Clothespin Mirror

WHAT YOU CAN CREATE: A Clothespin Mirror

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

•  Old or rummaged beveled mirror of any size
• A piece of plywood (needs to be bigger than your mirror, about 6 inches bigger than your mirror on every side)
• A bunch of wooden clothespins
• Wood glue
• Household Goop glue
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Bowl (for clothespins)

WHAT TO DO:

1.         Start taking apart the clothespins by taking out the metal center. Put clothespins in a bowl and set aside.

2.         Grab your mirror and put it in the center of the plywood.

(Hint: Make sure to measure it so you don’t end up with a crooked mirror)

3.         After you mark where it should go, glue the mirror down with the Household Goop

(Hint: Make sure you apply plenty of glue to the edges and center)

4.         Now it's time to start applying clothespins! Grab the bowl of clothespins!

• Start at the top left of the mirror moving toward the top right
• Overlap three clothespins end to end, gluing them down with the wood glue as you lay them
• Lay the first clothespin flat on the plywood closest to the mirror and continue gluing the others, overlapping each clothespin by one inch (three clothespins make one row, you still have a long way to go)
• Lay the clothespins closest to the mirror and work toward the edges
• Now glue clothespins across the bottom using the same steps
• Finish it up by gluing clothespins down both sides using the same steps 

5.         Let dry

SUGGESTED MEASUREMENTS:

12”x12” Mirror

2’ x 2’ x 1/2” piece of plywood

HINTS:

It is okay if the clothespins come off the edges of the plywood, but if you decide to do a big mirror that you want to set on the ground make sure the clothespins are flush with the plywood for the side you are going to rest on the floor.

COOL IDEAS:

Paint the clothespins and add some color to your mirror

Stain the clothespins to give it a final touch

Alternate each row of clothespins when laying them down, it will give the mirror a different texture

Add some funky beads where the clothespins meet the mirror, this will frame the mirror nicely

To find mirrors look at:

Big Lots

3110 East Oakland Avenue

Johnson City, TN 37601

(423) 282-2144

Bargains on Broadway

128 South Broadway Street 

Johnson City, TN 37601

(423) 928-7095

To find beads look at:

(Collect some old necklaces and use the beads to frame the mirror)

Goodwill

2405 South Roan Street

Johnson City, TN 37601

(423) 928-4332

Beadworks

257 East Main Street
Johnson City, TN 37604-5707
(423) 979-0323