[MAKE] WOOD VENEER MOUSEPAD

PHOTOGRAPH BY SALLY J SHIM

I was tidying up my studio the other day and decided I needed a new mousepad. I was going to make a fabric covered mousepad, but remembered I had a stash of wood veneer that might do the trick. I bought my wood veneer at a local woodworking shop when I was in living in Portland, but you can also find it online. There are two kinds of thin wood veneer, paper backed or plain. I used thin plain wood veneer for my mousepad. You can also add a square of shelf liner on the backside of your mousepad to give it some grip. You want to know how I keep my mousepad from slipping around? Two pieces of masking tape to secure it to my desk (strange, but true).

MATERIALS

1. Wood veneer 

2. X-Acto knife or paper cutter

3. Ruler (if using X-Acto knife)

4. Optional: Shelf liner and double-stick tape

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Cut wood veneer to desired size (my mousepad is 16cm x 16 cm) using X-Acto knife and ruler or paper cutter (my preferred method).

2. Optional: Cut a square of shelf liner and adhere to back of wood veneer mousepad with double-stick tape.