Phone Memo Pad

It seems to me that whenever I'm on the phone and I need to write something down, that little pad of paper I try and keep by the phone has always been commandeered for other purposes. It's off in the studio, or sitting in the living room, or somehow taken to work. It's never there when you need it! Well, I'm going to make a little fridge-mounted paper pad that no one will mistake for anything other than a phone pad, and won't be stolen! 

Whoo! Now that you've gathered your stuff, let's get started. First, the size of your pad cover will very much depend on the size of your pad. Measure the width and height of your notebook. Cut a strip of fabric, double the width, so when it's folded over the notepad, the top cover comes just to the top of the notepad, the back is just a little bit taller, leaving a flap to overlap your pad. Be sure to leave a little bit of room on the sides for seam allowance. You can see on the diagram where your design needs to go in relation to the folds of the fabric. 

Hoop up your fabric with some stabilizer, and embroider your little dial tone! This design is kinda key to the little cover because we're going to turn our little notepad into a phone. You heard me! 

So, wrap your notebook into your fabric again, checking the measurement. Your bottom flap, the one with the embroidery, should come just up to the top of the notepad. The back flap should be a little taller, with enough fabric to fold over the top, even after you lose some length to the seam. Remember, this fabric should be two layers! If it's not, cut another long rectangle to match it.

Once you're sure of your measurements, fold the two sides of the fabric right sides in, with the embroidery facing inwards. Before we stitch it, take one of your magnets and place it near the top edge of your fabric (the same edge as your embroidery design). Glue it in place.

Now, sew a seam down both sides, leaving one edge open for turning.

Turn your long rectangle right side out again, pushing out the corners. Take care not to disturb your magnet while you're turning everything right side out.

Once you've turned it right side out, we'll need to add a little bit of structure to the front flap. Cut a piece of tag board just as wide and and as tall as your cover, and then slip it inside on the open end to the top of your rectangle. 

Fold your rectangle over to that point, and mark where the fold will be (be sure this lines up with where it should fold over the notepad). Sew a seam down this line to mark the fold and keep the tag board in place.

So, close off that open end on the other side. Fold the raw edges in, press, and sew a seam to finish the edge. 

Now we need a little pocket for our notepad. Measure out another piece of tag board that's exactly the same width as your cover, and a little bit shorter than your notepad.

Cut a piece of fabric just a little bit larger than this rectangle, and spray one side of your tag board with spray adhesive, and smooth your fabric on top of it. Find the top edge of your tag board pocket, and fold those edges in. You can use tape or pins to keep those edges in place. Sew a seam across the top edge to secure that side of the fabric.

Now we're going to secure the rest of it, but when we sew the edges we're going to stitch it to the fabric cover. I found the easiest way to keep all the edges tight was to simply take some masking tape and use it to keep the edges nice and tight. Once you have it taped, you can pin it to your back cover (with the embroidered flap down), lining the bottom edge up with the seam you stitched earlier on the fold. Sew a seam down both sides of your "pocket" leaving the top open. 

Now, our phone needs a... well, a phone! We need a little handset. Draw a little phone shape on your fabric that's just a little bit wider than your cover itself. Be sure to add another line outside of the phone shape to allow for seam allowance. Pin two layers of fabric together, and cut out your phone shapes!

Sew a seam around your phone, leaving the bottom, middle part open for turning. Before you turn your phone right side out, you may want to clip the corners on the inside of the phone to prevent puckering. Turn your phone right side out! 

nce you've got all the corners pushed out and everything looks dandy, fold that small raw edge under and sew a seam all the way around your phone shape to make your phone!

Slide your notepad in your holder, and fold the back flap over the top. You'll want to do this so you can figure out where the phone shape should be pinned. You'll want it to overlap at least as far as that magnet you have in the top of the other flap, because we'll want to add another magnet that touches! Once you've got your phone where you like it, pin it in place and sew some tacking seams to keep it in place.

Take a second magnet and lay it on the fabric so it sticks to the one inside the cover. Add a dot of glue to the top of this, and then fold your "phone" shape down on top to get the perfect placement of your top magnet!

Finally, if you'd like to add a little pencil or pen to your phone so you always have a handy note-taking implement (because those disappear a lot too) AND give it a cute little phone cord effect, cut a piece of yarn or cord about 10 inches or so long. Attach one side to the back of your phone by stitching or gluing it in place, and then glue the other end around a pencil or pen. 

So your phone always has a handy dandy place to sit, glue two magnets to the back of your "phone" so it can hang out on your fridge! After the glue is dry, slide the back cardboard piece of your notepad into the pocket, and hang up your phone!

Check it out! No one will ever steal this little notepad for anything but phone messages. Heck, people may not even be totally sure what it is at first glance, other than an adorable embroidered phone. 

Unhook the bottom flap to reveal the notepad underneath!

Grab the little "cord" and write your notes with ease. When you're done, close your little "phone" back up and let it sit on your fridge as an adorable piece of little vintage phone decor! It's handy and adorable. What more can you ask of a craft?