Sheep Magnet

Every year for the Family Christmas Workshop, I like to make something out of a magnetic clip. The clips are getting harder and harder to find at a price we can afford, but thankfully Dollar Tree came through for us again this year and we'll be making this silly sheep.

For supplies, you will need:
1 - Magnetic clip
1 - 18mm triangle nose
2 - 7mm google eyes
1 - 2" x 2-1/2" piece of white sherpa
1 - 2-1/4" x 3/4" piece of black felt for ears
1 - 1-1/2" x 3/4" piece of black felt for legs
1 - 1/2" x 1/2" piece of black felt for tail
1 - 5" length of 1/8" red satin ribbon
black spray paint
For tools, you'll need a sharp pair of scissors and a hot glue gun.

This is the magnetic clip from Dollar Tree. It comes in a package of 6 mixed colors, and is about 2" wide.

Begin by spray painting the clips black. It's not necessary to do the back. The only part that will show when finished is the clip.

Using a sharp pair of scissors, cut the piece of sherpa/lambswool up the middle a little more than halfway.

Open the clip and insert it into the slit cut into the sherpa, positioning at the end of the slit. Then close the clip, holding the sherpa in place.

The edge of the sherpa should line up right a the end of the clip. Adjust as necessary.

Wrap the two halves around the base of the clip and join in the center. Glue in place. When this step is completed, the back of the clip should be completely covered by sherpa

Apply glue to the edges of the clip and secure the sherpa in place.

Use a sharp pair of scissors and trim any excess sherpa to the edge of the clip.

Your clip should be looking like this.

Cut a triangular wedge out of the center of the large piece of black felt.

Cut two more wedges on either side of the previous cut, forming the legs of the sheep.

Glue the top edge of the legs to the back of the clip at the bottom, leaving the legs hanging past the sherpa. NOTE: The bottom of the clip is the open side, or the side you "pinch."

Your sheep should be looking like this.

Next, use scissors to round out the corners of the medium piece of black felt.

Apply a small amount of glue to the center and fold the felt in half longways.

Pinch open the clip and insert the ears into the opening, raw edge in. Add a touch of glue and release.

Now your sheep should be looking like this.

Round out the small piece of black felt, forming a nubby tail.

Glue the tail onto the back of the clip in the upper corner.

Apply some glue and add the eyes. If little ones are doing the craft, the step is best done with craft glue, rather than hot glue, as it allows for adjustment of the eyes.

If you haven't already done so, clip the stem from the back of the nose. Glue the nose in place.

Tie the ribbon in a tiny bow and glue it to the front of the sheep.

And you're done! If you've trimmed the sherpa enough around the back edge, this little guy should still work as a magnet.

If you put one of these together, I'd love to hear how it worked for you.


And be sure to check out the endless list of inspirational ideas at my home page childmade.com.



I'll be linking to some of the fabulous link parties listed on the right sidebar ... but really, that's a LOT of parties! I probably won't get to them all, but you should stop in and visit a few yourself.
While you're at it, stop by my home page and add a few links there too!