Garden Craft: Web of Life


Attract a few arachnid artists to your garden with this easy web frame.

Craft Materials: -Handsaw -One 1/4 x 1 1/2-inch wood furring strip at least 70 inches long -Sandpaper -Wood glue -Wire cutters -20-gauge copper wire -Hammer -One 1 1/2-inch nail -One 1x2-inch wooden stake, at least 3 feet long -Acrylic paint -Paintbrush

Time needed: Afternoon or Evening


Instructions:

1. Saw the wood strip in four 13-inch pieces, two 7 1/2-inch pieces, and two 3/4-inch pieces. Sand any rough edges.

2. Lay the four 13-inch pieces in a square allowing the edges to overlap at each corner by about 1/2 inch.

3. Secure the corners with wood glue.

4. Use the wire cutters to cut four 30-inch lengths of copper wire.

5. When the glue has dried, wrap one length of wire around each corner joint, forming an X pattern on the front of the wooden frame, as shown in the finished sign. Trim off any excess wire with wire cutters.

6. Form a cozy nook for your spider to hide in, by placing the two 7 1/2-inch strips diagonally across one corner of the square so that one strip is on the front of the frame and the other on the back; the tips should extend at least 1/4 inch beyond the edges of the frame. To level the strips across the overlapping wood of the corner, slide a 3/4-inch shim under each diagonal strip. Glue all the strips in place and let dry.

7. Using the wire cutters, cut two 24-inch lengths of copper wire.

8. When the glue on the spider nook has dried, wrap the edges with wire as shown in the finished sign, trimming off any extra with the cutters.

9. Hammer the nail into the top of the stake until it protrudes about 1/4 inch.

10. Glue the stake to the back of the Web Site at the center of the bottom slat, making sure to position it so that the top of the nail is just level with the inside edge of the wooden frame. Let the glue dry.

11. Cut a 36-inch length of wire and use it to wrap the frame to the stake as shown, looping the wire tightly around the nail.

12. Paint the words "Web Site" (or something else) on the front of the frame or decorate the frame with a suitably spidery motif. When the paint is dry, you can take your Web Site out into the garden. Choose a spot among the flowers or vegetables that you can get to easily without trampling anything. Then insert the stake 3 to 6 inches into the soil until it's steady.


(from FamilyFun)



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