Making your own mouse pad is super easy and it can really bring out your creative side. It is a great project for your kids. If you are an elementary school teacher your class can make, and sell, hand made mouse pads as a fund raising project. If you are a no fuss type of person and not all that artistically inclined but you need a mouse pad that will get the job done you are in luck. All you need is a single sheet of craft foam. Cut it out to size and you are good to go!

For those of you who are a little bit more creative and tech savvy you can find a design online, or create your own. Once you have done that you print it out onto the t-shirt transfer paper (make sure the image is mirrored), and apply to plain fabric by following the directions on the transfer paper package. Before you apply the transfer to the fabric make sure it is completely dried out otherwise there is a high chance of smudging. when your design is transferred to the fabric crop the fabric to the size and shape of your desired mouse pad. Do the same with a sheet of craft foam. Spread a thin layer of craft glue onto the sheet of craft foam. If you are not confident that you can spread the glue thin enough not to bleed through or create bumps a great product to use would be Elmer’s Craft Bond Spray Glue (you can get it for under $4.00). Make sure all of the edges are caught and glued down, let it all dry and you have yourself a nifty little mouse pad.

For a more craft and child friendly way of making a mouse pad you will need:

• A sheet of craft foam (get two just in case).
• Scissors (if they are not child friendly make sure you supervise your kid while they are cutting).
• Acrylic paint, paint brush, water container and paper towel.
• If you don’t want to use the acrylic paint you can use markers.

How to make the mouse pad:

• The first thing you need to do is decide on a shape. Most people go for a plain square or round mouse pad shape but you don’t need to limit yourself to that. If you want you can cut out a pad in the shape of a bear head, a flower, or a fish.
• Once you have your foam cut into the shape you want its time to decorate it. If you did a cut out of a bear’s head you can paint, or draw, on the bear’s face and have a cute kid oriented mouse pad. If you have a square or round shape there is a plethora of things you can put onto the foam to design it, use your imagination.