DIY Recycled Cardboard Pin Board

**This post was made possible by Grove Collaborative. All opinions are my own.

I’m going to start by asking a sort of scary question…How are you doing on your New Years resolution? If you’re immediate reaction is to hang your head a little lower, try not to beat yourself up too much! More and more I’m finding myself turning away from the notion of resolutions. I’d rather just live by the “try my best” mentality then put some lofty goal on a pedestal.

At any rate, one thing that does help me stay on track throughout the year is keeping an inspiration pin board nearby that I stock full of visual cues—sayings that motivate me, colors and patterns that make me happy, photos I love, and little reminders to act as functional touch points throughout my work day. I made myself a brand new pin board this year in honor of the start to 2023, and I thought I’d show you how I did it using recycled cardboard from my latest Grove Co. order.

Here’s What You’ll Need:

1. Cardboard scraps (I used pieces from my emptied Grove Co. shipping box)

2. Scissors

3. Craft glue

4. Stack of heavy objects

5. Patterned contact paper or peel-and-stick wallpaper

6. Opaque solid-colored tape

7. Removable picture hanging tape or nails

Step One

Cut two pieces of recycled cardboard into two identical shapes to create the form for your pin board. You can do any type of shape you’d like—think: square, rectangle, circle, oval, or even something like a moon or star. Just make sure you cut two pieces of cardboard exactly the same shape and size.

Add a thin and even layer of glue to the face of one of your cardboard shapes, then place the second one on top. Set some sort of heavy object, like a stack of books, on top of the two glued cardboard shapes, and then give the glue an hour or two to fully cure.

Step Two

Once the glue is dry, cut a piece of patterned contact paper or peel-and-stick wallpaper to the same size/shape as your top facing cardboard piece. Press it into place, and then wrap opaque solid-colored tape (I used white duct tape) around the edges to cover the exposed cardboard and act as a DIY frame.

An alternate idea here if you’d like your pin board to look even more finished is to use a real frame. Just pick up an inexpensive frame, remove the mat and backer board, cut your cardboard to fit inside the frame, and stick it inside. This will finish off the edges perfectly. My duct tape did a good job of finishing off my own pin board, though, and I liked that I already had the tape on hand so it didn’t cost anything.

Step Three

Finally, stick removable picture hanging tape to the back of your completed pin board, and press it in place on your wall using a level to ensure that it’s straight. You can use nails instead if that’s easier for you. Just tap them right through the cardboard into the wall! Consider using nice brass nails since the nail heads will be exposed.

Step Four

Now, you can use pushpins to stick your favorite photos, cards, to-do lists, and other inspiring things to your pin board. Since the cardboard shape you created is doubly thick, you should be able to push the pin deep into the surface of the cardboard for a strong fit.

I made this DIY pin board right before the new year kicked off and have already rearranged some of the notes and cards I displayed on it. I love being able to change things around when it comes to the décor in our home, but that’s especially true in my office since it keeps the space feeling fresh and exciting. Would you try this in your own home or office space? Let me know in the comments, and click here if you’d like to see this pin board come together in video format over on the Grove Collaborative Instagram feed!