How to Make Clothespin Skeleton Fingers

Hold on for a gripping Halloween tutorial! We're gonna make bony skeleton fingers out of clothespins!



They're really a snap! 
You'll find so many fun uses for them. 


For example, you might have noticed them grasping my Halloween burlap ornaments to this garland...




You start by giving this bleached bone effect to ordinary clothespins...


...by using these simple supplies: ink, glue and white acrylic paint. And clothespins.




Get two paintbrushes: one for the glue and one for the paint.
Oh. And some fake fingernails from the dollar store.


I used a black solvent ink pad. Alternatively, you can lightly mist black spray paint over a bunch of clothespins at once.



 Don't worry about coverage... just randomly get a bit of black on there. You'll want both the natural clothespin color and the black to peek through for the perfect bleached bone effect



 Now just run a line of glue on top of the inked clothespins...



 Use a paintbrush to quickly spread the glue. Immediately on top of that wet glue spread a layer of white paint using your second paintbrush. 



 Now's the fun part. We're going to watch paint dry!
Very quickly you'll see the crackling effect...


 Truly, it is amazing to watch. Kids will get a kick out of this...


...as they watch the gripping paint drama unfold! Wow! See? It goes quickly.



They look so awesome!
 I recommend you paint these on wax paper. Paint one side of a whole card of clothespins. Allow to dry for at least 30 minutes before turning over to paint the back.



They're super cool as is, but you want to turn them into bony skeleton fingers. So use the ol' trusty hot glue gun to adhere some dollar store fake fingernails.  
Ooooh...Fancy!


How about some French tips? 
Be sure to put your hot glue on the clothespin and pause just a second - that's all it takes - before adding the fingernail. 
If you apply the hot glue directly to the fingernail, it will melt it.


 Now that looks pretty great, but you gotta add one final detail to really make it work: the middle knuckle
Just use a sharpie to draw it on.  


 See? That looks more finger-like! 
I got real fancy-dancy and added the very top joint using some beads...
but it's not necessary. Sometimes I get carried away.



Bony Clothespin Fingers pair up with spooky-cute Halloween papers to make these memorable Trick 'r Treat party favor bags, too!



 Hey, they're playing our song!



Tune in here to see how we play with them next!











27 comments:

Unknown said...

They are adorable! I used the white glue method on a bookcase I did last year! Great sub when you don't have crackle medium... this is so cute!
xoxo
Kim

Danni@SiloHillFarm said...

Those are so cute! I love the nails!!

Mignon said...

Cutest new idea for Halloween that I've seen for the kids! Thank you!

Bliss said...

I love 'em, they are darn cute. Pinning them too.

~Bliss~

Leslie Harris said...

Christina, these are so cool. What a great idea...I'm going to make these this year! Great photos too.
Leslie (aka Gwen Moss)

Crystal said...

VERY cool and so creative! I love these :-)

Mel@Mellywood's Mansion said...

Those nails are creepy, very creative! I love the way the paint turned out - very cool

Unknown said...

Those are awesome! I love it, also thank you for linking up to I've been booed party,
Happy Halloween,
Stephanie

Katie Drane said...

These are awesome Christina!! What a cool idea. Thanks so much for sharing:)

Katie
www.funhomethings.com

Earning-My-Cape said...

Very cool!!!
Hi! I'm stopping by from I've been Booed!
I'd like to invite you to come check out A Crafter's Dream Christmas Giveaway, and join in our giveaway group. :-)
I'd also like to invite you to link up to my Super Link Party on Wednesdays!
I hope to see you there! :-)
~Susie~

April @ illistyle said...

Super creative! I am not usually one for Halloween decor, but this is rad! Way to go. xoxo

Stone Cottage Adventures said...

Oh, how funny! I can just hear the children saying "eeewww" and "cool" all at the same time! Thank you! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

Amy* said...

Wow! this is so so creative! You are a genius :) Now I know what to do with those press on nails I got from Blogher...TFS!

Amy*

Donna Wilkes said...

I now have to have bony fingers to add to the ever-growing Fall decor display. Thanks for a great idea.

Dee ⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️ said...

Cute! My kids would love them.

Dee

Jen Lossing, Artistic Abode Designs said...

These are so cute and clever. I had no idea paint and elmers glue had that kind of reaction to each other. Very cool!

Decor To Adore said...

Good morning! I am visiting via The 36th Avenue.

What fun inspiration you have provided.

I hope you are enjoying the fall.

Jennifer said...

Thanks for stopping by our Pretty Things Party. Hope to see you back next week!

Craftberry Bush said...

These are so fun ! and love that technique really cool...thanks Christina...talk to you soon...xo

Jaime Lyn said...

Oh my goodness these are so cool and simple and kind of creepy! I LOVE them! You have completely inspired me!!! Thank you SO much for linking up at Happy Hour!
Jaime from Crafty Scrappy Happy

Taryn @ Design, Dining + Diapers said...

I've never seen anything like this before! They are definitely scary looking and perfect for Halloween!

sadf said...

Totally cute, but a little too creepy for my kids (3yrs and 8months)... but I can only imagine how much they would love this when they are older! Would be great for decor at a halloween party!

Lindy@Itsy Bitsy Paper said...

This is amazing! So fun!! Great job. I hope you will link this up to my Wickedly Creative Halloween Ideas Party if you haven't already.
http://www.itsybitsypaperblog.com/2012/09/2012-wickedly-creative-halloween-ideas.html

Linda @ it all started with paint said...

So clever! And I love the ink pad idea ... and thanks for the tip of not letting the glue dry before applying the paint ...

Love it!

:)

Linda

Sarah said...

What a great and creepy idea! These would be perfect to hang a Halloween banner with. If you get a chance I would love for you to come link up at our Halloween Edition Pin Party.

http://sarahdawndesigns.blogspot.com/2012/10/pintastic-monday-halloween-edition.html#.UGnL4K4-WnA

Mique said...

Thanks for linking up your fun idea! I will be featuring you on my Pity Party tomorrow. xo

Britni @ Hubby Made Me said...

These are just ridiculously awesome! I must make some of these! And the dollar store nails, brilliant. I would have never thought of using fake nails in a project! You're a genius. I had these pinned already but had to come back to check them out again. I'm crossing my fingers you'll share these creepy fingers at my Throwback Thursday party! Thanks for sharing and I hope to see you there :) http://www.hubbymademe.com/throwback-thursday-no-14/