Arts and Crafts: Easy Nail and Yarn Project

And now for something completely different….it is arts and crafts time.  As you probably know if you’ve looked at my blog before, I generally write about theological topics.  My intention was always to write about other things, but I haven’t really kept up with that very well.

Today that is changing.  (At least for a day)  I’ve always enjoyed doing arts and crafts.  It is probably due to my mom being a teacher and using those kinds of projects to keep my brothers and I entertained when we were kids.  I’ve always wished that I was more artistic, but I do enjoy trying.

A couple of weeks ago someone gave me a couple of spools, balls, I’m not sure what you call them, of yarn.  They just happened to be in the colors of my alma matar, the University of Nebraska - Kearney.  I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with the blue and gold yarn, but I figured I’d eventually find some project. 

Last week on one of the local morning shows they were interviewing a woman who was sharing fun projects to do with the kids this summer using stuff you might have around the house.  One of the projects caught my eye and was the perfect way to use the yarn.  I found it to be a nice, relaxing project that even allows you to take out a little stress with a hammer.

The neat thing about this project is that the sky is the limit in terms of what you can create.  You control the size of the wood, the pattern, and the colors.  If you can imagine it then you can probably create it. It is also an easy project to do while you're watching TV or a movie.  

Supplies Needed: 

• a board (should be at least an inch thick because you’ll be nailing into it.  I bought a 1x6x8 board at Lowe's.  I figure I can make at least 3 different things if they’re 2’ long.  More if I cut them to shorter lengths.  You can use whatever you have or buy for what you want to make) 
  
• Nails (Make sure you get them shorter than the thickness of your board.  I made the mistake of not doing this and was constantly pounding them back through from the back.) 
  
• Yarn (Whatever colors you want to use for your design) 
  
• Spray paint (Use this to quickly paint your board whatever color you’d like.  You could use a stain or varnish too I suppose.) 
• Your pattern (You can print this off from your computer.  Use a shape, multiple shapes, letters, whatever you want. Just make sure it fits on your board)
  

1)   Decide on a design.  Like I said, I started simple.  I had the blue and gold yarn which were the colors of UNK so I knew my design would be something to do with the school.  I figured the letters were an easy first try at doing this.  Print your design off.  Each letter fit on a single piece of paper in portrait orientation. 

2)  Cut your board to the size that you want to work with.  I cut 2’ off the board that I bought.  The nice thing about the 1x6x8 board is that it is easily cut with a handsaw.  You don’t need any power tools for this project.  

3) Spray paint the board with whatever color(s) you’ve chosen.  The spray paint I bought was fast drying and was dry and ready to go in about 10 minutes.  

4) Align your patter on the board after it has finished drying. 

5) Add at least four nails to hold the pattern in place so it doesn’t move while you’re adding the other nails.  

6) Add as many more nails as you need to complete the pattern.  Remember that you’ll be wrapping the yarn around the nails so you’ll want to leave a little space to get in-between them.  The number of nails isn’t really important and can be a way to add your own touch to whatever you’re designing.  

7) Once you’ve added all of the nails you can rip the pattern off. 

8) Use your yarn to wrap around the nails.  You can do whatever kind of pattern that you want.  You can put an edge on it, create a pattern from side to side, be creative!  Don't be afraid to unwrap it if you don't like how it looks and try again.  I did that a couple times.  

I decided to go pretty simple for my first try and I think it turned out well.  My next attempt will be a yellow board with blue yarn in the shape of a Loper head. 

If you try this, post a picture and let me know what you do.