I’d been meaning to do something with this old clipboard for ages. It came from a bridal shower last fall — the kind of favor everyone grabbed to use during party games and then took home instead of adding to a pile of clutter. I set it down in the playroom among toys and ceramics with a vague promise to “do something cute with this later,” and then life happened. Months passed and what started as a small project finally became a simple, useful upgrade for our kitchen.
At first I imagined covering the clipboard with pretty paper and hanging it on the wall as a rotating display for Clara’s artwork or little notes John and I leave each other. Before I did anything impulsive, I asked John for his input. He suggested something more practical: mount the clipboard inside a kitchen cabinet and use it to organize our takeout menus and a small grocery pad. In our previous house we made an in-cabinet cork board for shopping lists and recipe clippings, and we loved the tucked-away convenience. We didn’t want to repeat that exact idea, but the clipboard-as-menu-holder felt perfect. Our menus were squished in the utensil drawer and hard to access — when we needed one we had to lift out the whole tray. This would fix that problem and also give a quick spot to jot down groceries when my phone wasn’t handy or when I had a toddler on my hip.
I picked a cheerful teal paper to cover the clipboard. I considered busier patterns, but since whatever we clip to it will likely be colorful or patterned already, I kept the background simple. The paper was a leftover scrap from an earlier craft, but it worked well. I laid the clipboard on the paper, traced the outline, and cut around it. For the metal clamp section at the top I measured roughly and cut a small notch so the paper would wrap neatly around the clip. Then I tested the fit on the board.
For adhesive I used Aileen’s Tacky Glue — a reliable bottle I’ve had for years. I spread a thin, even layer over the board and smoothed it with my finger to avoid bumps showing through the paper. After laying the paper down, I flattened it under a few books while it dried.
With the clipboard finished, we found the perfect spot inside the upper cabinet that houses our built-in microwave. I wanted the clipboard to be easily reachable but out of sight when the door is closed. To avoid drilling into freshly painted cabinets, we used a removable mounting option: a clear 3M Command hook. The clipboard has a metal tab that protrudes from the top, so I attached the clear hook with the Command strip and simply hung the clipboard by resting that metal tab over the hook. The strip is removable, so if we ever change our minds we can pull the white tab and the hook will come down cleanly without peeling paint. The clipboard lifts off easily whenever we want to take it with us or refill the grocery pad.
As it stands, the clipboard holds our stack of menus and a small sheet for grocery notes. It’s a humble setup, but it makes life a little smoother: menus are out of the utensil drawer hostage situation, and a quick list is available when my phone isn’t in reach. I even write “eggs (12)” sometimes so I don’t forget whether I wanted a dozen or two — yes, I’m that precise.
We might add a small framed picture above the clipboard someday to balance the inside of the cabinet visually, but for now I like that the clipboard remains hidden until the door opens. It’s a zero-dollar update that adds both function and a small dose of cheer to our kitchen storage.
So that’s my overdue project finally done. An old clipboard turned into a tidy menu and list station — simple, practical, and satisfying. What small projects have you put off that would make daily life easier if you actually finished them? Maybe clipboard organization is the next low-impact “sport” for anyone who prefers a practical craft to skateboarding or snowboarding. You can hang ten menus, after all.
P.S. — We spent time with our teenage niece and nephew recently and asked about current slang. Apparently “swagg” (a brief take on swagger) and the sarcastic “cool story bro, tell it again” are in rotation. It’s funny how language keeps evolving; there’s always something new for us to learn.