There is nothing that my little ones like to do more than “check the mail.”
They watch for the mailman- and usually fight over who gets to go out and grab the mail, and bring it into the house. I am not sure why this is such a fun event for them- considering most of what we get on a daily basis is boring- bills, bank statements and junky business flyers.
A lot of times the mail gets gathered by the children, and then haphazardly tossed somewhere in the house.
That is where these DIY mail sorter clothespins are going to help out!
Hopefully the kids will be inspired to clip the collected mail into the DIY mail sorter clothespins!
Supplies needed to make your own DIY mail sorter clothespins:
- 12″ Jumbo Clothespin.
- 9″ Jumbo Clothespin.
- 6″ Jumbo Clothespin.
- Dena Designs 12×12 Little Azalea Paper. (three different designs of your choice)
- Mod Podge.
- Foam Brush.
- Craft Knife.
- Sand It Set.
- Letter Stickers. (I used black)
Select your patterned paper. Measure and trim to fit the front and back of the wooden clothespins. Work one side of your clothespin at a time.
Apply Mod Podge to the wooden clothespin, and adhere patterned paper.
You can use one piece of patterned paper to cover the entire clothespin- going over the metal clip.
Smooth the paper out, and allow it to dry.
When the Mod Podge is dry, run your finger over the gutter where the metal clip is- it will bend the paper inward slightly.
Then, following the paper line, use a craft knife to cut away the extra paper.
You can use a nail file to smooth out the paper along the wooden gutter.
Using a sand it gadget, sand along all the edges of the clothespin to remove any excess paper. Repeat for the opposite side of your clothespin. Repeat for all of your DIY mail sorter clothespins.
Adhere letter stickers to your clothespins. You can choose to create different categories that will work for you. We have “letters,” “coupons,” and the largest clothespin- sadly, is “bills.”
Apply a coat of Mod Podge over the entire DIY mail sorter project.
Allow your mail sorter clothespins to dry completely- and then let the kids fill them up!
Here’s hoping your “bills” clothespin stays empty!
More Project Ideas
Shaunte is a 30-something, chocolate-loving, SAHM from Utah. She has been scrapbooking since 1997, the dreaded era of photos cropped with deco scissors. Since then, her work has evolved into a clean, linear, photo-focused style. Her favorite subjects to scrap are her husband and five kids (never a lack for subject material there).
First – where do you find those humungous clothes pins in several sizes?
Second – Awesome idea and great tutorial. I could really use that as have bad habit of losing my bills to pay. Psychological maybe?
Third – So many fantastic ways this can be utilized
Great post Happy weekend
Brilliant idea. If you know a kindy Teacher or pre school. That might be a project for the children. There to give as little gifts
So cute…I’d screw them to a distressed wood plank and hang them in the home office or in the hallway to hold photos.