the hybrid chick

Hey there Hybrid Chickies.

Sharyn here with my first ever contribution to The Hybrid Chick blog – can you tell how excited I am?

After seeing my Control Center project my hubby commented about how handy it was. So when I came across this smaller clipboard the prefect project came to mind. If your hubby is anything like mine every time he needs to write something down or make a list he asks for a pen or paper.

Now he won’t have to. I made the bottom half of this write on wipe off so it can be used for a more permanent to do list than the notepad. It has a fully backed magnet sheet on the back so it can be put on the fridge – where every man goes.

Just think how helpful this will be for us too…No more nagging – LOL. I know none of you ever do that.

I have used A Man’s Worth digital kit by Dani Alencar in collab with Bianca Argollo. It could not be any better for this “man style” hybrid project.

Let’s get started.

Now doesn’t that look like a man’s project?

You will need…

• A Clipboard
• Digital Layout to suit the size of your clipboard
• Modge Podge
• Laminating Sheets
• Soda Pop Bottle Tops
• Shiskabob Sticks
• Hot Glue Gun
• Magnets
• Magnet Sheet
• an Iron
• a Nail
• and a Hammer

After making your digital layout use the modge podge to apply it to the board. Then set it under a couple of books or something heavy till it is quite dry.

Take your laminating sheet and separate the two halves. You will only need one for this project. I just love this stuff and have even used it to make covers for my little mini books and such

Trim it to the size of the area you are going to cover. In this case it is the same as the digital layout. ( You could cut this to size before gluing the layout to the clipboard )

If you don’t have a laminating machine you are going to love the next tip. Go heat up your iron. I use an old iron that won’t steam any more. Don’t start out with it too hot. Best to use it on low then turn it up if you need more heat.

Place the single side of laminating sheet with the non shiny side down onto your layout and carefully iron it till you can see that it is stuck.

It really helps to use an old towel folded up on your work station. This lets you use a little effort with the give in the towel but the hardness of the desktop also puts the pressure on from the other side.

Don’t use your ironing board.

If it doesn’t look stuck or still has air pocket’s then turn your iron up a little and keep working at it. Slow and steady saves burning it!

Next we get to the fun stuff.

Pull out hubby’s hammer and nails – or wait!

Perhaps you have your own?

Also grab a piece of soft wood off cuts – like a bit of pine. Now hammer a hole through the soda pop bottle tops using the pine as a base to work on. You may want to use a larger or longer nail here. Saves hitting your fingers!

If the nail gets stuck in the wood just turn the hammer over and pull the nail out gently. Wiggle it around in the hole a bit to make the hole larger.

Heat up the hot glue gun. While you are waiting for it to warm up insert the wooden skewers through the holes you punched in the bottle tops. Now glue them and the magnets in securely with the hot glue. Watch your fingers! The metal can get hot so hold them by the wooden sticks.

You can use any glue but I prefer the strength the hot glue seems to have. Not only that but the drying time is a lot quicker too.

The extra magnets in here will give it stability if you plan on hanging it on the front of your fridge like me.

Turn them over and stick some embellishments to the top. Here I have punched out the little bottle top’s that came in A Man’s Worth kit that were the inspiration for using real bottle tops. That’s one of the things I love about digital kit’s! Use the printed item in conjunction with the real thing.

Now glue the soda bottle top sticks and the magnet sheets to the back of your clipboard. Attach a small note pad – mine has a little matching cover at the top. Add a whiteboard marker – the removable style ones. These write quite well on paper and will wipe very easily off the laminated area at the bottom. You could also include a pen or pencil if you prefer to use with the notepad.

You could even make it without the magnets if hubby wants to use it elsewhere. Perhaps hang it off a hook in his work area or near his computer desk.

There you have it – your completed “Hubby Helper”!

Other Articles by Shabby Shaz:

• Digital Layout to Paper Layout Challenge - July 3rd, 2010
• Digital to Hybrid Layout - June 28th, 2010
• Hybrid Key Holder - May 14th, 2010
• Wedding Gift Frame - March 5th, 2010
• Love Notes - February 14th, 2010