Samurai Sword Pushpins

 

This program is super simple, very inexpensive, and it takes zero prep work. Unbend a paperclip and then re-bend it into an oblong U shape. Cover the rounded end in black electrical tape for a handle, and wrap grey or metallic silver duct tape around the middle; leaving the two sharp ends pointing out (but maybe not as long as the example below).

 

I’ve hosted this program twice; once with teens and once with tweens. The teens loved it, and made several. Everyone tried to make the most elaborately decorated handle using Sharpies for accents. The tweens got bored after making one or two. They became frustrated when they couldn’t perfectly straighten the paperclips.

If I do it again, I’ll bring a hair dryer to soften up the metal. The second time I did the program, I accidentally purchased paperclips with a very thin plastic coating over them, and I think this made it harder to bend and reshape the wire.

I’d also consider lumping this in with other similar themed crafts, like Candy Sushi, or pipe-cleaner ninjas.

This is a great spur-of-the-moment activity with almost no clean-up. Interestingly, not a single participant tried to use the little swords as a weapon (strange, considering I’ve seen them make a weapon out of pompoms and pipe cleaners).