Craft Time: Make Your Own String Art

String art has been around forever and a day. And, for those curious, it really took off as a craft in the late 1960s.

So like I said, like forever.

And it’s just the kind of craft I like doing or introducing to the kids.

Because it’s super simple.

And you only need a few supplies (and you might even have everything on hand right now).

It’s hard to screw up.

And it really lets their creativity shine through.

For the supplies, you need the board that you are putting your design on, small finish nails, and the embroidery thread. I had two out of the three items already, so when I placed an order from Hobby Lobby’s web site for some items I needed for Madeline’s birthday party, I added the last item.

The board. I used a barkside wood piece, which I love, but you can find a variety of other wood pieces or plaques that would work just as well at your local craft store or big box home improvement store, like Michael’s or Home Depot..

Now the design. You can do it freehand, which is what I did. Or for something more complicated, you can print it out on your printer and just put the nails in the outline and rip the paper away when you’re done.

I told Nick that I wanted to do a heart because I wanted to hang it in a little alcove outside our dining room. I drew the heart in pencil (make sure to do it lightly) and he, very carefully, tapped the nails in along the outline. Don’t hammer the nails all the way in. You want them sticking out a bit so you can wrap your embroidery string around the tops.

(And obviously, when doing this craft with younger children, you may want to do the hammer + nail part yourself first)

Then tie the string around one nail head, and go to town. No rhyme or reason, just wrapping the string back and forth, up and down, from one side to the other. Until it’s as full as you want it. I wanted all red, but you can mix and match your colors and really get more detailed.

I saw a picture of a string art project that someone did for a nursery, and it was the word DREAM, with string in a rainbow order. Gorgeous. This is another one I like and plan to do soon. Our next piece will be a surfboard for Nick’s room, which I’m in the process of redecorating.

A creative, unique piece of art for under ten bucks? Yes, please.

Hungry for more art projects to do with your kids?
Rediscover Spin Art.
A new project for Mod Podge.
How to make marbled paper.

*There are a few extra holes on this piece that Nick did, because he changed his mind along the way. I think it’s fine, but he’s a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to art, as much as that pains me, so he’ll be fixing that.

Print it!