DIY Project
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Clothespin dragonflies

A painted clothespin with sparkly pipe cleaner wings that clips onto backpacks, curtains and plant pots.

Clothespin dragonflies
LevelBeginner
AgesAges 3 to 5
Time25 minutes plus drying
Cost$2 to $5
SummerSpringDollar storeGifts

What you'll need

Materials

Tick them off as you find them.

Tools

How to make it

Safety

Tuck pipe cleaner ends in so the sharp wire doesn't poke.

  1. Step 1: Paint the clothespin
    1

    Paint the clothespin

    Have your child paint the clothespin all over. Stand it open on its end to dry.

  2. Step 2: Make 2 loops
    2

    Make 2 loops

    Bend each pipe cleaner into a figure 8. Those are the wings.

  3. Step 3: Clip on the wings
    3

    Clip on the wings

    Open the clothespin and push the middle of both figure 8s inside, then let go.

  4. Step 4: Draw the eyes
    4

    Draw the eyes

    Draw 2 big dot eyes at the top end.

  5. Step 5: Clip it anywhere
    5

    Clip it anywhere

    Squeeze to open and clip it onto a curtain or a plant.

Edie's tip

Opening clothespins is a great pinch strength workout. Let them do the clipping.

Written by the DIY Project team. How we check · Report a mistake

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