Refrigerator Magnet Crafts - Clothespin Magnet Instructions

Looking for funky refrigerator magnet crafts? These wooden clothespin magnets are easy and inexpensive to make, and a super useful gift too!

refrigerator magnet crafts

I'll show you several different ways to decorate your wooden pegs using scrapbooking paper, decorative napkins, ribbons, and buttons. But you can decorate them any way you want to! Feathers, sparkles, glitter...

Materials

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For this refrigerator magnet craft project, all you need is:

  • Adhesive magnet sheet or circular magnets
  • wood clothespins
  • pretty paper or decorative napkins
  • scissors
  • PVA white glue OR decoupage glue
  • Optional: decoupage varnish
  • Optional: other embellishments (buttons, sequins, rhinestones...)

Vintage Clothespin Magnet Design

Cut out a strip of paper or card the same width and length as your clothepin.

refrigerator magnet crafts

NOTE: I find that pegs tend to be the same width but varying lengths, so it is can be easier to cut out strips that are slightly longer than the pegs which you can trim at a later stage. It is quite hard to trim the paper along the length of the peg because the hinge gets in the way, so make sure you get the width measurement right.


Coat the surface of the wooden peg with glue. I like to use white PVA craft glue.

refrigerator magnet crafts

Place your strip of paper onto the clothespin and position appropriately.

refrigerator magnet crafts

Once your glue has dried, use a craft blade to trim any excess paper from each end.

refrigerator magnet crafts

If you like, you can add several more coats of white glue to the surface of your paper to provide a light varnish layer. Allow to dry completely before adding extra coats of glue.


Attach an adhesive magnetic strip (cut to size) to the back of the clothespin.

refrigerator magnet crafts

refrigerator magnet crafts

If you're using circular magnets, make sure you use a strong glue to attach them to the pegs. This is REALLY IMPORTANT as you don't want them to get loose and be ingested by a pet or small child if they fall onto the ground. I recommend a using 5 minute epoxy, which you can get at craft or hardware stores and comes in an easy-dispense double-syringe packet. Here's what the magnets look like glued on the back of the peg:

refrigerator magnet crafts neodymium back photo

And here is the finished set of homemade vintage style refrigerator magnets. I've mounted them on a simple piece of card, distressing the edges with brown ink and using a strip of matching paper. Took just a few moments to make, and looks so pretty!

refrigerator magnet crafts

Refrigerator Magnet Crafts: Decorative Napkin Clothespin Magnet

Cut out a section of napkin slightly wider and longer than your wooden clothespin.

refrigerator magnet crafts

Separate off the backing layers of the napkin, so you are left with the top-most layer. It will be very thin, but this is okay!

refrigerator magnet crafts

Coat your wooden peg with PVA white glue diluted in water (about 50:50), or alternatively use a layer of decoupage glue.

refrigerator magnet crafts

Gently lower the piece of napkin over the peg surface.

refrigerator magnet crafts

Using a paint brush dipped in your glue of choice, gently flatten out the napkin onto the surface of the peg. There will be some wrinkles, but I think this adds to the charm! You can smooth out most of them using the paint brush.

refrigerator magnet crafts

Once the clothespin is dry, use sand paper or a nail file to remove any excess napkin from the peg. I like to file away from the top surface of the peg to give a nice clean edge.

refrigerator magnet crafts

Now you can add more layers of glue, or a few layers of decoupage varnish to your clothespin. This will seal the napkin onto the peg and makes it all shiny and pretty! Remember to allow the glue to completely dry before adding another layer!

refrigerator magnet crafts

Once you're happy with your decorated clothespin, add a refrigerator magnet strip to the back of the peg (as illustrated under the instructions for the vintage clothespin magnet above).


And here is the finished set of napkin-decorated clothespins...

refrigerator magnet crafts

Other Refrigerator Magnet Craft Ideas

Here are a few other clothespin magnets I decorated. The first is using a gorgeous oriental-style paper.

refrigerator magnet crafts

This next set used some cute polka-dot ribbons that were about the same width as the clothespin. I just glued them on, and tucked the ends under the top and bottom ends of the clothespin.

refrigerator magnet crafts

You can also glue on some cute buttons using hot-glue if you like...

refrigerator magnet crafts

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I hope you enjoyed these refrigerator magnet crafts! Looking for other quick and easy homemade gift ideas? Check out more projects on our site.


 

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