How can I mount an index card to a business phone as a tiny sign?

November 20, 2014 2:40 PM

I'd like to non-permanently mount a 3x5 index card onto a business-phone so that it faces the person using it.

My company recently changed our desk phones to a model without much space to tape the small list of numbers my co-workers need to dial building services, teleconferences (and if I don't plant this information inches from their retinas, they're going to call me every time they need it).

I'm looking for a way to non-permanently mount a 3x5 index card onto a business-phone so that it faces the person using it--preferably in a way that doesn't require elaborate set-up, construction (e.g., buy two small products, super-glue them together, ouila!!)

I've googled "phone mount sign" and "small phone mount" etc, and I'm not finding anything worthwhile. Do you guys know of such a product or how I might easily construct one?

posted by alice_curiouse to Grab Bag (10 answers total)

Something like this poster mounting putty?
posted by jabes at 2:44 PM on November 20, 2014

Is it 100% necessary that it be literally mounted to the phone, or could you get something like this place card holder and put it next to the phone (note the price is for a dozen, not for 1). You can stick those to the desk with poster putty if you're worried they might get knocked about.
posted by brainmouse at 2:47 PM on November 20, 2014

Could you maybe link a picture of the phone model you're using? It's hard to imagine how this object would attach to an entirely hypothetical phone.

A table tent that you foam-tape to the back/base of the phone?

Maybe there's enough horizontal space underneath the receiver to just double-sticky-tape a card on there directly, such that it's visible (only) when they lift the handset?

If the phone has a leg in back so that the face/screen/dialpad tilts toward the user, maybe you could just tape a card to the bottom/back in such a way that it stuck straight up vertically behind the phone?
posted by aimedwander at 3:22 PM on November 20, 2014

Oh, sure! This is the phone.

I appreciate the responses.

poster putty -- I don't believe it will firmly hold an index card in a certain position and people will say it looks "unprofessional".

placecard holder -- I like this. Perhaps I can mount it with a 3M product. (If I don't, people are going to move it somewhere else because their desks are really filled with paper, lost it, then, they'll call me.
posted by alice_curiouse at 4:08 PM on November 20, 2014

What about a slanted card or photo holder? I can't find any the exact dimensions but here are two:
smaller option
4 x 6 option
posted by purple_bird at 4:34 PM on November 20, 2014

What if you got some of these report cover spines and cut them down to small (say 1") strips and mounted one on the top or back of each phone. It's hard to tell the angles of the top of the phone, but ideally you could mount it on the back of the phone in such a way that it's out of view. Then you slide in your index card which is rigid enough to hold itself up.
posted by brbmaroon at 4:40 PM on November 20, 2014

brbmaroon -- Brilliant and super simple, thank you!
posted by alice_curiouse at 4:45 PM on November 20, 2014

How about a laminated card that is attached to the base of the handset with a small chain? It would dangle under normal use, but it wouldn't be difficult to read if needed.
posted by doctor tough love at 6:40 PM on November 20, 2014

I would stick a cable drop on the the top and just insert the card into it. My cable drops come with sticky mounting circles. They come in sizes; you could use two minis if that would work better.
posted by DarlingBri at 12:06 AM on November 21, 2014

How about one of those plastic jobbies florists use for gift cards?
posted by cookie-k at 3:29 PM on November 21, 2014