Rainy afternoon in Yorkshire, three kids orbiting my head like tiny, snack-fuelled satellites, and me staring into the recycling bin like it might offer parenting advice. Then I spotted a bag of wooden clothespins and thought: what if these could talk? Not in a spooky way. In a "please laugh so I can drink my tea while it is still warm" way.

Enter the Clothespin Chomp Craft: painted little animals whose mouths open when you pinch them. The best bit is the hidden surprise inside. A silly picture, a goofy tongue, or a punchline that only appears when the animal starts "talking".

A parent and child at a kitchen table painting a wooden clothespin to look like a crocodile, with the clothespin held open to show a red paper mouth inside

Why this craft is such a winner

  • Fast payoff: about 15 to 30 minutes for one (faster with felt-tip pens or paint pens), plus any drying time if you use paint.
  • Cheap supplies: clothespins, scrap paper, and whatever art bits you already have.
  • Built-in comedy: the mouth opening is already funny. Add a punchline and it becomes a tiny comedy show.
  • Great for groups: each kid makes an animal, then you run a "talking zoo" joke parade.

What you need

  • Wooden spring clothespins (the classic peg style)
  • Paint pens, acrylic paint, or felt-tip pens
  • Glue (PVA or a glue stick for paper)
  • Scrap paper or thin card (cereal-box card works)
  • Scissors
  • Googly eyes (optional but strongly encouraged by my household)
  • Black marker for outlines and punchlines

Helpful extras: a small paintbrush and a cup of water if you are painting, plus an old T-shirt or apron because paint always finds the one clean jumper.

How a clothespin becomes a talking animal

A clothespin is basically a ready-made puppet jaw. The front ends are the "mouth". When you pinch the back, the mouth opens. Our job is to:

  1. Turn the outside into an animal face.
  2. Add a mouth interior on the inside surfaces.
  3. Hide a joke, tiny picture, or punchline inside so it is revealed when it chomps.

Step-by-step: Clothespin Chomp craft

1) Pick your animal

For first attempts, choose animals with obvious mouths: crocodiles, sharks, dogs, lions, hippos, frogs, monsters. If your child says, "I am making a whispering giraffe," smile and say, "Absolutely," because that is how you survive parenting.

2) Paint the outside

Paint or colour the clothespin while it is closed. Do a base colour first, then add details:

  • Crocodile: green body, lighter green belly, dots for scales.
  • Shark: grey top, white bottom, little side fin.
  • Dog: brown or spotty, floppy paper ears.
  • Monster: any colour, extra spots, maybe three eyes because why not.

Drying tip: try not to paint the hinge, spring, or the inner contact edges where the wood rubs together. If you do, paint can get tacky and make the peg feel "stuck".

If paint is taking ages, wave it gently in the air like you are fanning yourself after hearing a truly terrible dad joke.

3) Add eyes and extras

Glue on googly eyes or draw eyes with marker. If you add paper ears, horns, or a fin, keep them small so the clothespin still opens easily.

4) Make the mouth interior

Open the clothespin and look at the two flat inner wooden faces. Cut two small pieces of red or pink paper to fit those inner surfaces and glue them on. Let the glue grab for a minute before you start chomping, otherwise everything slides around like a greased-up worm.

Add details like:

  • A big tongue (a U-shape piece of paper)
  • Teeth (tiny white triangles along the edge)
  • Spots, braces, or a gold tooth if your creature is fancy

5) Hide the punchline or silly picture

Here is the magic trick. When the mouth opens, you want the joke to be revealed.

Two easy ways:

  • Inside-top message: write the punchline on the upper inner piece (so it appears like the animal is "saying" it).
  • Tongue reveal: fold a small strip of paper in half, then glue the top of the fold to the upper jaw. When you open the mouth, the tongue flips down and shows the punchline.

Keep words short and chunky. Kids love jokes that can be read in one chomp.

6) Give it a quick test-chomp

Pinch, open, read the joke. If the paper catches or scrapes, trim it a little. If the punchline is hidden too well, move it closer to the mouth opening.

10 punchlines perfect for hidden mouths

These are written to fit on a tiny mouth flap. Mix and match with different animals.

  • "I bit off more than I can chew!"
  • "I came. I saw. I snacked."
  • "Teeth first, questions later."
  • "Say cheese!"
  • "I only nibble on Tuesdays."
  • "Warning: ticklish tongue."
  • "Chomp happens."
  • "I am on a seafood diet. I see food and I eat it."
  • "Do not feed me broccoli."
  • "I am not grumpy. I am just hungry."

Joke-starters that make kids giggle

If your kids prefer classic jokes, put the question on the outside of the clothespin, then hide the answer inside the mouth.

  • Outside: "What do you call a sleeping bull?" Inside: "A bulldozer!"
  • Outside: "Why did the banana go to the doctor?" Inside: "It was not peeling well!"
  • Outside: "What do you call cheese that is not yours?" Inside: "Nacho cheese!"
  • Outside: "How do oceans say hello?" Inside: "They wave!"
  • Outside: "What has ears but cannot hear?" Inside: "Corn!"
  • Outside: "What do you call a bear with no teeth?" Inside: "A gummy bear!"
  • Outside: "Why did the cookie go to the hospital?" Inside: "It felt crummy!"

If you want more joke options for your family, our kids jokes guide is a handy place to grab a few that will fit inside a clothespin mouth without needing a magnifying glass.

Animal ideas

Crocodile chomper

  • Green outside, toothy grin along the top jaw
  • Inside message: "See you later, alligator!"

Shark snacker

  • Grey outside, add a dorsal fin from card
  • Inside message: "You are fintastic!"

Frog joke-gobbler

  • Green outside with big eyes on top
  • Inside message: "Ribbit? I said RIBBIT."

Laughing lion

  • Yellow or tan body, mane made from fringed paper
  • Inside message: "Hear me ROAR... with laughter!"

Cheeky raccoon wisecracker

  • Grey with a black mask drawn on
  • Inside message: "Got any snacks?"

Turn it into a mini show

Once you have two or three chompers, it is basically a tiny theatre troupe that lives in a mug on your kitchen counter.

Quick game: The Talking Zoo

  1. Line up the clothespin animals on the table.
  2. Each kid picks one and practises their best animal voice.
  3. Take turns: introduce your animal, then do the chomp to reveal the punchline.
  4. Bonus round: swap animals and try to deliver someone else’s punchline without laughing.

If your family gets into making and performing jokes, you might also like our kids comedy night ideas for turning the living room into a friendly (and slightly chaotic) stage.

Two children sitting on a living room rug holding painted clothespin animal puppets, making them talk while a parent watches and smiles

Tips for different ages

Ages 3 to 5

  • Use felt-tip pens instead of paint to avoid long drying time.
  • Grown-up cuts the mouth paper pieces.
  • Use silly pictures inside (a worm tongue, a tiny fish, a mini doughnut) rather than written punchlines.

Ages 6 to 8

  • Let kids write the punchline inside and decorate the outside question.
  • Try simple add-ons like ears, fins, or a mane.

Ages 9+

  • Challenge them to write their own jokes or puns that match the animal.
  • Add props like a tiny paper microphone or bow tie.

Safety and sanity notes

  • Pinch points: clothespins can nip fingers. Show kids how to pinch the back, not the mouth end.
  • Small parts: googly eyes can be a choking hazard for toddlers. Draw eyes instead if needed.
  • Paint and glue: use child-safe supplies, protect the table with old paper or a bin bag, and wash hands afterwards before anyone "accidentally" licks a painty thumb.
  • Drying without drama: keep paint and glue away from the hinge and the rubbing edges. Let the peg dry resting on its side or slightly open so it does not stick and peel when you open it later.

Troubleshooting

  • The mouth paper keeps catching: trim the paper so it sits slightly back from the very edge of the jaws.
  • The peg feels stuck or squeaky: you probably painted too close to the hinge or contact edges. Scrape off any thick paint blobs with a fingernail once fully dry, and next time keep those areas bare.
  • Glue will not hold (especially on plastic pegs): wood pegs are easiest. If you only have plastic, use a stronger household glue with grown-up help and give it proper drying time.

Make it a bigger laugh-and-craft afternoon

If you are on a roll, pair these clothespin chompers with another quick joke craft. The combination of making something and then using it to be silly is my favourite kind of parenting win.

Quick FAQ

Can I use plastic clothespins?

You can, but wooden ones are easier to paint and glue to. Plastic can be a bit slippery and stubborn.

How do I stop the paint from chipping?

Acrylic paint holds up well, especially if you keep layers thin and avoid the hinge area. If a grown-up already has a water-based, child-safe sealant at home, a light coat can help, but it is not required. Let it cure fully out of reach.

What if my punchline is too long?

Shorten it like a comedy writer. Cut extra words, keep the funniest bit, and write it big. Tiny writing inside a tiny mouth is a recipe for squinting.

How do we store them?

Stick them in a mug or pencil pot, or clip them onto the edge of a cardboard box. My kids also enjoy clipping them onto my sleeve, which turns me into a walking zoo.