Make This:

Notepad Desk Calendar

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Organization is a place we’re always trying to improve at HDYMT headquarters. There are a lot of tasks we take on each week, and it can be hard to keep track. I use my phone’s calendar to keep track of appointments and deadlines, but it’s not as good as a to-do list because it’s not as quick to browse, and I actually have to open an app just to see what needs doing. This padded desk calendar is designed to fill in that technology gap – an easy to browse view of the weekly agenda with spaces for a list each day. It’s a stack of pages turned into a tear-away pad, and if you’ve never made one you should, they’re easy and convenient!

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Supplies:

– ruler

– cutting mat

– utility knife or other sharp blade

– cautious respect for sharp tools

– clamps

– mat boards or other clamp-able smooth, flat boards (small pieces of plywood could work, too)

– rubber cement

– E6000, barge cement, or similar strong flexible glue

– pages to turn into a notebook (this could be our download or any paper of your choice)

 

Download files:

Weekly Desk Agenda US Letter

Weekly Desk Agenda A4

List Notepad US Letter

List Notepad A4

 

I used to make notepads like this fairly often using just rubber cement. I don’t know if I ended up with a less effective rubber cement this time, or if they’ve changed the formula since then, or what, but rubber cement alone wasn’t going to make this happen. To make a really useful pad you’ll also need that heavier weight E6000 or similar.

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Cut your sheets down to the right size.

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If you’re using a clear ruler like this and have the option, flip is so the printing is on the bottom – that makes it much easier to perfectly align it with your paper edge.

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When everything is cut stack it so the top and sides are really neatly together.

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Clamp the corners.

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Place the boards on either side of the stack and clamp them in place.

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Move your first two clamps to they’re in the center, or use one/none in the center if you’re making a smaller notepad.

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Set it so the glue edge is up and spread a smooth layer of rubber cement over it. Allow to dry. Then add a layer of the E6000 and let it dry really well.

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Unclamp it and trim any scruffy glue edges.

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That’s really all. Place it somewhere that it will see lots of use and get to scheduling!

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