With laptops, tablets and other mobile devices, we don’t always spend a lot of times with a desktop computer and mouse these days, do we? We don’t! But just the other day, I found myself in front of my new computer – a tried-and-true desktop. I looked at my desk and quickly exclaimed, “Oh, I need a mouse pad!”
Your children can create mouse pads as gifts, for a family member – or just to show off their favorite drawings or images in a matter of minutes – thanks to contact paper.
Materials
- An image, wrapping paper, or drawing to “laminate”
- Cardstock
- Clear contact paper
- Glue stick or tape runner
- Pencil
- Scissors
- No-slip shelf liner and spray adhesive (optional)
Instructions
| 1. Start out by cutting out two 9-inch circles – one from your image and one from your cardstock. |
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| 2. With your glue stick or tape runner, apply a liberal amount of adhesive to one side of the plain cardstock. |
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| 3. Apply your design to the cardstock and press firmly to secure the two pieces of paper. |
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| 4. Next, cut a 12-by-20-inch piece of clear contact paper. |
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| 5. Slowly remove the backing from the contact paper and place on a flat surface, sticky-side up. Place your circles on top of the stick side and press into place on one end of the contact paper. |
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| 6. Carefully fold up the other end of the contact paper and press onto the top of the circles. Smooth out any air bubbles and secure all pieces together. Trim the excess contact paper by cutting around the circle. |
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| 7. If you’d like, you can use no-slip shelf liner to add some stability to your mouse pad. Trace around your circle onto the shelf liner, cut out and adhere with spray adhesive. Let dry. |
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