Yesterday while digging through her wardrobe for a bathing suit, Gracen discovered the many felt games I sort of hid in the back bottom corner behind her shoes. She came out of her bedroom with big eyes and one of the games in hand and said, ‘Mama, I have a question to tell you… Do you have a felt board here for me???’ I didn’t. It didn’t make sense to pack the board itself overseas, but knowing I could easily get my hands on a frame once in Kuwait, I did bring a big piece of felt and her collection of games. Luckily, I had already picked up our very favourite felt board frame from Ikea a few days earlier, so we were able to have one put together in no time at all.
Since originally making Miss G’s first ever homemade felt board, I’ve made a bunch of others as gifts for our little friends, and my method has changed slightly. This time around, the entire project took 7 minutes, and that’s with Grae’s ‘help’. ☺
We always use Ikea’s NYTTJA frames as they are inexpensive ($7.99 in the States, $8.99 in Canada, and KD 1.900 here in Kuwait for the 50 cm x 50 cm size), very lightweight (and therefore easy to carry and hang), and available in a range of sizes and fun colours. While I used to use craft glue, I now prefer using Mod Podge {and a foam brush} as it is very easy to spread and allows me to secure the entire felt piece down snugly. And while I bought the packaged felt available at craft stores in the beginning, I’ve come to realize that the stuff they sell on rolls in fabric stores is much better quality and much more cost effective (I normally get a yard of white felt for a few dollars and there’s there’s usually enough for 2 boards!) Lastly, because I now have a rotary cutter, I use that instead of scissors, but scissors still do the job.
To get started, I remove the plastic insert from the frame (this particular series of frames does not use glass), lay it carefully on my felt being sure to minimize waste, and cut along the edges of the plastic piece using my rotary cutter.
Next up, because I usually fold my felt to store it, I give my freshly cut piece a quick iron on low heat to remove the creases.
I then line the felt piece up on top of the frame backing and carefully fold half of it over.
Working quickly, I spread a thin, even layer of Mod Podge onto the backing, paying special attention to the edges. When ready, I unfold the felt, make sure the corners are lined up, and smooth it down into place on the backing. Then I repeat the process on the other side.
Normally, I let the freshly glued insert dry for an hour or so…
But because Miss G was so anxious to start playing today, we made an exception and popped it back into the frame right away.
That’s it – about 7 minutes from the time we started, Gracen was creating moustached jack-o-lanterns.
I know felt boards are sort of old school, but I love them and I’m so glad that Grae does too!
To see all of our felt board games, click here.
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Thank you for sharing! I’ll be looking for some fun felt projects for these boards now.
PS I love your blog design!
Yay! So happy you’ll be making one, Heather! Check out some of our felt activities here: https://mamapapabubba.com/tag/felt-board-games/.
And THANK YOU!!! I love it too! :)
This is a great felt board. I made one that didn’t come out half so nice (although my 4-year-old doesn’t seem to mind!)
They never do, do they? That’s part of what I love so much about kids – they focus on the good! Thanks you for stopping by. :)
What a great idea! I need to make one of these for my classroom.
Great idea! Might try this on a rainy day.
Great idea-I loved felt boards when I was a kid and it is quiet and creative!
This is a great idea and I was about to make one using the old directions What about using the white side of the paper insert as backing?
The frame looks good, and this looks like a simple felt board; I think flannel could be used instead, if you like using that (my felt boards made with felt tend to get tiny felt fuzz balls all over them, but flannel doesn’t).
I’ve been wanting to make a felt board, but didn’t quite know how to go about it. Thanks so much for sharing.
Thanks so much for the Ikea frame idea! I ran over there and got a few frames to make these for my grandchildren. Soooo easy! And the frame border really dresses the felt board up!
Love this. I didnt know that we can make a home make felt board. Looking fwd to make one for my kiddos
cool idea
I am currently working on this project and the only difference between your frame and mine (I live in Ontario) is that the same brand of frame from Ikea doesn’t come in black and the backing of the frame is cardboard. Yours looks like a firm backing. We’ll see how it works out, i’m also adding my own things to it. I’m making this for a project as I’m in college for Early Childhood Education and I will be gluing thin cork to the backing and then the felt on top of that so I can use felt as well as pin pictures to the board for my presentation. I’m also attaching hinges to the frame so I can connect two frames together to make it stand up then close like a book. I’ll let you know how it goes :)
Lisa, those sound like some great ideas!
Thanks! I’ll let you know how it goes :) Maybe send some pictures too!
I finished it and I am pleased to say it turned out great! i have pictures if anyone is interested to see. The only minor issue i encountered was that it was a bit difficult to put back in the frame due to the fact that it was slightly thicker because of the cork. I little elbow grease and it went in. They look great and I will be able to pin pictures to it when the time comes to present. All i have left to do is attach the hinges and will be doing that this weekend :)
Yes, please do put a link to pictures!
Sorry Diane, I posted the links to the pictures last week but i guess the post was taken down because I saw the post up and now it’s gone. I wasn’t aware that I couldn’t post links. You could always send me an e-mail and i can send them to you that way.
My apologies, looks like the comment with the links hasn’t been approved yet. As posted above, i can always e-mail the pictures :)
Here are the links to the pictures. First one is the cardboard backing with the cork glued to it and the second picture is of the finished product with the felt and frame. All that is left is to attach the two frames together so once that’s done I’ll update with that picture :)
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/Floral91/IMG_0061_zps3euhathr.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/Floral91/IMG_0064_zpsclym6w3m.jpg
I was wondering if you put velcro or anything on the back of the felt pieces to use them on the felt boards or not.
No you don’t put anything on the pieces. They stick naturally on their own. Hope this helps! :)
Just want to be sure I am reading the directions right…when you say “repeat on the other side”, do you mean to say I should put glue on the outward facing side of the felt too? Or on the back of the wood insert?
Oh, I mean on the other half of the wooden backing as I only glue down half of the felt at a time. :D No glue needed on the front of the felt or the backside of the frame!
Did you cut the corners of the backing to fit back in the frame? It looks as though you did in the picture, but you didn’t mention in instructions. Just wondering if this would make it easier to fit back in the frame?