How to Decorate a Clothespin

Decorate clothespins to add whimsy to everyday household tasks.

Hanging laundry on the clothesline does not need to be boring. Decorate clothespins and jazz up your household chores. Decorated clothespins can be used as chip bag clips and paper clips, as well as hanging your clothes. Several clothespins can be decorated at one time and children can successfully accomplish this craft. Set up an art table at your child's next birthday party or provide the supplies for a teenager's slumber party. The guests can create paper clips for their special papers.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• 1/4-inch-wide rick rack
• Craft glue
• Clothespins
• 2 buttons
• Fabric scrap
• Decoupage medium
• Sponge brush
• Wooden skewer

Whimsical Clothespins

1. Cut two, 3 1/2-inch pieces of 1/4-inch-wide rick rack.

2. Apply a line of craft glue down the center of one long side on the clothespin. Lay one cut rick rack piece in the glue, lining up one end of the rick rack on one end of the clothespin. If there is excess on the opposite end of your clothespin, cut it off. Lengths may vary on different clothespins.

3. Apply a dot of craft glue on top of the rick rack at the clip end of the clothespin. Place a button over the glue. Allow the glue to dry.

4. Turn the clothespin over and apply the remaining rick rack length and button to the clothespin in the same way.

Decoupaged Clothespins

1. Detach the wooden clothespin parts from the metal spring. This will take a little bit of tugging. Take note of the spring's position before your take the pin apart because you will be reattaching it later.

2. Measure around the length of one wooden clothespin half and add an inch. Cut two pieces of scrap fabric 3/4 inches wide by the clothespin measurement.

3. Apply decoupage medium to the back or inside edge of one clothespin half using a sponge brush. Center one short end of a fabric strip in the center of the clothespin back. Wrap the fabric down the length and to the front of the clothespin half. Apply decoupage medium to the front of the clothespin and continue to wrap the fabric.

4. Overlap the ends and apply decoupage medium between the overlap to secure. Before the medium dries, press the fabric into the grooves of the wood using your fingers and the end of a wooden skewer.

5. Apply decoupage medium to the wrong side of the fabric that is hanging over the clothespin edge. Clip 1/4-inch-wide strips in the fabric from the outer edge to the clothespin edge. Fold the slits over the edges of the clothespin, overlapping as needed to mold the shape and completely cover the wood. .

6. Apply decoupage medium over the top of the fabric and allow it to dry.

7. Repeat the process on the other clothespin half. When both pieces are dry, reattach the clothespin spring.