If you enjoy adding special handmade touches to your journal pages, these embellished paper clips are such a fun project to try. They are easy to make, full of texture, and a great way to use bits and pieces from your stash. With lace, ribbon, fabric, buttons, and other layered details, you can create paper clips for junk journals that are both practical and pretty.
This project was originally shared during a livestream and has been slightly edited for this video. I pulled together a mix of materials and simply started layering, experimenting, and seeing where each piece wanted to go. That is part of what makes this kind of ephemera so enjoyable. You do not need an exact formula to create something unique.
Watch the Video
Why Embellished Paper Clips Are So Fun
One of the things I love about embellished paper clips is that they still serve a useful purpose while adding charm to a page. They can clip onto journal pages, mark a spot, hold an extra note, or simply act as decorative ephemera in your project. They are easy to customize, and no two need to look alike.
Some of mine leaned a little more vintage with lace and softer tones, while others had more playful color and personality. That variety is part of the fun. You can make them neat and tidy, messy and frayed, or anywhere in between.
Materials You Can Use
You do not need a special supply list for this project. In fact, it is a great way to use what you already have on hand. Some ideas include:
- Paper clips
- Lace
- Ribbon
- Fabric scraps
- Buttons
- Waxed linen thread or other thread
- Small bits of broken jewelry or findings
- Glue
- Scissors
You can keep things very simple with just a ribbon and button, or build more layered paper clip ephemera with extra texture and detail.
A Great Way to Use Small Bits From Your Stash
This is the kind of project that works beautifully when you want to create without overthinking. Small pieces of lace, snippets of ribbon, little bits of fabric, and even odd buttons can all become part of something useful. If you like making junk journals, folios, tags, or other layered projects, this is a wonderful stash-busting idea.
I also love that these little embellishments can work with different styles. Some can feel soft and vintage. Others can be brighter, more playful, or even seasonal depending on the colors and trims you choose.
Ideas for Using Embellished Paper Clips
- Tuck them into junk journals as decorative page markers
- Use them to hold journaling cards or notes
- Add them to happy mail
- Clip them onto folio pages for extra texture
- Use them as small handmade gifts for crafty friends
Watch and Create Along
In the video, I share several different versions and talk through the layering process as I go. It is a relaxed, real-time creative session, so you can see how these little paper clips come together with different combinations of materials and ideas.
If you have been looking for easy paper clips for junk journals, I hope this gives you some inspiration to pull out your stash and play. Sometimes the best ephemera pieces come from simply trying a few layers and seeing what happens.
Click here to watch the video on YouTube.
Keep the Adventure Going!
If you enjoyed this project or information, I’d love for you to continue exploring more creative adventures here at My Artful Adventures — including paper crafting tutorials, junk journals, folios, mixed media projects, printable collections, and livestream inspiration.
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Cheers to YOUR Artful Adventures!
Kristie