Introduction: How to Make a Clipboard From a Monopoly Game
This project starts with a forgotten old Monopoly board and ends with a memorable office supply. You'll be pleased to know how quick and easy it is to put together. Transforming a game board into a clipboard can be done in a few short steps. The hard part is deciding if you should dig into your stash of board games, or pick one up at a thrift store. I admit that I did the latter. I experimented with our old game of Sorry, but when it came time to cut into our Monopoly game, I remembered the fun times and chickened out. Thankfully, I didn't have trouble finding one at our local Goodwill thrift store.
Clips can be purchased from online suppliers. I got mine from Amazon. It came as a kit with 10 clips and 20 pairs of rivets for $10.00 US. I've also found them in the paper craft isle at Michaels and Joannes, but they didn't come with the rivets. That's pretty much all of the supplies necessary besides your chosen game board. You'll also need a mat knife with a sharp blade and a metal ruler. This will help you cut the game board to size. And of course, you'll need a hole punch and rivet setter. More on that in the steps below.
Be sure to check out the last step where I share other projects I've made with old game boards.
Let's get started!
Supplies
Discarded game board
Mat Knife
Metal Ruler
Cutting Surface
Mallet
Step 1: Cut Board to Size
Use a mat knife with a fresh blade and a metal ruler to cut the board in half at the folded crease. The width of your game board may be a bit wider than the traditional size of a clipboard which is 9 x 12 1/2 inches. The folded width of my Monopoly board was 9 3/4 inches, so my finished size was 9 3/4 x 12.5 inches. It is best to use the crease of the game board because it will give you a clean edge and it is easier to cut.
For the length, mark 12.5 along the vertical edge. Use a mat knife and metal ruler to cut through the board. This side will be more difficult to cut since you will be cutting through the actual board and not the crease. Cut lightly as you guide your blade from the top to the bottom of the board. You are working with a sharp blade so be careful. It will take several passes as you slice through the board against the metal ruler. It took me about 50 swipes to slice through the approx 3 mm board.
If desired, round the corners with a heavy-duty corner cutter or scissors.
Step 2: Punch Holes
Position the clipboard clip so it rests centered on top of the board. Use a pen or pencil to mark the the clipboard clip holes.
Use a hammer and hollow hole punch cutter to punch the holes in the board.
Notes:
- An office supply hole punch used for paper won't work for the thick board. A hollow metal punch that you hammer will give the best results.
Step 3: Attach Rivets
The package of clipboard clips that I purchased came with a set of rivets for attaching the clip to a board. I took the Instructable Beginning Leatherwork class and learned that these type of rivets are called Rapid Rivets because they have two parts that snap together. The top part easily snaps to the bottom part. Then, all that's necessary is to whack the top of the rivet with a mallet to make a tight, secure bond to the board. Ideally, a metal rivet punch is used for this process since you are securing the rivets in a small space.
Step 4: More Ideas
Rather than throwing the remaining board remnants away, I made a half-sized clipboard with one of the craft store clips that I found. For another piece, I painted over the board with some watered down white acrylic paint to make it a bit less bright. Then, I cut some holes, sandwiched some cut-to-size artist paper, and added some ring binder clips to put it together. It will make a nice gift for an artsy friend.
My favorite side project was a little macrame and tassel board that I made from a smaller game board (Scrabble game). Clipboards are good for macrame since the clip holds the cord. I took it a step further and added a second clip to the other side. This way I will be able to hold the cord tight on the bottom as well as the top. It also doubles as a tassel making tool. Just wrap the tassel cord around the board. The clip holds the cord in place while wrapping.
I'd love to hear what ideas you have to repurpose game boards. Please do share your ideas as a comment.
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