Chic thumbtack creations are a real charm

Hands-on time: Half an hour to make one dozen.
Total time: 24 hours of drying time.
Skill: Super easy.
Cost estimate: Pennies per thumbtack.

Materials & Tools

• Flat-headed thumbtacks, or upholstery tacks in assorted sizes
• Assorted small findings: jewelry pieces, plastic, glass or clay beads, rocks, seashells, buttons, coins, small plastic toy pieces like dice, Lego blocks, animal figurines, candies, etc. Note that items with at least one flat side are easier to mount.
• All-purpose clear silicone or epoxy glue.
• A square piece of corrugated cardboard, cork or Styrofoam (to use as a support base for mounting the thumbtacks)
• Toothpicks or cotton swabs
• Wire cutters (optional, to snip off the bottom part of buttons or jewelry pieces)

You can customize and stylize your office or home bulletin board with this easy chic thumbtack project. Start by gathering all sort of small treasures to recycle into your very own designer thumbtacks. The findings can be small items such as jewelry pieces, assorted beads, rocks, seashells, buttons, coins, small plastic toy pieces like dice, or Lego blocks, to name a few ideas. Items with at least one flat side are preferable for easier assembly.

Use a wire-cutter to clip off unwanted backings from jewelry or buttons to prepare a flat workable surface to glue.

Pin about a dozen flat-headed thumbtacks about 3/4 of the way into a piece of corrugated cardboard, cork or Styrofoam for support during assembly. Apply a small amount of silicone adhesive or epoxy glue (prepared according to manufacturer directions) to the top of each thumbtack. Use toothpicks to spread the adhesive if needed.

Place the decorative beads and other small findings directly on the thumbtack heads. Placing the objects facedown and applying the tack with adhesive on top also works well. Allow a few hours for the glue to set. Because thumbtacks go through a lot of pushing and pulling, it is advisable to wait 24 hours for curing before regular use.

To prevent spherical objects from sliding or falling off before the thumbtack has set, place toothpicks in the cardboard, cork or Styrofoam around the just-glued items for support. Once the thumbtacks are set, simply pin them up on your bulletin board and enjoy your new visual inspirations. Your new thumbtack presentation is sure to stir up talk at the office water cooler.

Variations

• You can build your own bulletin board with an old frame and rolled cork available at hardware stores.
• Other items can be used to create theme thumbtacks like fly-fishing flies, cufflinks, alphabet letter spelling your name or company name, bottle caps, or make your own plaques with modeling clay or Fimo, to inscribe motivational or spiritual phrases.
• The same concept can be use to modify binder clips, magnetic clips, and clothes-line pegs. Make a similar presentation for your fridge or blackboard using magnetic strips, tapes or buttons.
• Try incorporating coloured wires in your designs, there the latest craze in home decorative accents.

Caution: Please keep these thumbtacks out of reach of small children.