A clothespin snowflake is one of those Christmas crafts that looks like it took far longer than it did. Sarah from She's Crafty and She Knows It makes hers from 8 regular wooden clothespins and 8 mini ones, a hot glue gun and a paper plate. Two eight point stars, one stacked on the other, give it the layered look. You can leave it plain wood or paint it and cover it in glitter like her girls asked her to.
How to make a clothespin snowflake: the short version
- Pull the spring off every clothespin.
- Glue each pair of halves back together, flat side to flat side.
- Glue four pieces into a cross, then four more between the arms.
- Make a mini snowflake the same way from mini clothespins.
- Glue the mini one on top, turned so its arms sit between the big ones.
- Paint, seal and glitter if you like.
What you need
For one double snowflake you need 8 standard wooden clothespins and 8 mini clothespins. Dollar store packs are fine. Plain unfinished wood takes paint and glue best, so skip any that are coated or coloured. A low temperature glue gun is easier on your fingers than a high temp one, and it still holds wood well.
Keep the glue neat on the mini star
The big star sits underneath, so its center can be a bit messy. The mini star is the one everyone sees. Use small dabs of glue there, wipe away strings while they are warm, and keep the arms straight as you press them. If you plan to leave the wood natural, this matters even more, because paint hides a lot.
Finishing ideas
- Natural wood. Sarah was tempted to stop here. It has a rustic, farmhouse look.
- White and distressed. Spray it white, then rub the edges with fine sandpaper so a little wood shows through.
- Glitter. White paint, a coat of Mod Podge, then fine glitter in the middle and chunky glitter on the arms.
- Stained. A wood stain gives a warm brown snowflake, like the dark ones you see in shop windows.
Hanging and display
Hot glue a loop of twine, ribbon or thin wire to the back of one arm and it becomes a tree ornament. Without a hanger, a snowflake can stand on a shelf, tie onto a wrapped gift, or join a few others on a wreath. A set of five or six in different finishes makes a nice window garland.
Making them with kids
Taking the springs off and decorating are good jobs for grandchildren. Keep the glue gun with an adult, or give older kids a low temp gun and a paper plate to work on. The glitter step is where kids have the most fun, so lay down newspaper first.
Common problems
- Crooked arms. Hot glue sets in seconds. Hold each piece straight until it grabs.
- Snowflake stuck to the table. Work on a paper plate, and lift it off while the back still has glue blobs.
- Glitter falling off. Shake glitter on while the Mod Podge is wet, then seal with one more light coat once dry.
More snowflakes and ornaments
Try a paper snowflake, a beaded snowflake ornament or a macrame snowflake. For more tree ideas, see homemade Christmas ornaments, and brush up on how to use Mod Podge.
