Mousetrap Memo Pad

I’ve been dying to show you this project, but didn’t want to give away any secrets. You see, I made them for a few bloggers out there in the home décor blogland. And as luck would have it, most of these special women are here at Blissdom! As a tiny token of my appreciation for their inspirational blogs, I put together a little gift bag. Inside (among other things) was this one-of-a-kind memo pad.

With a note attached.

“My mouse is hooked on your blog!”

Get it? The notepad holder is a mousetrap and I was playing on the word, mouse (the one for your computer). Corny, I know.

So, you want one for yourself? I’m happy to share with you the tutorial.

The memo pad started life as a mousetrap (4 for $1) and a mini picture frame also $1 at the Dollar Store!

Materials:

Wooden mousetrap
Small picture frame
Cabinet Toe kick boards or other thin scrap wood (1 – 4.5″ x 4.5″, 1 – 4.5″ x 10″)
Wire
Ribbon
Notepad
Corrugated cardboard
Small 2″ x 3″ picture
E-6000 glue (optional)
Gorilla glue
Primer
Paint
Sandpaper
Needle-nosed pliers
Saw (hand saw is fine)
Drill and bit (for hole)

Start by removing the hook and trap hold parts with pliers. Then remove the bait hook.
All that will remain is the spring and snapping bar.

Cut the excess wood from your mousetrap with a handsaw.
(I used mine in a miter box for a straight cut.)

Sand down the rough edges.

You will need to cut down your scrap wood to the dimensions below.
The 4.5″ square piece is the same thickness as the mousetrap.
This insures an even surface for the memo pad to rest on.

Following the directions for the Gorilla Glue,
I wet each piece of wood and then added the glue.

Glue the 4.5″ square piece to the bottom of the larger piece of wood. Then glue the mouse trap right above the square piece. Make sure your snapping bar is facing down, as shown below.

Set a weight on top of the wood to “clamp” it while the glue dries. (About an hour or so.)

Anyone know what these hand weights are good for?
Beats me, I only use them to weigh down projects.

After the trap is dry, spray your boards with 1 or 2 coats of primer.

Then follow up with your favorite color paint.

At this point, you will want to drill a hole through the top of your board.

Take apart your picture frame and discard the backing.

Replace it with a piece of corrugated cardboard cut to size. Slide in your picture.

Carefully add a small line of E-6000 glue* to the back of the frame and glue it just above the mouse trap. If you use too much glue, it will glue the cardboard to the frame and you won’t be able to switch out your picture from time to time.

*You could use Gorilla glue for this step, but the glue expands and might glue your frame shut so you can’t change the pictures.

Create a bow with the ribbon and slide a piece of wire through the bow knot.

Secure the bow by threading both ends of the wire through the hole at the top of your mouse trap memo holder. Twist the wires together to make a loop for hanging.

Add your memo pad and you have a unique little note center.

So do you think those wonderful bloggy ladies will like it?

It isn’t too cheesy is it? (Pun definitely intended!)

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Linda says:

March 28, 2011 at 11:23 pm

Who would have thought that a mouse trap could be so CUTE! Will have to try this for little Christmas gifts for a group I am in!

Allison says:

February 21, 2011 at 10:53 pm

Clever idea!
Dropping by from How To’s Day. Hope you’ll come see the informal picture wall How To I did for DD2.

Allison
Atticmag

Kimberly says:

February 2, 2011 at 4:38 pm

Holy cow – GENIUS! My sisters, mom and I are soooo making these.

bugaboo, mini, mr & me

MeenyMoe says:

February 2, 2011 at 11:13 am

That is the cutest, most clever idea I've seen yet in February! 🙂 Thanks for the great tutorial! – Karen

Lori@KitchenFunk says:

January 31, 2011 at 8:05 pm

By the way, just want to tell you I found you at One Pretty Thing. ~Lori

January 31, 2011 at 8:04 pm

Boy you really think outside the box! This is terrific. I've never seen anyone create such a beautiful use for such an object. And since I've been hunting mice lately I have quite a few put away (they got in because I had hundreds of tulips bulbs to plant – the darn mice ate every single one!). I can't wait to give this a try! ~Lori

[email protected] says:

January 31, 2011 at 3:14 pm

That's so clever! I love that you built a better mousetrap. =) Thanks for the how-to, I'll be linking.

Bayside Gal says:

January 31, 2011 at 2:00 pm

I just love this! Of course, I have to get over that it was originally a mousetrap LOL! I would love to try this though. I'll buy some NEW mousetraps when I get out of this snow…