{"version":1,"atom":{"id":"5d0bab97-9048-5905-933c-1b13acf5a1d3","slug":"paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab","title":"The Paperclip Compass Hack","teaser":"Need to draw perfect circles of different sizes but don’t have a compass around? This clever stationery trick solves it in seconds!","category":"school-learning","time_bucket":"5min","budget_bucket":"under_5","difficulty":"beginner","kids_friendly":true,"mess_level":"low","supervision_level":null,"indoor_outdoor":"indoor","estimated_time_minutes":2,"topic_tags":["stationery-hack","drawing","compass","school"],"occasion_tags":[],"materials":[{"name":"paperclips","quantity":"2"},{"name":"marker pen","quantity":"1"},{"name":"paper or surface","quantity":"1"},{"name":"pencil","quantity":"1"}],"steps":[{"index":1,"body":"Insert the tip of a pencil through one end of a paperclip to fix the center point on paper.","image":"https://brox.tv/media/steps/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab/01.jpg","feed_image":"https://brox.tv/media/steps/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab/01_feed.jpg","video_segment":{"src":"https://brox.tv/media/clips/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab/step-0.mp4","start_s":0,"end_s":2.6,"poster":"https://brox.tv/media/steps/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab/01.jpg"},"screenshots":[{"src":"https://brox.tv/media/steps/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab/01_shot_01.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"timestamp_s":0.43,"alt":""},{"src":"https://brox.tv/media/steps/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab/01_shot_02.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"timestamp_s":0.86,"alt":""},{"src":"https://brox.tv/media/steps/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab/01_shot_03.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"timestamp_s":1.29,"alt":""},{"src":"https://brox.tv/media/steps/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab/01_shot_04.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"timestamp_s":1.72,"alt":""},{"src":"https://brox.tv/media/steps/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab/01_shot_05.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"timestamp_s":2.15,"alt":""}]},{"index":2,"body":"Place a marker into the opposite end of the paperclip and spin it in a circle, leaning against the paperclip for support.","image":"https://brox.tv/media/steps/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab/02.jpg","feed_image":"https://brox.tv/media/steps/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab/02_feed.jpg","video_segment":{"src":"https://brox.tv/media/clips/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab/step-1.mp4","start_s":0,"end_s":2.56,"poster":"https://brox.tv/media/steps/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab/02.jpg"},"screenshots":[{"src":"https://brox.tv/media/steps/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab/02_shot_01.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"timestamp_s":3.01,"alt":""},{"src":"https://brox.tv/media/steps/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab/02_shot_02.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"timestamp_s":3.44,"alt":""},{"src":"https://brox.tv/media/steps/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab/02_shot_03.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"timestamp_s":3.88,"alt":""},{"src":"https://brox.tv/media/steps/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab/02_shot_04.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"timestamp_s":4.31,"alt":""},{"src":"https://brox.tv/media/steps/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab/02_shot_05.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"timestamp_s":4.74,"alt":""}]},{"index":3,"body":"If you need a larger radius, attach another paperclip to the first one — and you'll get a bigger circle.","image":"https://brox.tv/media/steps/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab/03.jpg","feed_image":"https://brox.tv/media/steps/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab/03_feed.jpg","video_segment":{"src":"https://brox.tv/media/clips/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab/step-2.mp4","start_s":0,"end_s":2.56,"poster":"https://brox.tv/media/steps/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab/03.jpg"},"screenshots":[{"src":"https://brox.tv/media/steps/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab/03_shot_01.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"timestamp_s":5.6,"alt":""},{"src":"https://brox.tv/media/steps/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab/03_shot_02.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"timestamp_s":6.03,"alt":""},{"src":"https://brox.tv/media/steps/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab/03_shot_03.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"timestamp_s":6.46,"alt":""},{"src":"https://brox.tv/media/steps/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab/03_shot_04.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"timestamp_s":6.89,"alt":""},{"src":"https://brox.tv/media/steps/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab/03_shot_05.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"timestamp_s":7.32,"alt":""}]}],"covers":[{"src":"https://brox.tv/media/hero_covers/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab/01.jpg","width":1600,"height":900}],"covers_vertical":[{"src":"https://brox.tv/atom_cover_vertical/6efe0baf1c204d33fc6341606a70d80f7ef24deaa9a06e64991428b579dd7b6e.jpg","width":1080,"height":1620},{"src":"https://brox.tv/atom_cover_vertical/707a17ce4c543761d10b9f6af93bf59fe0abb9ad2101f03f3da7c828354017ce.jpg","width":1080,"height":1620},{"src":"https://brox.tv/atom_cover_vertical/9de982bbdde6abe070ded1e1ef3f419a9a6374ca9bfc033865577709b9a31618.jpg","width":1080,"height":1620}],"cover_vertical":{"src":"https://brox.tv/atom_cover_vertical/9de982bbdde6abe070ded1e1ef3f419a9a6374ca9bfc033865577709b9a31618.jpg","width":1080,"height":1620},"thumbnails":[{"src":"https://brox.tv/media/icon_thumbs/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab/icon_128.jpg","width":128,"height":128}],"horizontal_clip":"https://brox.tv/media/clips/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab.mp4","horizontal_clip_aspect":"16:9","vertical_short":"https://brox.tv/media/shorts/paperclip-drawing-compass-5d0bab.mp4","why_it_works":"The paperclip holds the marker at a fixed distance from the center, so the line turns into an even circle.","safety_notes":null,"realization_potential":"0.5000","published_at":"2026-08-02T19:24:32.000Z","last_edited_at":"2026-08-06T14:32:51.577Z","article_id":null,"article":null,"author":{"id":"ed-001","display_name":"Daria Mikhailova","avatar_url":null,"job_title":"Senior Home & Interior Editor","bio":"Daria Mikhailova is the Senior Home & Interior Editor at 5-Minute Crafts, focused on cardboard furniture, wall art, and small-space organisation.","same_as":[]},"stats":{"save_count":0,"like_count":0,"realization_count":0,"comment_count":0},"top_realizations":[],"top_comments":[],"related_atom_slugs":[]}}
← Home›The Paperclip Compass Hack
DDaria Mikhailova · Senior Home & Interior Editor
The Paperclip Compass Hack
Need to draw perfect circles of different sizes but don’t have a compass around? This clever stationery trick solves it in seconds!
