String Art

I saw this on Etsy for $38...and I knew I could make it for less, so after looking at the picture a couple times, I figured out a way to make it for myself...for WAY less.  It did take some time, so I totally understand that $38 is reasonable, just not for me when I could make it! If you are not up for the project, Easy has many options!

Supplies:

1. Wood (mine was 7x10x3/4")
2. Nails (small, I don't know the exact size, I think about 3/4")
3. String (multiple colors, or white and dye to color some of it.)
4. Paper/Printer
5. Hammer
6. Scissors
7. Glue

First, I asked a friend to pick up some wood for me, because I knew he was headed to Home Depot that day for wood, so he added a little extra to what he needed and I got the wood for only $1. He was nice enough to sand it for me too!  I painted it a couple coats of purple, adding a bit of water to spread the paint a bit with each coat.


After that, I knew I wanted white string and yellow, so instead of spending $6 each on white and yellow, I decided to get white for $6 and some $3 yellow dye. I wrapped some string around a bottle and mixed the dye and let it soak and such as per the box instructions.


Once the string was dyed, I created a pattern for the string art. In publisher I pasted a map of VA and traced it with the line drawing tool and made it a dotted line. I did the same with the letters. After that I printed it (I made 3 copies and used all of them) and then marked which dots I was going to put nails in (about every other or third, depending on the necessity of the part of the outline). I basically made it all up as I went! 


I then tied a knot on a random nail and cut the tail really short. After that I used the string to outline all of the shape, wrapping around each nail before moving to the next.  Then I went all around and connected the nails, making sure not to go outside of the lines, connecting various nails and I just kept going until I liked it.  Then I double wrapped the boarder again to make sure it was clear. To finish it, I put a bit of glue on my finger and rubbed the end and stuck it to other string to secure it without a knot.


I set the pattern on the wood and nailed in the nails to the dots I had chosen.  I then tore the paper away leaving only the remaining nails.  I referred to another copy of my pattern to make sure I got it right when outlining with string.  The second time I made one, I chose to nail in the first nail to hold the pattern still.  After securing the pattern, I made a slight mark at each dot I wanted to put a nail, removed the paper, and then put the nails in securely so there were not paper remnants around the nails.


I think the total cost came out to be about $7, but I already had nails laying around the house, and I got a great deal on the wood.
Get creative! Let me know if you have any questions!


Since making the Virginia/JMU art, I have also made a dandelion.  A friend wanted to make one so when I sat down with her I worked on a dandelion for myself.  It was a little more difficuilt than the first because when wrapping the string between nails I had to create a pattern and stay a bit more focused while working.


The second one I made I went to home depot to get wood, they cut it for me, and marked it as scrap...so I got it for free!


This is a great gift and super inexpensive, if you are willing to put in a bit of time! Get creative and let me know if you have any questions! :-)