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Craft Tutorials | Adult Crafts | Decoupage Crafts for Adults | Mod Podge Photo Collage Clipboard for Him

Mod Podge Photo Collage Clipboard for Him

Author by Amanda Davis on December 10, 2013 Updated on December 6, 2020

5 from 1 vote
Create a personalized mod podge photo collage clipboard for Christmas, a birthday, or Father's Day. Covered in photos of your choice!
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mod podge photo collage clipboard pin image

This mod podge photo collage clipboard makes a great Father’s Day, anniversary, or just-because gift. Use photocopied pictures of something that means the most to him. In this case, I used photos of all my husband’s cars and motorcycles over the years.

Mod Podge Photo Collage Clipboard

 

Mod Podge Photo Collage Clipboard for Him

I originally made this clipboard for my husband for Father’s Day, but just haven’t had a chance to post it yet. This was an awesome gift tailored just to him, and here’s why. He’s a car guy. He works on cars, watches TV shows about cars, and loves to tinker with cars. He’s had quite a few different cars, trucks, and motorcycles over the years, and he has a photo of each one. Yep, that’s how much he likes things that go.

Of course, this is a great gift for any man, and it can be tailored to whatever his interests are. Adventurer? How about photos of places he’s traveled to. Sports nut? Mod Podge pictures of his favorite sports team and him dressed in his game-day best! Or maybe just proud daddy and a clipboard covered in his adorable children. Christmas, birthday, or Father’s Day, this makes a great personalized gift!

photo collage clipboard with cars and motorcycles

One day when I was going through photos for a completely different reason, I came across the envelope with all of hubby’s vehicle photos. That’s when it hit me that this would be the perfect gift for him! However, I didn’t want to use the original photos. We don’t have the negatives anymore, and these photos are from “back in ‘Nam” as my teenagers like to tease.

Mod podge photo collage clipboard

So instead, I photocopied the pictures and tucked the originals safe and sound back into their envelope. Then I got to work.

What you’ll need

  • Clipboard
  • Painter’s tape
  • Black spray paint
  • Mod Podge or other decoupage medium
  • Photocopies of photographs
  • Decoupage squeegee (or credit card)
  • Sealer spray
  • Sandpaper


How to Make a Photo Collage Clipboard

clipboard

First I would need a clipboard. I found this ratty one in the garage, black plastic with a metal clip. Perfect.

Please note, the “instructions” under each photo are just a summarization. If you plan to make this project, please use the full printable instructions at the end of this post. :)

add painters tape to the border

The first step was to paint the clip. I covered the clipboard in cardboard and used painter’s tape to make sure everything was covered except for the metal clip.

spray paint the metal clip black

Then I spray painted the metal clip black.

Use floral wire to keep the clip open

When the paint had dried, I used some heavy floral wire to hold the clip open. It would need to be open to do the decoupaging. This was also the ideal time to spray the underside of the metal clip.

cut out the photocopied pictures

I photocopied the pictures and cut them out.

spray photos with clear sealer

The trick to decoupaging photocopies is to spray them with a clear sealer first and let them dry completely. This keeps the ink from bleeding when you paint the decoupage over the top.

Set out the photos on the clipboard the way you'd like them

The next step was to decide the placement of the photos. I just moved them here and there until I was happy with it.

painting on the mod podge to the back of the photo

Paint the back of the photocopy with some decoupage. This will help keep bubbles at bay too as it wets the surface. Bubbles form because of the reaction to paper and the wet decoupage.

Using a decoupage squeegee to apply photo

Place the photocopy onto the clipboard surface and use a squeegee to flatten it carefully and work out any bubbles.

Mod podge the photos to the clipboard

Place the next photo on using the same method. Slow and steady wins the race here folks. Don’t rush it.

finished collage

The finished collage. Notice that a few small areas of the clipboard aren’t covered. No biggie. Some trimming, sanding edges and  a generous layer of decoupage medium to the entire surface will finish it off. Be sure to let it dry for several hours.

cars and motorcycle mod podge clipboard

NOTE: Pictures may look like they have a red tint to them. Don’t panic! It all works out after it dries.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering? Yes, he absolutely loved it! In fact, he refuses to use it because he doesn’t want to ruin it. :) My 16-year old son is also a car nut, so the two of them had a great time talking about the different photos in the collage. Definitely a great gift!

Check out more Father’s Day gift ideas below!

  • Fingerprint Daddy and Me Mug – this mug makes a heartfelt (and super adorable) gift for Dad!
  • Dad Rocks Paperweight– create a paperweight for his desk to remind him how awesome he is. The kids will love helping with this one!
  • We Love You Photo Frame – a creative idea using photos of the kids (or yourself) to set on the bookshelf or desk.
  • Father’s Day Hero Stones– Another paperweight gift idea, these rocks tell dad how much he means to you.
  • Father’s Day Blue Collar Uniform Card– Simply change out the color of the construction paper to match your dad’s uniform shirt. If there’s a name patch and logo, you can personalize that too!
Print Project
5 from 1 vote

Photo Collage Clipboard for Him

Create a personalized mod podge photo collage clipboard for Christmas, a birthday, or Father's Day. Covered in photos of your choice!

Supplies

  • Clipboard
  • Painter's tape
  • Black spray paint
  • Mod Podge or other decoupage medium
  • Photo copies of photographs
  • Decoupage squeegee or a credit card
  • Sealer spray
  • Sandpaper

Instructions

  • Clean the metal clip on the clipboard. Remove any dirt or sticky residue. Cover clipboard with a piece of cardboard and painter's tape. Be sure all areas except for the metal clip are covered.
  • Spray paint the metal clip with black paint. Allow to dry for 20 minutes then add another coat. When completely dry, use a piece or heavy floral wire or several pipe cleaners to hold the clip open. Spray the inside of the clip, repeat.
  • Remove the painter's tape and cardboard from the board. Apply a thin coat of decoupage medium (Mod Podge) to the board to prep the surface.
  • Photo hint: I chose photos of several of the cars, trucks and motorcycles my husband has bought, worked on and sold over the years. They mean a lot to him, so putting them on something useful, like this clipboard, makes a great gift. Photos of your children, favorite pets, a project he's worked on, are all great examples.
  • Trim your photocopies and spray each one with sealer. Allow them to dry completely. Applying sealer will help keep the ink from bleeding when decoupage is applied.
  • Paint a layer of decoupage medium on to the back of your first photo copy. Place photo copy onto the board and gently press from the center of the picture. Use a straight edge like a credit card, to smooth the paper down from the middle to the edges, to keep bubbles out.
  • Repeat this process, overlapping photos as you go, until you have covered the board. You can trim the excess pieces hanging over, but you will clean this all up in a later step. Let this dry for 2 hours.
  • Apply a generous coat of decoupage medium over the entire surface. Let it dry for a few hours.
  • Turn the board over and use a razor blade or craft knife to trim the edges of overlapping paper flush with the board. Use a piece of sandpaper to rough up the edges a bit. Dust it all off and apply another generous coat of decoupage medium and allow to dry overnight.
  • Untie the wire from the clip.

Expert Tips & FAQs

Hint: Bubbling often occurs because the paper has not had sufficient time to dry underneath before another wet layer is applied to the top.
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Amanda Davis
Amanda Davis is the crafty, entrepreneurial mother of four children. She loves to bake, cook, make kid's crafts and create decorative items for her home. She is a crafting expert and guru in the kitchen and has appeared online and in print publications many times over the years.
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Filed Under: Decoupage Crafts for Adults, DIY Gift ideas, Father's Day Crafts, Photo Display Ideas, Recycled Crafts for Adults Tagged With: clipboard, dad, decoupage, gifts for him, mod podge, photos, recycled

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Comments

  1. Jaime says

    August 15, 2017 at 10:55 am

    This is great!! RE: sealing the sides. Once the trimming is one, what does the sanding accomplish? How do I make sure the paper along the edge of the clipboard is secured? So I just mod podge along the edges? Thanks for this!

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      August 17, 2017 at 7:26 am

      Hi Jaime! The sanding along the edges is more for the look than anything else, and also to smooth it out. And yes, the ModPodge will secure it!

      Reply
  2. Phyllis says

    April 9, 2015 at 9:49 am

    Some tutorials say that you have to have laser prints. They say inkjet prints will not work. Do you always copy to plain copy paper & never to photo paper?

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      April 15, 2015 at 10:52 am

      I usually use copy paper because I don’t have photo paper on hand :)

      Reply
  3. Mary says

    December 30, 2013 at 11:46 am

    Amanda: Mod Podge Clipboard is the best male gift I have seen. I saved the project to make a February birthday gift for my son. Do I need to print the photocopies on photo paper or can I use regular copy paper? Thank you Mary

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      December 31, 2013 at 7:02 am

      Hi Mary! So glad you like it. Just print them on regular paper and follow the instructions about prepping them with spray sealer first :)

      Reply
  4. Danielle Lynn says

    December 17, 2013 at 7:32 am

    I am loving this, SO MUCH and hope to have time to copy it before Christmas hits us! :)
    thank you for sharing!
    danielle

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      December 18, 2013 at 6:19 am

      Thanks Danielle! If not, birthdays, anniversaries, Father’s Day … ::)

      Reply
  5. Shaina says

    December 16, 2013 at 10:01 am

    Loving this gift idea! My husband has started coaching basketball, so having a clipboard that’s personalized would be perfect.

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      December 18, 2013 at 6:24 am

      That would be an awesome theme Shaina!

      Reply
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