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Fun with Mod Podge: Pretty Decorated Clothespins for all Occassions!
Seriously who needs decorative clothespins right?! Well… you don’t reeaalllyy need them but you may just start going crazy for clothespins after this DIY! These decorative clothespins are super quick, easy to make and you can customize them any way you like. You can use these decorative clothespins for just about anything! You can use the clothespins to hang Christmas cards along your mantle during the holiday season, or hang your favorite photos along a twine roping. These lovely little clothespins can even be used at baby showers, bridal showers, and weddings! Photo credits (pic above): Paper Butterflies
Things you need:
Clothespins
Scrapbook Paper (This could be scraps of paper – just be sure that it is large enough for two sides of a clothespin)
Mod Podge
Small Sponge Brush
Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks
Scissors
Ribbon (Optional – color and style of your choice of course) or Twine
Magnet Sheet (Optional)
Pencil
Sandpaper (Optional)
Ink Pad (Optional)
Buttons – Rusty Tin Cutouts – Flower Heads – Foam Cutouts – Rhinestones for fun embellishments
Things to do:
1. This is the best part… choose your paper! This project is all about personal style and preference. You can customize your clothespins any way you wish by simply picking out different patterns of paper. Scrapbooking paper works very well for this clothespin project, especially for those sheets you have been holding back on using because you haven’t found that perfect project yet. You can even use those leftover scraps of paper that you have been saving because you hate to see all that beautiful paper go to waste. Of course this depends on the size of your scraps and the size of your clothespins. You just need enough to cover both sides of your clothespins.
2. Next, lay your choice of paper down on a flat surface and place the clothespins on it. Carefully trace your clothespins with a pencil and do this several times. You will need two strips of paper per clothespin. So trace away! Once you have enough strips traced, cut them out. Do this carefully so all the sides are nice and even and that you don’t have jagged edges.
3. Pour a little of your mod podge onto a paper plate or something like that for easy dipping access. While holding your clothespin by the metal spring, paint on a light coat of your mod podge on each side of the clothespin. Place your strips on paper on each side of the clothespin carefully. Set aside and let dry. Repeat this process until you have covered all the clothespins you wish for your project.
4. If there are edges of the paper that seem to hang off the clothespins, no worries! Once your clothespins have completely dried, lightly sand the edges of your clothespins to sand away that unwanted paper. Sand the edges more to round the corners to add more of a distressed look to your clothespins. You could also apply a small amount of ink around the sanded edges for more of a vintage worn look. Allow to dry.
5. Once your clothespins have been sanded, add another light layers of mod podge over the paper. Set the clothespins on their sides and let dry. Repeat this process until all clothespins have been covered with a second coat of mod podge.
6. Now its time to get wild! You can leave the clothespins as they are with just the decorated paper. You could add a small ribbon to match the paper for a little extra umpf in your clothespins. You could also try mixing and matching buttons of any size or shape. Then gluing them to your clothespins for some fun flare. You could also use rhinestones, small flowers, foam cutouts or even rusty tin cutouts!
Project Tips:
You should be careful on the pattern you choose for your clothespins. Remember a large pattern may not look as good if you are using it on a small surface like your clothespins.
These lovely little clothespins would make a perfect gift for that person in your life with tons of photos laying around. You can display your photos onto a “clothesline” using a piece of ribbon and clipping the photos onto the line with your clothespins!
You could also add a small magnet strip onto the back of your clothespins and use them for displaying precious art work, shopping list, grade cards, and photos onto the fridge. Simply add the small magnet strip to the back using a dab of hot glue. Be sure that you get those nasty little hot glue tails for a more professional and nicer look.
You can use the same clothesline concept for displaying cards along your mantle during those holiday seasons. Using different themed paper, you could create a clothesline for just about anything. You could choose a color theme for a baby shower and hang baby related items such as little onesies with your clothespins. Once again, change the paper to create a completely different clothesline for Thanksgiving, creating a “Thankful Line”. You could hang pictures, words, or items that you are thankful. This would be a wonderful family project!
Decorative clothespins can be used for weddings as well. As with the baby shower, you can use the same idea for a bridal shower, hanging bridal shower items such as recipes with the clothespins. Decorative clothespins can also be used for a unique placecard holder, adding a special handmade touch. The clothespin placecard holders can be set among the table settings or they can hang from a line. You could also try a new spin on the guestbook idea by creating a wishing line! Set a stack of decorative paper or cards on a table. Have your guest write a special message and sign their name. They can then hang their wish on the line using the clothespins! This would also be a perfect idea for baby and bridal showers.
Eco-Friendly Wedding – Going Green on Your Special Day
More and more couples are becoming aware of the environmental impact of weddings and so are going eco-friendly. However going green doesn’t mean that you have to settle for less on your wedding day. It just means that you are planning a more environmentally conscientious day. There are several ways of going about a green wedding.
The first thing when considering a green wedding is the number of guests. Only invite those who are closest and mean the most to you. The more guests you invite, the more that will travel, consume food and waste materials. Inviting only those who mean the most to you minimizes the guest list and the hole in your wallet. It can also add more to the day when it’s only the most meaningful people there. Taking into account the guest list, you may want to choose a venue that is closest to as many of your guest as possible to reduce the traveling and thus your wedding’s impact on the environment. If your guests have some traveling to do you may want to keep in mind the transportation they may use. You can share your appreciation and suggest to your guests that they use a more environmentally friendly way of arriving to your wedding. You can suggest they travel by train, bus, bike, or at least carpool and include any information in the invitations. Perhaps you can provide a shuttle bus for your guests, both minimizing traveling impact on the environment and providing a safer way of traveling for those who may drink at the reception.
Another good idea is to try sourcing locally. Try to find local brewery’s and food producers to save the traveling cost and wasted fuel resources. This is also a good idea to show your support for small local businesses. Keep in mind that everything on your wedding day has an impact on the environment. Perhaps look for food caterers that offer organic produce. You may even consider what your dress or suit is made out of. You can get what you need and want for your special day without owning it. Rentals offer a great way of getting the most use out of minimal resources. You can rent your suit instead of buying that hemp made suit that you will never wear again. Most wedding reception locations offer rentals on linens, and glasses. You can also look into thrift stores and consignment shops that sell second hand wedding dresses. Pre-owned dresses can give you a vintage classic look and can also save you some of that green in your pocket. Local thrift shops are also a good place to look for vases or items such as ball jars that can be made into vases. When considering decorations such as centerpieces, place card holders, and wedding confetti there are many options for a green wedding. There are several ways of creating the perfect green centerpiece that fits your budget and goes with your wedding theme. You can try arranging edible centerpieces using fresh organic fruit, vegetable, or even bread. You can use that great vintage bowl that has been laying around the house or buy small unique bowls from your local flea market. These will surely be a hit and a great conversation piece for your guests. There are many choices of environmentally friendly place card holders for weddings and even parties. There are many cute organic food options for place card holders. Try using fruits such as apples, pears, or even cherries and place the names on the stems or use toothpicks. You could also think about using natural bird’s nest. These natural bird’s nest are made from naturally dried grass and add a certain classy chic feel to a wedding. You can place small candies such as Jordan almonds and a ribbon with the guests’ name in the natural bird’s nest for an elegant place card holder. Natural bird’s nest can be used for ring bearer’s, just add some filler and an optional dove. Very chic! Another fun and unique idea is to use chalkboards. Chalkboards can replace those paper place cards, table number settings, and even menus. You can stain the chalkboards or leave them as they are. You could also use smaller chalkboards and wood dowel rods to create a stake to place in flower settings. The chalkboards can be re-used over and over again. The chalkboards would also provide entertainment for children at the wedding. For wedding rice you can try specially designed 100% eco-friendly heart shaped rice, or birdseed. The eco-friendly heart shaped rice is safe for birds and completely biodegradable. An alternative to eco-friendly heart shaped rice is throwing all natural dried lavender buds. The natural dried lavender buds are completely biodegradable, safe for birds and the environment. An advantage to throwing natural dried lavender buds as opposed to rice or birdseed is when the buds are crushed as guest are leaving, the delicate fragrance is released again and again.
Finally, you should communicate whatever changes you may be doing in your wedding to be environmentally friendly. You should inform your guest of your concerns and take this opportunity to educate them on the environment. Be sure that you are not too pushy or overwhelming with your beliefs. Being green and sharing your beliefs on your special day will leave an impact on your guest.