I’m a list maker. My memory is a little hit-and-miss, so it’s really the only way I can keep track of what I need to do. I do it so often, it’s a family joke. The funniest part is when my adult and nearly-adult kids come and ask me for a packing list when they’re about to go somewhere. They’re broken.
Because I make so many lists, I go through a lot of paper. I’ve tried cutting up scratch paper and just using it as I need it, or securing a stack with a binder clip, but something is missing. I think I like the ripping sound it makes when I tear off a completed list and triumphantly throw it in the trash.
A few months ago, I came across a project on Chica and Jo that had my name written all over it. They were making notepads with something called padding compound. Making my own notepads? Out of whatever I want? I was so in.
I finally got around to ordering the padding compound from Chica and Jo through Amazon (affiliate link). It’s $7.99 for a bottle. I waited, as I always do, until I had a large enough order for free shipping. It took the tiniest amount to make the three pads, so this is a great value. It seems like I could make a million of these before I run out, but Chica and Jo have kindly provided an estimation guide that says it’s more like 120. I took this photo AFTER I made the pads shown.
I’ve never been happy with the size of the grocery shopping list pads I’ve bought before, so getting to make my own in a larger size made me pretty happy. You can download that printable here.
I named my to-do list What To Do, because it sounds less bossy than To Do. There are three pages to this printable, which you can download here. That’s mostly because I like to play with fonts, and wanted to use all the graphics I drew for my blog.
Making these couldn’t be easier. Print out as many pages as you’d like on regular paper and cut them to size. I went with about 40 pages per pad. If you’d like the back solid, like a pad you’d buy, also cut a piece of cardboard the same size.
Clamp the pages together with a couple of binder clips. If you want to protect the top page from excess compound, you can put a piece of cardboard or popsicle sticks (which I read about in the comments on Chica and Jo’s blog) at the top edge. I’m storing the sticks with the compound so I can just use the same ones every time.
The next step is to brush the padding compound onto the top edge of the pad with a small brush. My binder clips were very large, so I didn’t have any trouble getting the brush in there, but you may want to try clipping from the side if yours are smaller.
I ended up leaving this overnight, but from what I understand it dries quickly. I removed the clips and added a second coat.
After that dried, it was just a matter of peeling off the popsicle sticks and the pads were finished!
I’m anxious to make more, especially with the holidays coming up. These could be personalized or make from scrapbooking paper, and combined with a cute pen, would make a useful teacher’s gift. Actually, these would make a great, inexpensive gift for anyone.
Don’t make the mistake I did though. I put one on my desk and one in my sewing room, so I had two lists going at the same time. It was pure chaos.