JUMBO CLOTHESPINS

I was so happy to find these little suckers at Michael's recently.  I snatched up three to use in my sewing/design room. What the heck am I going to use them for, you ask?  Well, let me tell you....and show you.....

There are times when a client shares with me a picture of something they want me to make for them...a "knock-off" if you will.  Now, I don't mind making a "knock-off", but it's more fun for me when I'm allowed to use my creativity to incorporate some unique elements to the existing design to make it a couture design.   In either case,  I'll print out the picture(s) which are sent to me via facebook or email and print them.  I decided it would be nice todisplay them as I'm working on the project versus scattering them about on my cutting table and then burying them with the fabric, trim, etc. as I go along.  Can you hear the frustration?

Being able to display the front and back views, as well as other perspectives makes it easy to refer to the pictures throughout the entire process.   So that's where the clothespins come in.....Now you know me by now...I couldn't leave them just bare wood!

So, since it's been awhile since I broke out my trusty ModPodge I decided to use it and three different color coordinated napkins that I found at the party store.

The first thing I did was remove the hinge so I wouldn't have to work around it.  Then it was simply cutting out the patterns I wanted to highlight from the napkin and laying it down on the wood that I had coated with ModPodge.  Once I had finished covering both pieces, I let them thoroughly dry and then added two coats to finish them off; letting the first coat completely dry before applying the second coat.

I can see using these as a fridge magnet to hold reminder notes, pictures or a grocery list....actually, there are lots of ways you can use these around the office or home.  And....there are plenty of ways to finish them, including hand painting, glittering (I glittered several of the regular size pins and used them to hold a banner at my daughter's wedding), you name it.  Let your creativity guide you.....

I'm getting ready to start on a ballroom dance dress for a friend who competes with her husband and this is going to be so cool to have the pics posted!