Altered Office Supplies -- Jumbo Paper & Binder Clips

Several manufacturers have come out with altered paper clips -- but if you make your own ... you can make the design & colors match your projects.

  I used some of my favorite papers by Stampin'Up! The papers came in a coordinating set, so matching colors or patterns was not necessary. It's easier when that work is done for you.

I started by making the JUMBO PAPER CLIPS. The clips I used are about 4" long. Found them in an office supply store. When they say JUMBO, they really mean JUMBO.

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Making the JUMBO PAPER CLIP:

1) Using round (nesting) punches in sizes 1 3/8 and 1 1/4", cut the smaller circle out of printed paper and the larger circle out of solid cardstock.

2) Attach the punched round pieces to the clip by using foam dots or pop-up glue dots.

3) Attach front and back pieces at the top of the clip, making a "sandwich" with the clip on the inside of two circles.

4) Tie ribbons on one side of the paper clip (as shown).

5) Punch brad through flower. We layered a smaller flower on top of a larger flower. Mixing and matching styles. Using glue dot, attach to front circle.

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USE these clips for: bookmarks, embellishments on scrapbook pages or home decor.

These altered jumbo clips are simple, quick to make, and inexpensive. Best of all, you can use up small pieces of scrap ribbon, paper and other items you have in your stash.

These make great gifts for teachers, co-workers and fellow paper crafters!

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*Supplies needed for making the jumbo BINDER CLIPS...

Making the JUMBO BINDER CLIP:

There are many ways to use these binder clips and even more ways to embellish them. I have shown just one way to decorate these office supplies.

1) cut printed paper the same width as the binder clip (these are 2"). Measure the length from front around bottom to the back. I used pieces that were slightly longer than I needed, and folded over the extra. Use glue dots to attach paper. This seems the easiest adhesive to use and the strongest. We do like to use glue sticks, but we couldn't get them in the corners or curves.

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Use glue dots at the two top corners of clip (front & back) and the bottom. (See photos of binder clip showing how paper is wrapped around clip.)

Be sure to add adhesive to the bottom of the clip. This gives the clip a firm base and it will stand very stable.

This was one of those "learning" moments. The first ones we made we only glued the front and back and not the bottom, and they were unstable.

To give weight to the bottom of these clips, you may want to glue something small, such as flat glass marble on the inside bottom of the clip.

  We are making these clips to use as photo holders or mini note holders. These clips can also be used for name holders at place settings for a special event. You could spray paint the clip any color and then decorate too! These have a black rubbery material at the end of the clips which helps hold photos or notes. However, you can purchase other clips without this -- especially if you want to spray paint them a uniform color.

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2) After wrapping base of clip, cut a slim strip of paper to wrap around the base of the clip. In our sample, we used printed paper that was not very thick, so we cut it twice as wide as we needed and folded to give it more stability.

  3) Using glue dots, attach the pink stripe paper. Start in the middle of the back side and wrap all around clip.

4) Cut piece of ribbon long enough to wrap around clip and tie in front. Attach with glue dot in the back and wrap around to front and tie in knot.

After decorating with the paper and ribbon, attach any other embellishments you would like. Attach several ribbons around the clip, or beads or buttons!

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Since these clips are so small, chipboard shapes and alphabet monograms would work wonderfully.

The possibilities are endless -- die cuts, chipboard, stickers, beads, buttons, felt. Even add 3-Dimensional items!

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Close-up of completed binder clip. See the pink stripe paper and orange grosgrain ribbon around the clip. This "hides" the hinge area.

The lime is an embellishment we made from some left-over kids fun foam! We'll be putting the tutorial for the lime on our site soon!

The completed binder clips and paper clips -- using coordinating papers, ribbons and embellishments. We made a dozen of each of these items in less than an hour. To do this, we cut all the pieces before starting assembly (after careful measuring).

If you want additional embellishments, add them at any time! Glitter can be added to the lime piece to add some BLING!

Comments

[JoAnna]

Cute idea with some bright and cheerful papers.

[Jennifer]

These are so awesomely cute. As a teacher it is difficult to find an easy project for the kids to make for their parents. I am going to give it a try for the Mother's Day gift.Thanks for the idea.

[Renee Zieglmeier]

Such a wonderful idea for pic holders! very cute.

[Cheryl Robinson]

The binder clips are so so cool! I haven't seen that idea before and will have to try a few of those.

[Teresa]

These are absolutely adorable!!!

[Lizette]

I'm glad you put the comment thing back on your page because I wanted to comment on these. I think they look great !

[Lesly]

These are soooo cute! TFS.
Lesly

[Paper Machines]

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