.Aside from my absolutely beautiful Aurora sky fleece lined gloves that my friend made me for Christmas, there is something else that is keeping me warm whilst I pastel the hours away!
As some of you know, I use a magnetic board to work on. It’s so useful to use magnets to secure my work to the board – give it a try.
But the downside of that is that the magnetic surface is really cold! It’s been down to -5C here at night and up to only 2C in the day time. I stand up at my easel and my arms moving + the radiator at my feet is great so I’m doing okay but that board was making my hands freeze to the point that my fingers were going numb!
I LOVE coming up with DIY solutions to solve problems. I knew exactly what I needed and i was thinking how to make it, but I wondered if something already existed that would do the job as well or better.
I needed to heat that board up, somehow, without setting fire to it! I tiny current of electricity would do it, but how and safely?
My ever resourceful and knowledgeable other half, Rhod had the solution.
A reptile heat mat.
It’s such a simple and cheap way of staying warm! The one I purchased (from amazon or et shops is about 8×12 inches and It’s only W so uses minimal electricity.
After a few tests I came up with the solution below.
It’s a drawing board with a layer of lambs wool insulation (fleece would do too) and then the heat mat taped on top. It’s very crudely put together but works a treat! Without the insulation I found that it wasn’t as warm)
Here’s some photos so you can see how it’s constructed.
![reptile-heat-pad](https://skhportraits.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/reptile-heat-pad.jpg)
Here’s the front view. My drawing board sit’s in front of this and and warms up really quickly. The heat mat has a temperature control dial.
![side-view-construction](https://skhportraits.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/side-view-construction.jpg)
Here you can see the 3 layers. Board, lambs wool fleece and heat mat sandwiched together. then my drawing board sits on top.
I love that ! Clever Rhod x
Great idea!
Wow great idea 😮😊
Sue, you have given a new meanings to ‘warm colours’… An excellent idea!
haha good one Tony 🤣
What a fantastic idea, I often wondered how your magnetic board copes in the cold weather. Well done, Rhod.
I like people who think outside the box. A win for both of you Sue!
Thanks Sally! 🙂
Great idea! Well done Rhod! I found a shoulder warmer heat mat in Lidl to help me keep warm in my office.
I use it on my lap and over my hands when they are very cold on my keyboard. I wish I could somehow heat up my keyboard like your drawing board!