Sunday, March 17, 2013

Turn Clothespins Into Wirework Jewelry! (No Tools Needed.)

I have seen various ways to use clothespins for jewelry, but I don't think I've ever seen this particular idea.  I was playing around with clothespin springs, and was delighted by this design.




Aw, aren't they cute?  In addition to such simple, one-bead pendants, there be earrings...


There be fancy statements...


And even more fancy statements!



Best of all, the basic unit requires just a bead, a clothespin...five seconds...NO TOOLS.

Resistance?  Futile.  Here comes the DIY.



Twist a clothespin apart to free the wire spring.



Stretch apart the wire ends, slip on a large-hole bead, and let the wires snap back into place.  That, my friends, is ALL there is to it.  Watch:







String a chain or cord, and that right there is a necklace.



You guys know I love convertible jewelry.  Make a whole bunch of the little bead units, and wear a different one every day.



Don't be scared to string them in groups!



And do not neglect to try a statement or two.


Caveat: there is a special trick to using larger beads, which requires one extra step.  If the bead is longer than the clothes pin is wide, here's what you do.

Pull the spring out to the width of the bead you want to add.




Use pliers to bend the two wire tabs up - just a bit.





When you string on the bead, the wires will be straight across, and will slip in easily.


Now you have the secrets and are good to go.  So what do you think?  Next laundry day, skip the chores.  Deconstruct some clothespins and adorn thyself!

   



60 comments:

  1. love it. what a fabulous idea.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think I might have to do these with the girls! I just love the way they look and who doesn't like absurdly simple!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. OMG..These are beautiful! Too Cool..Pinning this on Pinterest now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 20 Repins and counting!!!

      Delete
    2. I am so happy to find this...Just yesterday I used 3 clothespins to make a coil winder and had to take the wires off..I wondered what I was going to do with them. Fantastic Idea...thank you !

      Delete
  4. Very cool. I think I have some of these hinges laying around too. Thanks Michelle.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello everyone, I did make some earrings with these, used hammered bronze spray paint and made some sheet music paper beads to go with it and used brass chain/earring findings/jump rings. Looks awesome. Thanks again Michelle!

      Delete
  5. That's perfect Michelle! You're just too clever aren't ya?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Michelle...this is genius!!! Seriously...you're awesome and I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Danni from Silo Hill just emailed this, BRILLIANT!! just amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wonderful - how do you come up with all these ideas? :-)

    ReplyDelete
  9. You just simply amaze me you are so gifted to be able to do the beautiful creations you make I love every week waiting to see what your new creations will be and laugh at some of the comments

    ReplyDelete
  10. love your clothespin secret!! the pieces look really stunning

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love it! Now I know what I can do with my leftover springs from the easel project. Kismet.

    ReplyDelete
  12. OMG!!! You are AWESOME! I made several clothespin snowflakes at Christmas and just couldn't throw away the springs! Now I have a way to use them!!! YEAH!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am always in awe by your creativity. I love the repurposing of items. I do crafts for kids and promote re-think, recycle and repurpose. If you have time maybe you'd like to check out my flickr site though it is mostly for kids.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/fun2doodlecrafts/
    I look forward to your next project. Thank you. Enza

    P.S. I am new are this writing thing so forgive me if it's inappropriate to put the flickr site in this note.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I read your blog each week, and dont recognise many of the items (as I am in the UK).....but these.....pure genius, love it and am about to rummaged through my peg bag to see how many I can spare! Brilliant idea.

    Kyla

    ReplyDelete
  15. Talk about creative! You are IT!
    Jayne
    Handmade Cuties

    ReplyDelete
  16. These are just too cute! You've done it again! Gonna have to try this myself!

    ReplyDelete
  17. incredibile..fantastici..non ho parole...

    ReplyDelete
  18. This is one of the most creative ideas I've seen in a long time. Congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  19. just brilliant, and even do-able for someone like me who doesn't dabble in jewelry making, at least not at moment! thanks for sharing on Craft Schooling Sunday!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Love these! I must try, I have a bunch of clothes pins left over from another project! Thanks :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Oh my goodness girlfriend you are amazing. I would have never thought of this in a million years...Thank you for your kindness in sharing this with all of us. You are very generous and I am very grateful.... bye for now and Happy Beading

    ReplyDelete
  22. I can't stand it! Tooooo Cooooollllll!!!! Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  23. this is really great!!!!
    thank you for sharing, xxxx Ale

    ReplyDelete
  24. What a lovely Creative idea..awesome!!

    ReplyDelete
  25. These are way to cool!!! Now I know what to do with all my broken clothespins!!

    ReplyDelete
  26. what a great idea! I might have to try this project! Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  27. Oh my! I saw this this morning and couldn't wait to get out of work to go buy clothespins. I rushed home and made a bunch. I think I'm in LOVE!!! Tahnks for the great idea!

    ReplyDelete
  28. This is seriously one of the best ideas ever! I always wreck my clothespins and even though I always use the wooden parts I never thought of using the springs. You are brilliant!

    ReplyDelete
  29. My all time favorite of you blogs! Now tell us, how did you make the earrings????????

    ReplyDelete
  30. awesome...just made one! gotta go, i just found another clothespin!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Dear Mich...I represent the Mind Blowing Planet to present you the "The Mind Blowing Queen " award and order you to come back to our planet as soon as you blow out everyone mind on the planet earth!... Princess Jojo and Princess Mei Mei will be waiting for you in Mind Blowing Planet...the already dried out of ideas recently....LOve..PC

    ReplyDelete
  32. Great! Could I post your project in my blog, translated in Italian, provided that your blog is indicated as the original source?

    htpp://danielaleinad.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Daniela! I would love for you to post my project. Please use only one or two photos and link to my original post. Mille grazie!

      Delete
  33. Mille grazie to you, Michelle! I'll do it in a few days. Bye for now, Daniela

    ReplyDelete
  34. I was looking for an easy craft to do with my daughter...this is fantastic...can't wait to try it...love people that are crafty...

    ReplyDelete
  35. Bravo pour cette idée géniale!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Thank you...beatifull ideas
    AngieZapien

    ReplyDelete
  37. Michelle,

    Help, The spring portion of my clothespins are very wonky and will not bend. Is there a particular clothespin I should buy? I bought mine at the dollar store, maybe I should spend more than a dollar.

    Otherwise I like the idea and will try again when I get better clothespins to work with.

    Sharon,

    ReplyDelete
  38. Michelle,

    Help, the wire spring portion of the clothespins I bought are wonky and won't bend. I spent a dollar for them, should I buy a better clothespin?

    I do like the jewelry idea and will try again when I get clothespins I can work with.

    P.S. This may be a double post, something happened the first time.

    Sharon,

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Sharon! I am not sure what is going on with your clothespins - have never had that happen. I have used several different kinds - some from the dollar store, some a little more expensive from WalMart - and they all bend okay. Hope you can find some to work with!

      Mich

      Delete
  39. I am going to try this with some of the little craft clothes pins I have and tiny beads. I don't have any regular ones anymore and can't wait to try this.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Hi Michelle,

    I love these! I've never made my own jewelry, but this seems like a great place to start.

    Can you just explain to me how you hooked on the earrings? I can see a piece of wire connecting the clothespin coil and the fishhook earring, but did you have to make it or is it just something I can pick up at the craft store?

    Thanks so much!

    Peace,
    Amanda

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Amanda! I made the wire pieces. Hmmm, I will try to describe the making without pictures. Use a one and a half inch piece of craft wire; make a tiny loop in the center. About 1/2 inch away from the loop on both ends, bend the wire inwards so the ends overlap. It should look like tiny circle on top of a larger triangle. Spread apart the overlapped ends and slip them inside the clothespin coil, then squeeze them back together.

      (Depending on the size of your clothespin, you might need to adjust the length of your wire.)

      After that, open the loop on an earwire, hook on the tiny circle at the top of your new little wire contraption, and close the earwire loop to secure.

      An alternative: go to a bead shop and ask to see their selection of PINCH BAILS. They might have one large enough to use in place of this homemade contraption.

      I hope that helps!


      Mich

      Delete
  41. Worked perfect with my Polymer Clay Beads that I make......Thanks from the great state of Alabama!!!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Hi Michelle! Great work with the clothespins :) ! I am a jewellery enthusiast; could you please tell me how you closed the cord (seen in the 3 necklaces in first picture) at the back once the stringing was done? I have a ton of these cords at home and was to use them for stringing beads..
    Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, D! The first photo shows three necklaces using ball chain. Are those the ones you mean? You can find ball chain connectors in a hardware store, bead store or craft store. They are the same type of connector you see on small lengths of ball chain used for keychains.

      Here is a good place to buy them online:

      http://www.firemountaingems.com/Search/clasps?Keywords=ball%20chain%20connector&ItemsPerPage=20&SortBy=PriceLowToHigh&I=3

      I hope that helps! Thanks for the sweet comment!

      -mich

      Delete
  43. They are so cute!

    Another idea in my to-do list... ;)

    ReplyDelete
  44. Wow. Congratulations on a great idea. I am making Christmas decos with pegs and decided to Google a use for the springs. Thank you Michelle.

    ReplyDelete
  45. How did you hook the fish hook earring findings to the clothespin earrings?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, 'unknown"! Here's the basic method. Use a one and a half inch piece of craft wire; make a tiny loop in the center. About 1/2 inch away from the loop on both ends, bend the wire inwards so the ends overlap. It should look like tiny circle on top of a larger triangle. Spread apart the overlapped ends and slip them inside the clothespin coil, then squeeze them back together.

      (Depending on the size of your clothespin, you might need to adjust the length of your wire.)

      After that, open the loop on an earwire, hook on the tiny circle at the top of your new little wire contraption, and close the earwire loop to secure.

      I hope that helps! I hope you liked the post. -Mich

      Delete
  46. Lady, you are BRILLIANT!!! I love this idea!

    ReplyDelete