DIY Cork Board with Cricut Iron-on

Making a DIY cork board has never been easier! Did you know that Cricut iron-on works great on cork? You can customize your own DIY framed cork board in minutes with this technique. 

I find that a cork board is a great way to organize my workspace. In fact, I am putting this project with a few others I made to both organize and decorate my craft room. Are you ready to create your own DIY cork board organizer? Read on for all of the details.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

Cork boards and Cricuts are probably two of my favorite craft tools! They are great for creating spaces that are well-organized, stylish, but also functional. Use a Cricut for labeling, creating decorative letterboards, and more. Browse the Cricut archives with tool comparisons, tutorials, and general information.  

There’s so much you can do with a cork board: get organized in your home office, a dorm room, command center…where ever you need a little organization. 

How to decorate a cork board

Supplies needed to make this DIY framed cork board:

• Cricut Machine (not sure which one to buy, I have a post for that!)
• Cork board
• Cricut EasyPress
• Patterned Iron-on
• White paint
• Paintbrush
• Cricut vinyl (in two colors)
• Cricut Iron-on (in the color of your choice)
• Transfer tape
• Cricut scraper
• Weeding tools
• Small wood discs
• Thumbtacks
• Hot glue and a glue gun
• Cricut Iron-on Protective Sheet or parchment paper
• Cricut cut file – Boss Babe Cork Board project in Cricut Design Space
• Scissors

Cork Board DIY Decorating Video

Want to see just how to make this DIY cork board on video? Just watch below!

Can’t watch the video or missed some of the steps? Then just follow along with our tutorial below!

Instructions for a DIY cork board

Step 1: Paint Your Pieces

Start by painting the frame of your cork board. This is optional but I think it makes it look a bit more finished. You can use a scrap piece of paper to mask off the cork while painting.

Paint all the way around the outside. You may need a couple of coats of paint. Just be sure to allow it to dry in between coats and completely before continuing with your DIY cork board.

You will also need to paint the wood discs that you will use for your custom thumbtacks. Paint both the top and sides. I did not paint the back as it will be against the cork board when in use.

Again, these may require two coats of paint so be sure to allow them to dry in between coats. You will want these to dry completely before adding any vinyl.

Step 2: Cut the Vinyl and Iron-on with Your Cricut

You will then need to cut your pieces on your Cricut machine. You can find the cut file by going to my profile in Cricut Design Space and scrolling to the Boss Babe Cork Board project.

Cut the thumbtack pieces from vinyl in two colors. You will want to be sure to resize these pieces to fit the wood discs you are using before cutting.

Then, cut the pieces for the DIY cork board from heat transfer vinyl. Remember to mirror these before cutting and place the iron-on shiny side down on your mat.

Step 3: Clean up the excess

Once everything has been cut, you will want to use weeding tools to weed away all excess.

Weed around the outside of your designs as well as the centers of any letters.

How to Make Custom Thumbtacks

Now it is time to pull everything together. We are going to start with the custom thumbtacks with inspirational words.

Place a vinyl circle on top of the painted wood discs.

Then use transfer tape to add the words to each one.

Use hot glue to add a thumbtack to the back of each disc.

Continue until you have a bunch of custom thumbtacks for your DIY cork board.

Adding Heat Transfer Vinyl to Cork

Now it is time to do some DIY cork board decorating. Once your iron-on has been weeded, trim the carrier sheet as close as possible to your design with some scissors. Then lay out your pieces on your cork board.

You will need the Cricut EasyPress to add these pieces to your cork board. Look up the time and temperature on the Cricut Heat Guide for cork. Set the time and temperature on your EasyPress and allow it to heat up until it beeps.

You will need to protect the cork surface from the heat of the EasyPress as well. You can use the Cricut Iron-on Protective Sheet or some parchment paper for this.

Lay the protective covering over your iron-on and cork board then put your EasyPress on top. Hit the “C” button to start the countdown timer. Press down with firm pressure on the handle. Once your time is complete, move the EasyPress to the next area. It is okay to overlap areas during your presses.

Once you have pressed all areas, check to see if the iron-on has completely adhered. If it hasn’t, then just repeat the pressing process. Continue this until you can remove the carrier sheets from your designs.

Once all of your iron-on is stuck and your carrier sheets have been removed, your DIY cork board is complete and ready to hang on the wall.

Be sure to add your custom thumbtacks to complete this DIY framed cork board.

I added them to my DIY letter board accessories as well as the printable labels on my shelf organizer.

Office Organization for a Mom Boss Like You

The three projects work perfectly together in my craft room but they would also work in a home office. I am always looking for ways to stay organized as an entrepreneur. Working from home is hard y’all. There are so many distractions and having a place to work that is well organized is at least half the battle.

I talked a little bit about quitting my job to pursue my dreams in a previous post. It was hands down the best decision I have ever made both for my business and for our family. However, working from home can be challenging. If you find yourself challenged in a work from home position, channel your inner boss babe and use projects like these to organize your space. You will not regret it!

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, it is the perfect time to find the “fearless” entrepreneur that may be lurking inside of you. The Cricut Explore line of machines might just help you do just that. I chose to use #selfmade as my hashtag, what would you put on your machine?

So, if you are a #selfmade entrepreneur and want to show off your style in your home office, give these fun Cricut projects a try.

Cute organization is my jam when it comes to my workspace. My entire home may be filled with neutrals but I need a bright and cheerful place to spend my work day.

Plus, adding iron-on to a DIY cork board is just about the coolest project around. Who needs a plain jane cork board? Not you!

Use our design to make your own DIY framed cork board or make up a whole new design. I am just infatuated with the some of these vinyl patterns, so you will be seeing several more of those around here I am sure.

Are you a #fearless boss babe? Let yourself shine with this cute cork board in colors to match your home office.

Custom thumbtacks with inspirational saying go a long way to lifting my spirits daily as well.

So, if you find working from home hard some days, take my advice.

Create a space that is fun and all your own for a boost to your creative soul. You will be so glad you did!

More Cork Board Ideas

So, do you need more DIY cork board ideas? Try the links below!

• DIY Travel Map Cork Board
• Cork Board with Iron-on Vinyl
• Layer Iron-on Vinyl on Cork
• Decorative Push Pins