Back to School Craft: Zipper Pulls

It’s a new school year and new backpacks and jackets have been purchased- but it’s only a matter of time before my kids yank the pulls right off of the zippers! So I’m getting the jump on repairs by making some fun, recycled ones that the kids can personalize.

We’re building the base on an unlikely substrait- Formica samples from the home improvement store! You can pick a few up the next time you’re there, and if you ask nicely, you can probably snag a whole chain of samples that have been retired! I like them because they are light, strong, and heading into a landfill unless YOU rescue them and get crafty!

That being said, you’ll need:

• Countertop color chips (from the home-improvement store)
• Mod Podge (Glossy or Matte, your choice)
• Studio 71 acrylic paint, your choice of color
• Foam paintbrushes
• Old comic books, canceled stamps, or other recycled images and/or stickers, glitter glue (stuff you have lying around!)
• Paper Glaze
• Key Chains
  
• Pliers to open the ring

Begin by removing the sticker on the back of the chip (the wood-y side). Usually with just a little water it will peel off. Paint the back with 2 coats of white paint (or color that coordinates with your image)  and let dry thoroughly between each coat, using a foam brush.

Cut your  image from a comic book, magazine, or cancelled stamps to fit on the chip. Apply a thin coat of Mod Podge on the painted side, then apply your image. Spread another thin coat on top. After it’s dry,  put on one more coat. Then, if you like you can decorate with Sharpie Marker, put some Stickles glitter glue on, or apply a monogram sticker.

Use Mod Podge as a layer UNDER and OVER your images.

Make sure top coat of Mod Podge seals everything down.

Finish off with a nice coat of Aileen’s Paper Glaze, avoiding the hole.

Aileen’s Paper Glaze goes on milky, but will dry crystal-clear, raised, and shiny!

Let it dry 24 hours and then put your key chain through the hole, and fasten the small ring onto your zipper! (Use pliers to twist open the ring and thread it through.)

Voila! Cute, functional, and Earth-friendly! Have fun…

Jenny

Jenny is the editor-in-chief and craft concierge for Craft Test Dummies. She can be contacted at crafttherapy at gmail dot com.

Visit her craft blog at www.CraftTestDummies.com!