If you're anything like me, then you're always out of notepaper.... no matter where I hide it, someone always finds it, carries it off to make notes or draw superhero pictures or stick tags to the dog, but whenever I am in need of paper to scribble something on, it's nowhere to be found. So I decided to make a notepad that was too heavy to carry off, and which can be located in the same spot on the wall for whenever anyone needs to write a note... I think you'll love it too.
Let's create another one. Together.
Don't let the list of materials sway you off this amazingly satisfying project. I had so much help from people at my local Home Depot store... all of them were scratching their heads in wonder as to what exactly I needed, because all I had were the ideas in my head, a hand full of random pieces that fit and no real names for any of the nuts and bolts and stuff I was looking for. It entailed a lot of trial and error and screwing bolts, nuts and washers together until it all worked. I had no concept of exactly how many choices and variations there were either! I thought ... nuts and bolts... how hard can it be? So here is a list that should help make your life, as well as that of the helper at your home improvement store, easier...
MATERIALS:
wood 1x 12x 18"
masking paper roll 9"
1 threaded zinc rod 12x 1/2"
2 zinc nuts 1/2"
2 zinc eye bolts with 4 nuts 1/4x 2 1/2 "
2 AAA flat cut washers 1/4"
2 wood screws 3/4"
2 washers size #8 at 1/4"
1 saw tooth picture hanger
Starting with the wood... I bought 12" wide pine wood in an 8' length and cut it to size at home. 18" seemed the right size for my house, but you can go longer or shorter to suit your style. Many home improvement stores will cut the wood to size for you at no extra charge.
Similarly with the length of 1 1/2" wood. Alternatively, you can use a 12 inch drilled metal plate, a ruler or a paint stirrer!
I wanted to achieve a distressed look on my wood, so I ran sandpaper over the plank as well as the smaller cross piece, before staining it. I used a dark umber chalk paint with water to create a stained look.
Once the paint has dried turn your wood to the back and attach your saw tooth hanger. It's easiest to do this before your project gets started. All the nuts and bolts and other stuff will make it harder to attach the hanger afterwards. Make sure you have it centered, so that your noticeboard hangs straight!
Center your paper roll onto the wood and measure where your eye bolts will need to be inserted. The roll is 9" wide, so give it 1/4- 1/2" on either side to make the rolling motion smoother once the rig is assembled.
Find the right drill bit to fit your eye bolt. If you need to pick between a bit that is slightly smaller or larger, pick the slightly larger one.
Drill your holes! The eye bolt should fit snugly through the hole. A hole that is too small, won't work, as the eye bolt can't be threaded through. It is better to err on a hole that is marginally too big, because you'll have nuts and washers to secure the inserted bolt.
Make sure you drill your holes evenly and in parallel with the top edge of the board... if you make a mistake here, then your paper roll will hang at an angle.
The order of operations... nut, washer, wood, nut, eye bolt. Insert the eye bolt through all of these items and fasten tight, so it doesn't wiggle.
This is the side view of your creation, showing the assembly. Don't twist the eye-bolt through these pieces too far, or else you won't have enough depth for your paper roll. Twist it through until it is flush with the back bolt. Repeat on the other side.
Insert your threaded zinc rod through the eye bolts and paper roll. It'll be tight to start off with, but as you use the paper, it'll loosen up.
Twist a large nut onto the end of the threaded rod to secure it in place.
Repeat on the other side. This will secure your roll from being knocked out of place by children running past or baseball bat collisions ...
When you have used up all 180 feet of paper, all you need to do is unscrew these nuts and insert a new roll.
Now for the cutting bar... Position it where you would like it to be, about 1 to 1 1/2 inches from the bottom. You'll be needing 1 wood screw and 1 tiny washer per side. Insert the correct drill bit to match the size of your wood screws. Drill right through the cross piece, but only touch the surface of the back board. The wood screw needs to go through the cross piece and anchor it to the board through a washer.
Place your tiny washers over the shallow holes you've drilled into the board. The purpose of these washers is to give you room to thread your paper through, once the cross bar is attached.
Screw your wood screws through the cross piece and washers into the back board on both sides.
Thread your paper under the cross bar...
Rip off a piece to be satisfied that it works...
Write on your new rustic notepad! It's great for inspirational sayings, notes, lists, designs, drawings, menus, things you need to remember ... it truly is a wonderful addition to the home. Plus it's big enough for no one to bother carrying it off whimsically, leaving you without paper ever again. 180 feet of paper will go a long way...
This summer screen time check list was not popular with my kids, but it worked wonderfully. ;)
So now you've created a gorgeous rustic notepad!!! How will you use yours? Share your creations with me here.
Enjoy it and write on it often!
Warmly,
Claire
