Did you know you can dye wood with food color? I tried this method out on clothespins and turned them into coasters that I gave as gifts.
You’ll need:
A bowl
A measuring cup
Food coloring
vinegar
clothespins
*for coasters – adhesive of your choice.
Pull apart your clothespins. This is to prevent your metal from rusting in the vinegar water.
Put boiling water in a bowl. For this recipe I’m using 2 cups boiling water per bowl.
Add 1 tablespoon vinegar per bowl.
Add enough food coloring drops to make the color you want. You can mix colors too. I’m doing red, blue, and purple.
Stir and add your clothes pins in. I put in about 20 clothes pins per bowl.
Let them soak for 24 hours.
Pull the clothes pins out and let air dry. This took about 2 days stacked they way they are in this picture.
When they are dry the color fades a bit and gives them more of a stained wood look.
For teacher appreciation week for all the dance teachers I work with, I used these to make coasters. I used hot glue to adhere them, but you could use a glue of your choice.
Mix and match your clothespins for different coaster designs. I used about 6 clothes pins per coaster.
Once the glue has dried they’re ready to use.
That is so creative!!
Thank you so much Tamar 🙂
These are so great. A fantastic idea. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much Christine, I’m so glad you think so 🙂
These would be fun to make with the grandkids to color and make as coasters. Found you on Simple Homestead blog hop.
Thank you Candy and love that you suggested to make things with the grandkids 🙂
Super cute and so easy! Turned out beautifully. Plus they are just FUN! ?
Thank you so much Naomie, and love that you think they’re fun 🙂 Sending hugs to you my friend!
Wow Chas. Your creativity continues to amaze me. What a great idea for a fun gift that people will enjoy!
Thanks very much Linda – they were really fun to make. I wonder if you could dye Eggs first and then do this afterward – more bang for your buck type of thing 🙂
I really love this idea. and the colours are so pretty too
Thank you so much Natasha, and I’m so pleased you think so 🙂
what a great idea, clothespins can be used for so many different things
Thank you so much Angie 🙂
What a clever idea. I rather like how the colour fades as they dry. They would make a lovely gift for mothers day #handmademonday
Thank you so much Louisa, and I love that idea for a mother’s day gift.
What a fun project! Thanks for sharing with us at The Blogger’s Pit Stop!
Thank you so much Roseann 🙂
Very creative and inspirational Chas.
And I want to thank you so much for linking up to our Celebrate Your Story link party.
Have a great and Blessed Day!
Kari @ Me and My Captain
Thank you Kari and thanks for stopping by.
this is an interesting idea for a coaster and I do have a lot of clothespins I bought for craft supplies. Thanks for linking this post with us at #OMHGWW
Thank you Alice and I hope you give it a try. It was so much fun to do.
Honestly, what will you think of next! You really are full of ideas, I never know what you will share with us next. Brilliant!
Thank you so much Julie, you are so sweet. I have been crafting all day – some new crazy creations coming soon …