Q: I'm trying to come up with a gift idea for my husband that the kids can give to him. Do you have any suggestions?A: If your husband is involved with coaching the kids at all, then I have the perfect project idea for you: a personalized clipboard. You and your kids can decorate the middle of it with your favorite photos and then embellish the edges with paint or stickers.
Now, your husband doesn't have to necessarily be a coach to get the most out of this clipboard. He can use it around the house for things like keeping track of his to-do list, or have it in the garage to help him keep track of the car's maintenance checklist, or maybe he'll just want to use it at work. The fact that it was made by you will be enough reason for him to use it.
1. If you have a regular clipboard lying around, use it to trace the shape onto paper. If you don't have the clipboard, a magazine will work just fine.
2. Trace the outline onto two thin pieces of Plexiglas (you can pick this up at hardware stores, and since it sometimes comes in large sheets, they can cut it down to a workable size for you if needed).
3. Cut out the Plexiglas using a sharp utility knife (be sure to use protective eyewear when cutting Plexiglas). Run a long piece of string through all four notches and tie the ends so the string is taut.
4. Round the edges of the Plexiglas to give it a softer edge.
5. Decoupage your photos onto the top of one of the pieces of Plexiglas.
6. Once the decoupage medium is dry, apply clear glue to the edges of the Plexiglas pieces and press them together. Attach clamps on both sides and then let dry.
7. Attach the clip to the front Plexiglas clipboard.
8. If you want to add Dad or his name to the board, use paint pens.
9. Decorate the outer edge of the clipboard with various stickers and paint.
If you're not comfortable using your pictures, you can always take them down to a copy center and have them color copied. They will look just as nice as the original photos.
Here's a recap of the steps:
- First we traced out the shape we wanted for the clipboard.
- We cut two pieces of Plexiglas out and then sanded down the edges for a smooth finish.
- Next we decoupaged photos on to one of the Plexiglas pieces.
- We glued and then attached the two pieces together and let that dry.
- We attached the front clip to the board and then decorated the front with paint.
