These monster clips are very easy to make and have many uses around the house. Before your child helps you make them, you can choose a 'nice' book about monsters to read. Two of my favorites are, "Leonardo the Terrible Monster", by Mo Willems and "My Friend the Monster", by Eleanor Taylor. Both stories are entertaining and portray what it means to be a wonderful friend. Here are some ideas of ways to use the clips after they are made.
- Hang up your child's other artwork while it is drying.
- Attach a magnet to the back and place on the fridge to use for photos, reminder notes, and grocery lists.
- Close bags of food like chips, and cereal.
- Use as a bookmark.
- Use the clips to hold up a messy bun, in lieu of other hair accessories.
- Use as decoration for the holiday.
- Simply let your child play with each clip like each one is a different monster character.
Total Time: Up to 24 hours to paint and dry, then 5 minutes to finish.
Yield: 1+
Source: Pinterest
Supplies:
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Steps:
- Paint the outside of each clothespin with any colors that you choose. Allow to dry. Tempera paint takes longer to dry because you have to add so many layers to cover the wooden surface. I allowed mine overnight to dry completely. Use fast-drying enamel or acrylic paint if you need a faster drying time.
- Use hot glue to add the wiggly eyes. Your child can use any size or color and as many eyes as they think the monster needs!
- With a black or dark permanent marker, draw on any other features, including the mouth, nose, ears, and hair.
- Cut magnet or Velcro strips to fit the back of the clothespins. I used two 1-inch pieces, one for both ends. Even though the backs of the magnet and Velcro are sticky, you still need to use hot glue to make them durable. Just place a couple drops of glue on the back and attach the magnet or Velcro strips. If you use Velcro, it is better to place the soft side on the clothes pin.
- If you used a magnet on the back, hang your clip on the fridge for those important reminders.
- If you used Velcro on the back, find a place you want to hang your clip. Cut two pieces of Velcro from the hard side. Connect the hard Velcro piece to the soft, before you hang it up. Then you can push your clip on the surface for about 20 seconds, gently rocking it back and forth. This will ensure the hard Velcro pieces will stick to the surface. Now you can to use the clips to hang up any lightweight items, like notes or photos.
