Wireworks: Crafting with Wire

Our trash to treasure Studio 5 Contributor Jennifer Heslop spent just under $4 on a spool of contractor’s wire. She shares several wireworks projects anyone can do.


Supplies:

Tie wire ($3.75 a spool- found at home improvement stores)

Needle nosed pliers

Round nosed pliers

Wire cutters

Various sized wooden dowels

Projects:

Photo Tree:

1. Cut 9 lengths of wire 15 inches in length.

2. Begin by taking first section of wire and wrapping the end around dowel 2 ½ times. You will be forming a circular paper clip. Leave “tail” of the wire straight.

3. Repeat with other sections of wire.

4. Gather all pieces together and stagger the position of the circles.

5. Pick 4 lengths to serve as the base, fold each at a 90 degree angle.

6. Cut off the remaining tails of wire.

7. Wrap the trunk of the photo tree with a piece of wire to hold all the branches in place. Spread the base.

8. Adjust the branches and base to allow tree to stand straight and insert photos, etc.

Paper clips, Alphabet or Bookmark

Using a paper and pencil, write or draw out the shape, letter or word you want to create.

1. Using pliers and your fingers, gently bend and curve the wire to the shape of your drawing.

Bulletin or Memo Board

Idea #1- Simply nail small brads into the back of an empty frame. Use wire to criss-cross back and forth from brad to brad, creating a wire frame work. Clip photos, etc to wire.

Idea #2- Wrap various lengths of wire around different sized dowels. Experiment by placing the coils close together or spacing the coils several inches apart on the wire. Once the coils are formed, attach to board.

Votive

1. Cut a length of wire; bend a small loop and the starting end. This will be the base of the votive.

2. Holding the votive in one hand and the wire in the other, wrap the wire several times around the votive. This will create a coil that will support the votive.

3. Create a small loop at the top for hanging and embellish with beads.


Studio 5 Contributor Jennifer Heslop loves turning trash into treasure. She is handy with a hammer, and has a knack for saving a dime by doing it yourself!

If you have questions for Jenn, e-mail her at studio5@ksl.com

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