Washi Tape Craft: Covered Clothespins

Washi Tape is one of my favorite new craft tools. Don’t worry, you’ll still have to pry my glue guns away from me but washi tape crafts are so easy that you can’t ignore them. When Mr. Byrd kept asking for me to get some clothespins to hold the chip bags closed than I knew I had to spicy them up and make Washi Tape Covered clothespins.  It’s E-A-S-Y and hot glue gun burn free. You already know the basic supplies you’ll need – washi tape and clothespins.  But what’s the last supply that will add a little zing? Mod Podge Dimensional Magic.  If you’ve never used Mod Podge Dimensional Magic than you might be wondering what it is. Basically it’s just a sealant that goes on as a thick liquid but dries crystal clear and with a little dimension to make it stand out. Basically your clothespins are going to look more like they came from a high end department store than the dollar store.  To begin you’re going to carefully take apart your clothespin. I say carefully because it won’t go back together correctly if you stretch it out.  Why take it apart? because the clothespin has to be flat for the dimensional magic to dry correctly and it just makes it easier.  Next you are simply going to stick the washi tape directly to the top of the clothespin. No glue or anything. When you turn it over you will see the excess washi tape hanging over the edges.

Using scissors or an exacto knife remove the extra washi tape including the area on top of the clothespin where the metal attachment piece goes.  

Now’s the fun part. Cover the top of the clothespin (but not the indention for the metal attachment piece) with Mod Podge Dimensional Magic. It’s really hard to mess up. Just make sure that all the washi tape has a coat of Dimensional Magic on it and set them to the side to dry for at least three hours.

During this time you can pretend to do laundry or maybe move the dishes around in the clean dishwasher and start it again. Just a few ideas of how to use your time wisely. These are still drying which is why some areas are lighter colors than others. The fun thing is that you don’t have to put the matching tapes back together. You could together a clothespin with a fun bike print on one side and a teal geometric print on the other. It’s hard to mess them up but fun to mix up the patterns.   When they are dry than it’s time to put them back together. If your metal coil piece no longer fits because it stretched out just take one from one of your extra clothespins and it should work.  These were a lot of fun to make and will look cute holding your chip bags closed in your pantry or as teacher gifts to hold papers together.   Almost all these were made using Scotch 3M Expressions decorative tape. Thanks to them for sending me this fun tape to play around with. Their patterned Masking Tape has actually become my favorite thing to use around the house.