String Art (With Tutorial)

There are tons of string art pins going around Pinterest these days. I remember doing something similar in grade school. We used construction paper, but the idea is the same.

The pins I have really liked are the states with a heart over where you live. I was inspired to do four, one for each state Russ and I have lived in (I know! We've lived in 4 different states and have only been married 8 years...ah, the life of a preacher's family).

I really liked the way they turned out, but I can't seem to find a good place to put them. I thought I would hang them in the craft/guest room but didn't end up liking it like I thought I would. I'll figure it out sometime!

My state string art consists of Arkansas, Missouri, South Carolina and Oklahoma.

So, for this project you will need:

Backboard (I picked mine up at Hobby Lobby in the unfinished wood section. I'm sure you can get these at any craft store or you can cut your own if you have the tools)

Spray paint (primer and whatever color you want the backboard to be)

Sandpaper

State and heart outlines (or whatever your string art is going to be. I'm planning on doing one for Christmas with a football team logo)

double sided tape

nails with heads on them (otherwise the string will slip off and it will be very frustrating for you)

hammer

string (I used crochet thread)

The first thing I did was give the backboards a good sanding.

Then I gave them two coats of primer. I'm sure one would have been sufficient, but I went ahead and used the whole can of spray paint.

I chose to paint my backboards yellow. I did two coats of the paint, too.

Before I started the project, I googled "state outlines" and printed off the states that I wanted. I used the double sided tape to tape the heart on the state right over where I live. I then taped the state to the backboard.

I started by nailing around the heart. Because the heart is small, the nails had to be very close together. After finishing the heart I started on the outside edge of the state. Unfortunately, the Oklahoma board split around the nails. It doesn't show up as much in person, but I tried to take a close-up where you guys could see. I don't have the knowledge to know how to fix that. I'm thinking that it was the fact that I bought cheap wood.

I then pulled the paper out.

After pulling the paper out, I started winding the string. I did the heart last. I liked this pattern, but you could do it many different ways. I saw one that was random that turned out great.

I nailed a picture hook to the back and then I was ready to hang them up.

And what do you think Miss Jo was doing while I was crafting?

Bowling of course!