spider web with spider for halloween

Bonnie's spider web

Dated : July 05, 2000 at 16:29:08
Subject: Re: Bonnie K how did you?

OK Gals & Guys, here we go....long explanition, just trying to be complete. Web Instructions:

Spider Web:

"Insulated Copper Electrical Wire'' 14/2 with ground. (Home Depot type store - 50' cost me $6.95+ tax. )
You will have to strip the insulating rubber and paper from the three strands of wire inside. So, in effect, you have
150' of wire to use for spokes.
20ga. Gold color craft wire (Wal-Mart 15 yds for $2.39 +/-) That amount makes one 24" web with some left over.
The hardest part is getting the 9 pieces (I made them 26"-27" each) together, so that you can make the 'spokes'. The first one I made, Bob held all 9 pieces of wire in a big pliers, and I twisted with another set of pliers - 2 times.

Well, I almost lost the entire thing when I tried to 'spoke' it out.......They all started to come apart - so I quickly started wrapping in and out with the fine wire and managed to save it. The next one that I made - I took one length of wire, wrapped it a couple of times(in the middle) with the fine wire, and continued attaching the other pieces to that, weaving in and out. That worked better, but Bob says he will come up with something better, and easier! But hasn't yet.

Then just bend the spokes out to make the base for the web and start wrapping the 20ga wire around the spokes (to form the web) - I wrap 2 times and the wrap still slips a bit - but once you get going (from the center out) things pretty much stay in place.

When I get to the end of the spoke, I wrap 3 times and with needle nose pliers, bend the tip of the spoke around that wrap - keep doing that till all 18 spokes are secure. At this point, I go back and smooth out any part of the web that needs some attention.

(Since then, I have used an ordinary drinking straw…cut a piece off , (appx. ˝"- ľ") and carefully inserted the base wires into the center of the straw. Then you can 'spoke' them out and cover the straw with the 'web wire') (Another crafter wanted the directions and came up with another way of making them - she used a "Dream Catcher" frame to position the spokes. Apparently she just bent the ends around the frame, and started the weaving from there. I haven't tried that yet.)

So far I have made several Spider Webs; the first was 24", but I used 24ga wire, which I feel is too fine - but it is easier to work with. For the others, I used the 20ga wire. I have also tried using 'stranded copper wire'. It is aging with the spokes very well….getting dark, that is.

SPIDER:
3/4" "Furniture Button" (14 to a bag) $.99 (Craft store)for the body 1/2" "Round Head Plug" (28 to a bag) $.99 ( " " )for the head Gold wire for legs These are a pain to make...there must be an easier way, but this what I did to make them:

I used my cordless drill (with 1/16" bit) and drilled nine holes on the side of the Furniture Button - one to attach the head - and four on either side of that hole for the wire legs. I drilled one hole on the side of the Round Head Plug. Used a piece of the 20ga wire, appx 1/2" long, and super glued it into the head and the hole (middle one) on the body. After that dried, I painted it. I cut 8 pieces of wire, appx 3" long for the legs, and glued them in. Then when they dried, just bent them, kind of free form.

Make a hanger for it, and enjoy!!!! I'm pleased with the results...not as professional as the one in the catalog that I saw, but still nice.

^^^^^^^^^

Well, any questions, just ask. It took me a while to go to the home store and look for what I needed. You cannot buy the wire for the spokes at a craft store.
Bonnie

Dated : July 06, 2000 at 20:42:22
Subject: BonnieK? Spider web idea?!

I have an idea. Whatcha think?
I am thinking of a large piece of plywood. Hammer nails into it in a circular pattern. One circle inside another. Then wrap the wire. When it is ALL done then remove the nails. Think it might work? No extra hands needed! Dee :-)

spider

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