Fun Clips

This is a good project to do early on because the clips can be used to hang dry and display future masterpieces.  Also, it can be as simple or detailed as you and your child like.

You will need:

• Clothes pins (a 50 pack is about $1 at Wal-Mart)
• A variety of tempera paint colors
• Paintbrushes
• A cardboard box
• String/ribbon attached to the wall

Good to have:

• Embellishments (buttons, beads, glitter, etc)
• Glue
• Magnets

The Project:

Let your child paint and decorate the outside of the clothes pins as much or as little as they want.  It’s good to remember to let the paint dry completely before adding glue and embellishments to the outside of your clips.  Also, don’t let your child paint or glue inside the actual clipping portion of the clothes pin, or there is a chance the paint will transfer to wet artwork in the future.  After you finish decorating a clip, attach it to the open top of a cardboard box to dry so they don’t stick to the table.  The clips can be stored anywhere you’d like after they dry, but I think they are beautiful on their own and suggest clear jars or boxes or to simply hang them on a ribbon along the wall.  If you secure a string or ribbon to the wall, horizontally or vertically, you have an instant art gallery!   Magnets attached to one side of the clothes pins (I’d use a hot glue gun) make a great refrigerator gallery for art and school work.

Tips:

• Try hanging a few different lengths next to one another; you can attach artwork to one or multiple stings/ribbons for a great effect. 
• When hanging pictures from a vertical string (like below) I found that holding the string and  paper together at the bottom left me enough finger space to put the clip on the top.  Also, if you put a few clips on the bottom of your string, it anchors it down a little and makes the string easier to work with while you are hanging your pictures.
• Watch little fingers around the clips.  I know my son really loves to pull them apart and I would hate to hear that someone’s fingers got caught in the little metal coil!
• People will be amazed when they see your simple art gallery, especially your child, so change out the artwork often!

PHOTO OP:  Make sure to take pictures of the clips up close and of the gallery.  You’ll want to remember it all as your child grows.  Plus, distant friends and family really love these pictures!