Clothespin Clips–a Great Affirmation of Girls by Girls

By Grandma Sandy | June 11, 2025 |

Miss T joined a volleyball team this year and at her first tournament, I noticed her teammates crafting something before their game.

Intrigued, and anticipating Grandma Crafts inspiration, I nosed in to see what they were about.

Girls writing messages and decorating clothespins to make clips that they will distribute during the volleyball tournament. — **Volleyball team members writing messages to make clothespin clips.**

Clothespin Clips

The girls were making clips–decorating wooden clothespins with affirming messages–that they would clip anonymously and at random onto the gym bags, hair, or clothes of other volleyball players. Evidently, clipping is a (U.S. and Canada) girls’ volleyball phenomenon.

Here are some of the messages I saw:

You go girl
Flower power
Go ace
Keep up the energy
Nice game
Slay the day

Close-up of some clips on a girl's gym bag. Some of the clips have charms, gemstones, sayings, or drawings. — **Miss T’s clips–love the charms and jewels.**

Random Acts of Encouragement

What a wonderful idea–spreading random acts of encouragement AND creative crafting! In a world that seems increasingly fraught with online bullying and negative vibes, it’s refreshing and heartwarming to find girls supporting each other with kind words and upbeat energy, channeling positivity.

Clothespin Doll Review - Call Me Grandma

The Game Atmosphere

The atmosphere at the games mirrored the sentiments of the clips. When a server didn’t clear the net or a player missed a volley, the team was quick with a consoling chant. When a girl scored a point or made a save, the cheers erupted with equal fervor.

Backpack with clips sits on the bleacher at the volleyball court. — **Backpack with clips** **on the bleachers at the volleyball court**.

Of course the players were in it to win it. But the team culture seems to be more about working together as a team and supporting each other.

No doubt this kind of environment is character building. Girls grow up willing to take risks because they learn that it’s okay to fail. They’ll support others who are down. They’ll strive to work harmoniously toward common goals.

A selection of clips on a backpack in a variety of colors and styles. — **A selection of clips on a backpack.**

How to Make Clips

These are quick and easy to do and can be made on the fly, as Miss T’s friends demonstrated before the game.

Materials Needed

Wooden Spring-type clothespins, natural or painted
Sharpies or other indelible markers
Acrylic paint
White school glue (Elmer’s)
Hot glue gun
Decorative elements like glitter, charms, flat gemstones, buttons, pompoms

Design as you wish! Use white glue to adhere lighter decorations like glitter and pompoms; you may need hot glue for heavier decorations like charms and gemstones.

A single clip designed around the girl's team name. — **A player creates a clip designed around her team name.**

What you can do with Clothespin Clips

Other than for their express purpose in girls’ volleyball, I could think of a few other reasons to make clips, such as:

Clip them to lunchboxes or brown bags to send kids off with a message of love
Use as a gift tag for a present
Make a fridge magnet by gluing a magnet on the back; use to display photos or artwork
Use it as a chips clip for snack bags
Turn one into a cord tamer for appliance cords
Use as a bookmark to keep cookbooks open while cooking

Little kids can make clothespin clips as DIY gifts for parents for any special occasion. Include usage ideas (chips clip, cord tamer, bookmark) so the recipient will know what to do with it!

Sign up to Get Grandma’s Favorite Recipes–Free!

A cover copy of Grandma's Favorite Recipe.

Sign up here for my email newsletter. Every Wednesday, I’ll give you a new idea for an activity or insight to nurture the little ones in your life. And once you subscribe, I’ll send you a link so you can download your set of quick and easy recipes as my thanks to you.