Searching for the best Clipboard Crafts? You’ll love learning How to Make Customized Decorative Clipboards!
A few years ago, I made my first customized clipboard. These Decorative Clipboards are fun to use, simple to make, and are a great thrifty gift, too!! I’ve give them to teachers, homeschooling moms, and friends that run businesses at home, and they’ve always loved them! And yes… I even made two extras for me! 🙂
They are such a fun homemade gift to give. Not too hard and easy on the budget.
Would you like to make one, too? Seriously, you can do this!!
Here’s how…
Clipboard Crafts – How to Make a Decorative Clipboard
Clipboard Crafts – Supplies Needed:
- Clipboard {I buy mine at Wal-Mart for $1.00} ~ you’ll want your clipboard top to be similar to the one pictured below… it will allow you to tie on ribbons!
- Foam Brushes {small and large} ~ when you’re done, wash these out and save them to reuse again later!
- Mod Podge ~ I used the Matte variety {found at craft stores}
- 12×12 regular Scrapbook Paper {not cardstock ~ trust me!}
- Ribbon {thin} in a variety of colors & styles that match or coordinate with your paper. I cut pieces of ribbon between 6″ – 7″ long.
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Paper Corner Rounder Punch
- Push pin or Xacto Knife
Directions:
- The first thing you’ll need to do is trim the paper down to fit the clipboard.
- Turn paper over and measure with a ruler.
- You’ll want the paper to be approx. 1/4 inch in from the edges of the clipboard.
- Once the paper has been trimmed down to fit the clipboard, use a corner rounder {or scissors} to gently round the corners of the paper…
- Now you’ll need to flip your page over again, and get ready to carefully make a cut out around the clip at the top…
- Now set your paper aside.
- Lay down newspapers ~ it’s time for some fun with the Mod Podge!
- Use the large sponge brush to make long strokes from top to bottom,
of a thin layer of Mod Podge on the clipboard.
Be careful now ~ Catherine Zeta-Jones is watching you in the upper right hand corner… do you see here on the newspaper there?
She thought I did a good job… she’s smiling! She’s calling Michael Douglas to let him know.
- Now carefully lay your paper that you’ve prepared on the clipboard {color side up}.
- Gently smooth it down with your hands to avoid bubbling.
- As it begins to dry, if you see bubbles, you can…
carefully poke them with a pin needle, push pin or Xacto knife tip.
{Card stock will really bubble, so promise me you didn’t use it.}
- Let glue completely dry {30 min. – 1 hr}
- After it has dried, it’s time to do a layer of Mod Podge on the top!
- Use long strokes from the top to the bottom again. {You can use the smaller brush to get around the clip at the top.}
- After you’ve applied the Mod Podge, allow it to dry completely.
- Just like before, you can watch for any little bubbles,
and either poke them or gently smooth them out with your hand as it dries.
- Once it has dried completely, just for fun… it’s time to add one more coat of Mod Podge.
- After applying that last coat, allow it to dry completely.
- Now if you want to add anything else {a photograph, letters cut out to spell a name, etc.} you can add them after the final coat has dried.
- Just put a dab of Mod Podge on the back, then add Mod Podge over the entire top.
- Allow to completely dry… and then on to the ribbons!
- Once the clipboard is dry, begin adding the ribbons and knotting them up at the top on the clip.
- Once you’ve tied on all the ribbon, trim them down if they’re too long,
then trim the ends slightly diagonally in alternating directions. {I usually start with ribbon pieces that are 6″ – 7″ long}
- Have fun with the colors… here’s one I made using pink paper and pink & white ribbons…
Make one for yourself, or give some as thrifty gifts!
What Your Frugal Friends Are Saying About This Craft:
Carolyn writes: “I just made some decorative clipboards for some girls that are in college..they are so cute. Teachers always need clipboards, you could decorative them with teacher paper (paper with apples, pencils etc.) I got the clipboards from Office Depot 3 in a pack for $3.99. Got paper from hobby lobby as well as embellishments.”
See Also:
How to Make Toilet Paper Pumpkins
How to Make Cute Hair Clips for Babies & Little Girls
How to Make Flower Headbands for Babies & Little Girls
How to Make a Fringed Fleece Scarf
Would you love even more fun and creative gifts you can give anyone?
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Get ready for one humongous gigantic list of homemade gift giving inspiration!
Frugal Gift Ideas for Everyone on your List!
Score frugal gift ideas for the Kiddos, Teens, Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Co Workers, Your Dogs, Your Cats, and more!
So have you tried making these DIY Decorative Clipboards yet?
Leave a comment and share…
Phyllis Smith says
I have a very dear friend that I have know for over 51 years and I have a lot of pictures of the 2 of us and our children so I plan to make her a clip board of all of us to use in her key shop and include some of the keys on the top on the clip portion. This would be such a
terrific way to share our memories with each other and our special friendship.
Thanks for sharing this idea and giving me this opportunity to have something so special to share with my friend of 51 years.
Phyllis Smith
Heidi says
You’re very welcome, Phyllis… I’m sure your friend will love receiving a clipboard from you! Have fun making your special gift!
Tess says
Heidi~
What a great idea, and well done tutorial with such great photos! I’ve heard about your site from so many sources, but this was my first time visiting, and I’m definitely coming back for more inspirations such as this.
Question: When you say the paper should be a quarter inch from the edges of the clipboard, do you mean to leave an added quarter inch around the edges, as with a sewing pattern, or to cut it a quarter inch shorter– and if by that, do you mean /all/ of the edges? In which case, I’m assuming the aim is to cover the board from the base up, and have space remaining at the top? However, wouldn’t that leave a gap on every side?
Thanks for clarifying if you’re able!
Peggy says
Mod podge works on everything! Use double sided scrapbook paper since you can see it from the back.
lisa wood says
I had a friend to put her design on the back of the clipboard where it can be seen when she is holding it. on the front she used the same paper but just made a cute border for the front.
Jean says
Thank you for posting these! I just maade 12 of them for my Initials Inc. business! You can’t order pretty bags on ugly clipboards!
Quincee says
I actually bought one of these and paid $15.00 for it! On mine they actually painted the clipboard to match the paper…that way the ugly clipboard color doesn’t show.
Cindy says
I made some of these for gifts for my daughters friends. But the end product had ridges on it, any help as to help with this. As it makes it hard to write on. Project otherwise turned out SUPER SUPER cute…!!
Heidi says
Hi Cindy ~ if you’re having trouble with bumpiness, you can try popping any little bubbles with a pin while you’re applying the mod podge. You can also roll with a brayer {like this: http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/productdetail.jsp?pageName=search&flag=true&PRODID=xprd74859 } to help smooth out bumps during the mod podging process. Regular scrapbook paper works best, too… cardstock will be bumpier. Hope that helps! 😉
~ Heidi
Kim says
Thank you so much for this idea. I am a student teacher and I am making this as gifts for the students in my class – they are always using class clipboards.
Something I did to eliminate bubbles it to use a wallpaper/border roller over the paper after attaching it to the clipboard. This also ensures that it is really smoothed out 🙂
Cinda says
I made 2 of these for Xmasre SUPER cute and everyone loved them! gifts. I found that a little heavier paper works better. I also put the paper on the back. They were SUPER cute and everyone loved them!
Kathryn says
I did this using wrapping paper and bows and ribbons as the guest-list holder for my in-laws 50th anniversary party. We used the same bows and ribbons on the table decorations.
Tess says
I love this idea!!! <3
Heidi says
Aww ~ thanks, Mippy! I love the tip on the corkscrew ribbons, too! I’m definitely going to try that. 😉
~ Heidi
Mippy says
Hi Heidi!
I love the one you did in pink! And I’m not even a pink kinda girl! Love this! Thank you for sharing! 😀
Sahsha's Mummy says
I’m going to do this for Valentine’s Day gifts for my co-workers….
Heidi says
Hi Rebecca ~ I usually start with ribbon pieces that are 6″ – 7″ long.
Hope that helps! 😉
~ Heidi
rebecca says
Heidi- about how long do you cut the ribbons? Thanks!
Sheila says
I love this idea, but what do I do with the top of the clipboard that shows the wood?
Thanks!
Melissa Sanders says
Wow…..love these…you just solved my gift problems…birthday, Christmas, get well, etc…such cute and thoughtful gift to make..oh and bonuse it is actually something everyone can use 🙂
Rhoda says
We may just be having a modge podge marathon for Christmas gifts. Love this idea and others you’ve shared!
Taylor says
I did this with my whole sorority and it was a HIT!
Heidi says
Hi Naomi ~ for more crafts and tutorials, head on over here…
https://thefrugalgirls.com/feeling-crafty
~ Heidi 😉
Naomi says
Thank you so much for such detailed instructions. I am not totally crafty yet, but who can go wrong with these steps? Thank you. Also, I hate to bother you. But, I am having a fundraiser for my disabled son to have dolphin therapy and am looking for ideas of crafts to make for a craft fair. Do you happen to have any suggestions? Thank you very much and please feel free to contact me!
Tina says
I had my girls pick out 2 scrapbook papers (when on sale of course)and ribbons without telling them what they were for, so now I can make them each a clipboard for Christmas with patterns that they chose. I am putting patterned paper on the back too. I am avoiding other embelishments on the front so it is not a bumpy surface, but I can add them to the back.
Angie says
Cutest ideas ever…this is going to be one home-made Christmas…and is likely to be the best 🙂
Carrie says
Thanks for the neat craft idea! I have made two of these so far, one for my Mom and one for my son. Next up one for each of my son’s teachers for Christmas… 🙂 Keep the craft ideas coming!
Kimberly says
Thanks for the great idea and awesome picture instructions! Can’t wait to show the kids so they can do it themselves for gifts!
Heidi says
Hi Jeanette ~ I’m honestly not sure if this will work on the acrylic/plastic kind. I’ve only ever tried it on the wooden clipboards. If you try it on acrylic, let me know how it goes! 😉
~ Heidi
Kellie Tilley says
I have used paper and modge podge on jumbo acrylic clothespins and it works great…so I would think it would work on a clipboard too.
Mod Podge Amy says
Very very cute!
Jeanette says
Do the clipboards have to be the wooden kind or would it work on the acrylic/plastic kind also?
www.sparkpicks.com says
I love this! Cannot wait to try it.
Lyndsey says
I have one like this that was given as a gift several years ago. In fact, I’m using it right now! Very useful & cute gift.
Shelly says
I was thinking the same thing..TEACHERS GIFTS!
maura says
This is such a cute idea. My kids have clipboards they use in the car or just around the house and they are so ugly. This would be a great way to “dress them up”. It would also be good practice to do this as a holiday gift for the teachers. Thanks for such a great idea.
Danielle says
Wow i am going to use this for my Scentsy business!! Thank you!!