office chic

I saved this page from the April 2008 Country Home magazine because of the clipboards and binder clips... aimed right at the office supply junkie in me.  The instructions said "Make binder clips and memo boards cook with 1940s apron fabric" but included too many steps for me (iron fusible interfacing to fabric...huh?).   With all of the pretty scrapbook papers that look like fabric (especially the Amy Butler papers), I thought I'd give it a try.  The paper versions worked really, really well.  I used the biggest binder clips I could find but the technique should work on any size clip.

• Remove the silver arms of the binder clips.  This is easy...just place the arm against the clip and squeeze the sides of the arm and it slips right out.  
• Cut a piece of pretty paper to fit the clip. 
• Coat the paper with decoupage glue and press onto the clip.  I was surprised that the paper held so well to the clip...no issues with the slick surface of the clip.    
• Put the clip arms back in place.   

I like to use the clips as memo holders by setting the clip on its flat end and keeping the arms folded up.  In the photo, I placed an index card in one to remind me to "buy more paper"...as if.

And one more idea...I did something similar at a classroom Valentine's Day party last year.  I had the kids make a red paper heart with their picture on it, secured it in the binder clip, and tied a red gingham ribbon to one of the clip arms...a little piece of artwork for mom or dad's desk at the office.