Monday, April 25, 2011

Monday Makeover: Mousepads!

GETTING CRAFTY is one of my favorite things to do on the weekend when it's bleak and weary outside. My company moved to a new office recently and everything was so shiny+new that my mousepad looked weathered in comparison. I got it over 10 years when I won an art contest so it was definitely time to update it!

Here's what you need to get started on your own:

MATERIALS
- An old mouse pad (Ikea has some good basic ones for just $1 each.)
- Fabric*
- Fray check*
- Heat n' Bond*
*all available from your local craft store.

DIRECTIONS
1. Trace the mousepad onto your fabric, and cut a 1/2 inch of extra fabric around the traced shape.
2. Put the side of the fabric with the print face down, and put Heat n' Bond on it with the paper side up.
3. Iron for 10 seconds until bonded and remove paper backing from fabric when done.
4. Place fabric on mouse pad right side up and iron over fabric until bonded.
5. Trim extra fabric with good scissors and use Fray Check to make sure there are no loose threads.

... And voilĂ ! Five steps later you have a pretty cheap, pretty easy, and pretty new mousepad.


 
From drab to fab.

Have fun!
Margaret