT I saw a letter board in a restaurant lately and it was done with magnetic Scrabble letters (also supremely overdone) on thin metal rails. I liked it. I'm not sure why. I wasn't even drunk or drinking or medicated.
So I set out to do a copy of it and that is what landed us here, at my most mediocre DIY to date. Hurrah!
It's a pretty quick and easy thing to do and I've made it so it's temporary, but you can make it permanent if you like. I'l explain that bit later.
DIY MAGNETIC LETTER BOARD
Materials
- ½" metal wall moulding used for suspended ceilings. 12' length. (You'll find this in a home improvement store. )
- Stick on magnetic tape.
- Scrabble letters.
- 2 way tape.
Costs (moulding, $10, magnetic tape, $8, Scrabble letters $7) - approximately $25 total.
I knew I only wanted this to be temporary so I'm using 2 way tape to attach the rails to the wall but be warned, 2 way tape will only hold something for so long (it's not a permanent solution) and it can mark your walls when you remove it if you really pressed it on hard. If you're worried, use Command Strips which work great. You'll need 3-4 for each rail.
What you'll be doing is cutting L shaped metal rail to the lengths you want, also cutting some of the L shaped metal rail to act as supports or brackets. Then you stick everything on the wall and your rails are ready to use with Scrabble letters (that you've stuck magnets onto the back of)
If you're going to be doing big elaborate phrases or sentences get twice as many Scrabble letters as you think you'll need.
I used stick on magnets which are useless in almost any other situation, but worked great for this. (stick on magnets aren't known for their strength) I just cut them to size and stuck them on.
I used this foam two way tape that I get at Dollarama and I LOVE it. It's hard to believe that I have so many uses for it but I go through at least 2 rolls of it a year.
Like I said earlier, if you want to have a bit more confidence in your rails staying up throughout all of December or you're worried about the paint on your walls then pay the extra money and get some Command Strips.
I honestly just couldn't be bothered to go to the store to buy some.
O.K. now we're entering the portion of photos I took when the sun was going down so the quality is terrible, but you'll get the idea.
They're mainly so you can understand how you're going to hand these L shaped mouldings onto a wall.
You can see above that I have a bunch of 4" or so lengths of moulding. They will get stuck to the wall to act as a support for your long rails.
Like this ...
They need sticky stuff to adhere to the wall, and sticky stuff on top to adhere to the rail you're going to set on them.
See? Really bad photo.
Once you set your rails on the supports, everything is stuck together and it's time to add your Scrabble letters.
Behold my Christmas Eve Menu which is subject to change at any time. The rice pudding recipe is coming up on Wednesday by the way. It's a Danish tradition to have rice pudding on Christmas Eve. But it's not just regular rice pudding, it's Risalamande, almond rice pudding.
But back to this mediocre DIY ... here are the detailed instructions.
Instructions
- Have someone in the home improvement store cut your metal wall moulding in half. Unless you have a truck, a 12' length of anything is going to be too long for you to fit in your car to get home.
- Cut the magnetic tape into small squares and stick them to the back of the Scrabble letters.
- Cut your wall moulding into the lengths you'd like, making sure you have 8" of extra moulding for each rail. (you need that for attaching the moulding to the wall)
- Cut 2, 4" lengths of moulding for each rail you have to act as supports.
- Run 2 way tape down both sides of your rails and supports.
- Using a level mark where you'd like your rails to go on a wall and stick the supports to the wall by peeling off the tape backing and pressing firmly onto the wall.
- Peel the backing off of the adhesive on top of your supports and place your rail on top.
- Repeat for all the rails you have then start placing your Scrabble letters!
TIPS
- Make sure your metal rail is magnetic! Also make sure it's lightweight, but not aluminium because aluminium doesn't have magnetic properties.
- If you want to make this permanent screw the supports into the wall as opposed to sticking them.
- Don't feel like you have to use the L shaped mouldings. They were just the least expensive option I could find.
- For cutting the metal at home use a hacksaw.
- When you cut the metal moulding FILE THE EDGES. The edges will be extremely sharp after cutting them so file or sand them until they're dull.
My most mediocre DIY - make it or don't. I don't give a care.
(as all the most successful and non-mediocre of bloggers end their posts)
→Follow me on Instagram where I often make a fool of myself←
Shelagh
Define successful!
I have subscribed to all kinds of blogs because one or two caught my interest enough to look past the saccharine sweet remarks and the over the top effusive superlatives in every sentence.....and then promptly unsubscribe within a month....either because I got bored with the similarity in projects or I wanted to vomit.
Yours, Karen, is the only blog that I have read for years and the only one that I have ever recommended to other people.
I lied, there is one other blog that I read...Loretta Moore, Hooked on the Lake. It's a rug hooking blog where she shares photos of rugs and her adventures on the lake. She had a nighttime porcupine visitor who liked to chew her porch. In an effort to discourage the attentions of said porcupine she installed a motion detector water gun....and promptly forgot to turn it off before going out for her morning coffee. And then there was the time a baby bear fell out of the sky, landed on her fender and ran off into the woods unscathed after inflicting considerable damage to her fender. Life is never dull around Loretta.
Back to you Karen. You inspire me, you make me laugh, and nothing beats your blog with my morning coffee!
I do have words on little signs in my kitchen, never on my walls, I like to change things up too often....Drink Responsibly; Don't Spill It....is the most recent. That will no doubt disappear after Christmas.
Oriah
I hate word "art" and my personal least favorite are those "Eat" signs people put in their kitchens. Most people need a sign which reads "Don't eat! Put down that snack item ya fat a**" Now that's some word art i could get behind...tehehe.
Patti Fasan
Merry Christmas Karen, I enjoy your site so much. You lift my spirit.
Karen
SO cuteeee!!!! Ack. Now I have to make one for the coop!!! ~ karen
Patti
So glad you got the coop wreath. I'm a first year newbie to the site & I've enjoyed each post so much. I feel like a friend, that's a talent very few possess & I"m glad I get to share thoughts from your corner of the world. Cheers.
Jeanne
I like this idea. I put magnets on the back of Scrabble tiles and attached them to my metal door for a Christmas gathering one year. It was great fun. We made a "crossword puzzle" with the names of our family. Of course there were those who had to make smart comments as well. I really liked the idea. My only problem was the magnets did not stay stuck to the Scrabble tiles very well. Do you have any ideas? I used the rolls of adhesive magnets. They had just enough curl that they pulled away. Maybe I will try flat magnets. We really did have fun with them. Like those magnetic letters from our childhood....
Linda
Honestly, I read your post first just to see what smart ass comments you are going to make!!! lol My kind of girl! I liked this DIY! I think I am going to make one though a bit more substantial. Thanks!
Stephanie
I hate the sign boards, too. I think they're cheesy! I do really like this though, so thanks for that. It reminds me of the time boards at a train station. I don't even know why. I don't have trains where I live. . .
Susan
My grandchildren love to hang there drawings on the fridge. This will be a fantastic option to showcase their artwork. 😍
lynn in leander-TX
Absolutely love the floor! (the memo board doesn't come with a spell-checker---sigh.....)
Karen
Thanks Lynn. It's VCT tile. I have a couple of posts on laying it. https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/laying-vct-tile-a-super-quick-video/ https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/the-kitchen-floor-finished-laying-vct-tile/ ~ karen!
Christine
This would never work in my house.With my family it would become obscene within seconds.
Karen
Well, yeah. That's the point. ;) ~ karen!
Julie Pearce
Love the idea. A former co-worker used Scrabble tile letter holders & letters around the library. I now use the same idea with seasonal al expressions on piano near the door....ie....("Go Away!"), It's a Winter Wonderland, etc. BTW.....I'm a Scrabble fanatic!
Debbie
OK, nice DIY, but I am in love with your skirt in your first photo. Is it velvet? Corduroy? Dark green or teal or petrol? It is beautiful! Do you remember where you bought it? Love the outfit.
Karen
Thanks Debbie. It's dark green and you should see the skirt in its entirety. It's beautiful! I got it at a second hand clothing store about 15 years ago and it's PRADA. So I'm afraid there's little chance you'll be able to find one. :/ ~ karen!
Lisa Steele
I LOVE this! I have a ton of Scrabble letters laying around (don't ask! The result of a similar Instagram/Pinterest fail) and also a stack of business card magnet (again, another DIY fail). I'll be making me some magnetic Scrabble letters this week!
Karen
Making the magnetic Scrabble letters really is the most fun of this whole project. :) ~ karen!
Gail D.
By the way, I feel the same way about words and letters in my interiors - do NOT tell me to Live Laugh or Love.
Gail Dedrick
I love it. This would go perfect in my kitchen which is dominated by a metal, black and white. Thank you! I will post photos when I am done!
Cathy Reeves
I like the rail system for other things, like the blueprint idea, tho mine will be a lot more boring, coupons I always forget or miscellaneous screws I find. One thing I hate is the trend of ‘wall words’ like Gather, Love Much... but for some reason I’m warming up to the felt letterboards. Probably because I can show my sophistication with poetry or haiku. Mostly for more snarky stuff like Merry Christmas ya Filthy Animal.
Barb
LOL! Just watched Home Alone and Home Alone 2 with the grandkid. SO damn funny! They have the game at Target right now and it looks like fun. Merry Christmas Ya Filthy Animal! :D
And Karen, I actually like this DIY project quite a bit!
Elizabeth Brakebill
Thank you! I need a magnetic “rail” from which to hang blueprints and preliminary drawings. This. Is. Perfect. Eagerly awaiting the rice pudding recipe!
Ramona Surprenant
Saw what you did there with that smattering of tiles at the top of the post: The Art of Doing Stu-f. Nothing gets by me at 6:30am on a Monday😉
Karen
Ha!!! Good eye. Especially at 6:30 a.m.! ~ karen!
Laura Bee
Oohhh, chili amd Antojitos! My favourites. This is nicely done, for what it is.
How long into the evening before you're serving LICK MY TITS LADS and TOE JAM?
Benjamin
You did a really nice job of this project, Karen. I like it. I think I will try to find a little larger letters though. Who cares...
Lisa Steele
Um, Scrabble letters are a pretty standard size... just sayin'.
Sue
Love your haircut!
Karen
LOL, thanks so much Sue! And here I thought no one would have anything positive to say about tutorial. ;) ~ karen!
Monica Pollak
No seriously where do you get your hair cut? I happen to live in the same neighbourhood as you and am looking for a good local salon!
Karen
Renee Beach - (647) 502-4930 (appointment by texts) ~ karen!