Even though you don’t really need a mouse pad to make your mouse work these days, most people still have one. I know that I like using my mouse pad with my desktop, no matter what the surface it’s resting on. It just makes it easier to move. That being said, there’s no reason why you can’t spice it up a bit. Check out this Space Invaders embroidered mouse pad you can make for yourself.
In this particular case, the design started with a simple and super cheap (99 cent) foam IKEA Lågis mouse pad. To make your own, you’ll have to select the pixelated image you want to embroider, but you can easily download something off the web to serve as a pattern.
Once you have done this, you can mark the picture with a white pencil or gel ink marker on your mouse pad, using a dense plastic grid to transfer the pixel pattern. Then it’s time to start stitching.
The results are quite cool, and Hanne from Eilen Tein reports that a laser mouse has no problems working over the pattern. Of course, the same technique will work with any pixel art, so you don’t need to feel limited to Space Invaders. Why not go for a Super Mario Bros. or Pac-Man mouse pad to mix it up a little bit?
[via Ikeahackers]
