Any of these altered clothespins will make a pretty accent for a Valentine’s Day gift – or give all three as a set for a unique Valentine present! Here’s how to make them.

You will need:
* 3 wood spring-type clothespins, painted and distressed
* Red cardstock
* Black cardstock
* Sturdy cardboard (a cereal box will do)
* Small paper doily
* Sheer ribbon, around 24 inches
* 3 pearl beads
* Dimensional glaze
* Gold gel pen
* Gold marker
* Black marker
* White glue
* Pencil
* Scissors

For distressing clothespins (optional):
* Acrylic paint
* Water
* Paint brush
* Sandpaper
* Rag

To make the hearts:

Glazed Heart. On a piece of red cardstock, draw a heart and cut it out. Cut the heart further into pieces, then assemble it onto a piece of black cardstock. Glue the pieces onto the black cardstock, leaving a narrow space between the pieces. Cut out the heart, leaving a narrow border around it. Glue the heart onto sturdy cardboard and trim off the excess cardboard. Ink the edge of the heart with a black marker. Lay the heart face up on a flat surface, and then cover the heart with dimensional glaze, enough to make it “dome”. Set aside to dry and set (this may take a few hours).

Lace Heart. Cut a heart shape from a small paper doily and carefully glue it onto a piece of red cardstock. Cut around the heart, leaving a narrow border. Glue the heart onto sturdy cardboard and trim off the excess. Ink the edges of the heart with a gold marker. Glue the cardboard-backed heart onto another piece of read cardstock and cut around it, leaving a narrow border. Set aside.

Heart with Swirls. Draw a heart on a piece of red cardstock and cut it out. Glue the heart onto a piece of sturdy cardboard; trim off the excess. With a gold gel pen, draw swirls on the cardstock, then use a gold marker to ink the edges of the heart. Set aside. Variation: Use a rubber stamp and gold ink to stamp a design onto the cardstock.

To distress the clothespins (optional):
Paint each clothespin with acrylic paint and allow to dry. Lightly sand the clothespins to give them a worn look, and then wipe off the dust with a damp rag.

To assemble the clothespins:
For each clothespin, cut an 8-inch length of sheer ribbon and insert it into the "jaws" of the clothespin, all the way back to where the spring is. Slip the ribbon under the wire at the side of the clothespin. Tie a small, tight bow around the front piece of the clothespin. Lay the clothespin on a heat-resistant surface, and then heat the ribbon with a heat gun until it starts to curl. Allow to cool, and then trim the ends of the bow. Glue one of the finished hearts onto the clothespin, right below the bow, and then glue a pearl bead in the space between the bow and the heart.

Variation: You can add some text to the clothespins, if you wish. Cut out words and phrase from a discarded book or magazine and glue it on. You can also type, print, or stamp on paper phrases like "Be Mine", "Be True", "Love" or "Valentine", and then glue the paper to the clothespins.