DIY Sketchbook Extension Easel

[@zenlife1200]

After watching your video a few days ago, I put in a small stationery order that arrived today. I bought a 5 pack of A4 sized foamboard sheets to use as my base and a roll of magnet tape to hold my portable painter micro palette on. I also bought a roll of duct tape to seal off the edges of the board. The finished product won't be winning any awards for beauty but the result is very sturdy and very light. One sheet of foam board made two A5 sized boards so I used the other half of the sheet to make one for my Mum too. I guess I could make a hole in a corner for a brush but I usually only use one so it doesn't bother me to not have a holder. This is my favorite type of craft project 😄

[@craftykat]

I've been meaning to make one of these for ages but all of the other tutorials were so convoluted; thank you for making it simple. I'd just have to leave the water thing out because knowing me I'd spill all over my sketchbook, lol.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tara-lee]

Brilliant! It's one of those "why didn't I think of that" moments.

[@heathernolan902]

Wizardry!!! I didn’t see where it was going at first, then you slipped in the sketchbook and 🤯 love it!

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Thanks 😊

[@hlegler]

You're awesome!! This is such a great idea!! I saw an expensive one and thought "maybe I could make that". Thanks for helping the thrifty DIYers out there with this project!!!❤❤❤❤❤

[@aifrati]

I’ve made several iterations of this over the last year or two and I sed them everywhere, at home or when traveling and urban sketching. I make them out of chloroplast and do not add the magnet sheet but use the fridge/file cabinet magnet clips for the palette. I made a tiny one for my 3.5*5.5 inch sketchbook that is the size of the sketchbook when folded. I cut through one layer of the chloroplast lengthwise in the middle and cover the intact size with decorative duct tape to reinforce the part that will fold. I keep it attached to the sketchbook while carrying by the sketchbook’s elastic band closure. When in use, I use clips to hold the sketchbook pages which handles are wide enough to also hold a pen or a brush. But I like the idea of the drill bit measure gauge as a brush holder. 😊

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Great idea!

[@Lulu.G-61]

I have a 3-D printer and I designed one and made it. I really like it because it’s lightweight. I used small round magnets that I glued onto it, but I love the idea of using the magnetic clips because those magnets are really strong.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Very cool!

[@NelaDunato]

These are the kind of frugal art tips I'm here for. 👍 Sadly I couldn't find the magnetic clips locally, but I may be able to find regular magnets and just glue them onto the board.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

I just picked some up on Saturday at dollar tree in brewer Maine. 4 in a pack for $1.25 in the office supply section next to the paper clips.

[@NelaDunato]

@@thefrugalcrafter Small country here with no Dollar Tree, and sadly our equivalent (Tedi) doesn't carry any :/ I saw some on German Amazon starting at €6/pack, add €10 for shipping and it's no longer frugal 😔 I bought two regular magnets and I hope the superglue will keep them stuck to the board.

[@ArtsiRosi]

I have been wanting one of these for sooooo long that a few months ago I went ahead and splurged and bought the original! Haven't had a chance to take it for a spin for a lot of reasons but a DRILL BIT GAUGE is absolute GENIUS!!! Girl! I will definitely be making a second one as the original is kinda small. Thank you! Tip: If you crazy glue another piece of wood/masonite to the center bottom and then drill a hole to fit a 1/4-20 Threaded Insert, you could attach it to a tripod.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Nice!

[@melissaaldosari8024]

Brilliant! Frugal Fridays for the win!

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Oh yes!

[@marcydrake9159]

I had never seen a setup like this and it’s exactly what I need to make paintings in nature easier! Thanks so much for sharing this and showing an affordable solution! 👍

[@thefrugalcrafter]

You are so welcome!

[@Denise11Schultz]

What a delightful idea 😎🎨👩‍🎨

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@melissamcintyre7661]

I've been thinking about making something like this! Your idea is excellent and simple...LOVE IT! Thanks Lindsay! 😊

[@monica-NJ-123]

Great idea , this is a good incentive to go paint outside , I hate juggling my supplies and losing things , it looks easy to do , thank you for sharing 😊

[@thefrugalcrafter]

You're welcome 😊

[@mjpete27]

Hullo Lindsay, Excellent Frugal Friday project! I have seen a TON of these travel easels! I love that your using what you have and your sticking to your: use what ya got rule!! I was going to buy the plans James Gurney sells, but I almost as parsimonious as you. So there are plenty of FREE planes and videos showing how to make these, some are even set-up for attaching to your tripod! I am still debating if I will ever need this much less use it! So I am lagging behind in my construction plans. Thanks for giving people another way to take and go with their travel supplies, Thanks Lindsay!

[@thefrugalcrafter]

My pleasure! I prefer this to lugging an easel around for sure!

[@judygrandstrand9784]

Such a great idea! Just in time for summer and more plein air painting!

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Totally!

[@marytesta3003]

This is a great idea. I have everything but the little thing with holes. Thank you!

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Glad it was helpful!

[@nadeaner.cowley513]

I've seen these and have wanted to make one forever. Very cool that you did. Thanks for sharing ❤

[@thefrugalcrafter]

You’re welcome 😊

[@marit4660]

Lindsay, you're a DIY genius! I'm still impressed w/ that "side of the road tin" palette and how that mini perfume spray bottle fit so prefecture inside. Thanks for the reminder about those magnetic clips. I'm gonna go look for some this w/e!

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Oh thank you!

[@cloverrabbit5622]

Very cool! Thanks for showing us this great idea. 😊

[@thefrugalcrafter]

You are so welcome!

[@paulalister80]

Very cool. Blew me small mind. Have not seen the other ones. Such a cool easy idea you explained this so well think I could make this. Thank you for sharing Lindsay.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Glad it was helpful!

[@berolinastrassmann]

Yes! It works!! I made one of these with a used A4 clipboard I had lying around. I carved a slot in the middle with a utility knife..and presto!. It also has the clamp on one end, where I can hold my pencils or brushes. Loved to see your version, Lindsay. This is oerfect for #pleinairapril!

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Great thinking!

[@berolinastrassmann]

PS. The idea of using a drill bit gauge and a magnetic self adhesive sheet is just genius! I found one lying around after seeing your video. Amazing! Thanks! ​@@thefrugalcrafter

[@ChristieP-hb6hd]

Thank you Lindsay - after watching your video I made one using plexiglass and it works great! Very light

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Great job!

[@TammyLML]

If you can find some rare earth magnets (I know amazon has them but I'm sure they're elsewhere too), they can be glued on to your boards and are super strong. I have a bunch of small ones I used for cross stitch needle minders that I glued to foam core board wrapped in shipping tape. They're nice for gluing in strategic places and so strong. :) I love your brush holder addition!

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Great idea!

[@bettyjorodgers8552]

I really appreciate this. Thanks

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Glad it was helpful!

[@carrollwilson5169]

So clever Lindsay, thank you. Love how you simplify things and make useful items. Now I think I could add a thingy on the back and it could go on a tripod

[@thefrugalcrafter]

You sure can!

[@maureenhayes7318]

Super easy! Thank you because I’m completely useless at making things and even I could do this. You explained it so SO well and I’d rather make my own to see if I even like using it, or do use it, before I would consider buying one. As usual, Lindsay to the rescue (insert cape and flying noises here!). I know this is silly but it again it shows your integrity that you mentioned more than once it isn’t your original idea, but that you wanted to share. So many people lately having been making stuff that has been around for years and claiming they’ve created the best (fill in the blank). As always, I can trust you.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Aww, thanks so much:)

[@Multiplemom3452]

Brilliant idea love you’re videos gal.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@geriprior751]

That is a really good idea. Glad you shared it Lindsay. Thanks.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

You are so welcome!

[@annettefournier9655]

Thanks Lindsay. I've not seen anything like this before. Obviously I live under a rock.🎉

[@thefrugalcrafter]

😆

[@scarletisbell8520]

I made one of these and I love it. I hot glued some of those small rare earth magnets and it's awesome.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

That is awesome!

[@blueviolets2022]

For anyone who may be interested, a crochet hook guage also has various sized holes, like the drillbit guage. Might be harder to find.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Good tip!

[@kateyrandolph1212]

That’s amazing. I love it!!! I’m going to make one!!!

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Please do!

[@Linda-qq5mg]

Thanks for sharing how you put the holder together.besides being an artist, your an engineer!😁🤗

[@thefrugalcrafter]

You’re welcome 😊

[@jillbartos8893]

Thanks for showing this, Lindsay. The nifty Stablo easel is a bit too pricey for me and I'd rather make my own. Great idea!

[@thefrugalcrafter]

You are so welcome!

[@nalissa77]

I love it. I think I have a clipboard made of that material. I can modify it to use with my sketching setup. Thanks for the idea! I Just found an old Halloween sign from the DT that is made of masonite.

[@amandahodgin9316]

I have a legal sized clipboard made of the masonite material. I turn it so that the clip is on the bottom and use that to clip my sketchbook onto it. I put the magnet sheet on it and it holds my palette. I use other clips for other things. It works pretty well except that it’s long if you want to put it in a small bag. I’m thinking about cutting it in half and putting it back together with some duct tape so that it will fold. Another wide clip that straddles the fold would keep it flat, I think.

[@nalissa77]

@@amandahodgin9316 Great idea! Thanks!

[@amandahodgin9316]

@@nalissa77 I’m going to look at the dollar store for a knitting needle gauge to use for a brush holder. It would probably work for the brushes I have and would be smaller than the drill bit gauge that Lindsay has.

[@nalissa77]

@@amandahodgin9316 I'm thinking of using a magnetic knife strip to hold the pallet but it might be too heavy.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

That's a great idea!

[@battygirlrachel]

1:05 Could use one of those signs from dollar tree too! I see a project in my future...

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Nice!

[@ilonavandertang-vos2198]

Nice job, so easy to do yourself! Thank you for showing us❤

[@thefrugalcrafter]

You are so welcome!

[@128titanic]

Hi, Lindsay. Thank you for your video. ❤

[@thefrugalcrafter]

You are so welcome!

[@oceanebezault7982]

Great idea!! Thank you for sharing!! I 've never seen it before!

[@thefrugalcrafter]

You are so welcome!

[@ChantelleArts]

This is fantastic, what a wonderful idea ☺☺

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Thank you! 😊

[@blueviolets2022]

I've been thinking about making one of those! Thank you!

[@thefrugalcrafter]

You should!

[@melissaamyx2196]

This is brilliant!

[@MedaHalmaciu]

Awesome! Thanks.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

You're welcome!

[@GingahSnapsArt]

Beautifully done! The last time I tried this, I didn't seal mine well enough, and it got wonky, I definitely recommend sealing if you can 😅

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Thanks for the tip!

[@sylwitcha5325]

Awesome idea!!!!!

[@MaryYoungblood-xy8vg]

What a smart thing.

[@elizabaum]

I have wanted to do this for awhile and have just been too lazy. Story of my life. 😂 I do have some travel coming up in about 6 weeks, though, and having this with my sketchbook would be really handy. Maybe it's time!

[@thefrugalcrafter]

You can do it!

[@lookupdownAni]

Great idea!

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Thanks!

[@juicytulipboutiqueandartis8051]

Thank you sooo much for this idea, I made one immediately 😂 what would you recommend I seal it with?

[@thefrugalcrafter]

I haven't sealed mine but I'd probably use contact paper or packing tape so it wouldn't rub off on my paper. Maybe I'll paint it up nice and so that (probably no though because I'm lazy lol!

[@aprilgarcia8224]

Do you have a review on the Strathmore mixed media 100% cotton sketchbook. I tried looking through all your videos but wasn't sure if it was on there. Anyway. I love all your diy ideas. Going to make it and the elastic holder. Thanks

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Do you mean the visual journal one? I'm not sure if I've used that.

[@jennw6809]

I have used them, and I actually think they're great. To me mixed media paper usually means "bad at everything," but the cotton paper has good tooth, does well with a lot of things and is very affordable. You can watercolor on it, but since it's unsized you can't blend it out. As long as you accept this and paint in visible layers, it's very cool. It's *lovely* for gouache. Pencil, pen, pastels, oil pastels, colored pencils all work well. Of course some media will transfer, so use discretion with the facing pages. Marker is ok, but it will suck them dry. I have not used acrylic on it, but I think even that would work.

[@wanderingstar5673]

Fabulous 🤗

[@lyllydd]

Question: Before you removed the magnet sheet, did you try gluing some small neodinium magnets onto your metal watercolor palette? I have found that those things are strong enough to move a fridge. They would definitely hold onto the magnetic vent cover sheet.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

No but I thought of gluing some rate earth magnets to the board but the magnet clips worked so well I didn't bother.

[@zdzislawaprzyborska5653]

I was super curious which palette will you choose for this one... so, why this one out of all the ones that you owe?

[@thefrugalcrafter]

It was the one I had been using a lot in preparation of a review. This will work with any metal palette tho:)

[@plove523]

Great idea!

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Glad you think so!