Uses of Barb Wire in Crafts
Uses of Barb Wire in Crafts
Barbed wire is commonly used to construct fences today. However, it has to be replaced at regular intervals, so a lot of farmers or cattle drivers will have some lying around. With permission from the owner, you can use this wire in a lot of crafts with little to no expense.
Heart Necklace
You can create an ironic heart pendant using a thin barbed wire. If you can't find any thin wire, you can create your own using metal jewelry wire. Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a metal heart-shaped cookie cutter onto the sheet. Fill the cookie cutter with red plastic pony beads. Remove one of the beads and replace it with a metal eyelet before placing the cooking sheet into the oven until the beads are melted. Before the plastic hardens, lay the barbed wire over the melted plastic. Allow the plastic to cool with the barbed wire inside before you pop it out of the cookie cutter. Trim any additional barbed wire or plastic from the outside edges and inside the eyelet. Thread a leather cord through the eyelet to wear your necklace.
Rustic Gel Candle
You can also create a Western-themed gel candle for your home. Use a wide-mouthed glass jar to make your job easier. Mix up gel in your favorite scent using essential oils. You can also dye the clear gel to any other color using food dye. Hot glue a wick clamp to the bottom of your jar and attach a zinc wick. Tie the other end of the wick to a wooden skewer. Add the barbed wire into the glass jar in a ball or any random configuration. Pour the gel into the glass jar over the wire and the wicking. Once the gel has firmed, cut the wick and display your candle with pride.
Barbed Wire Roses
Use barbed wire to make dangerously beautiful roses. The barbs on the wire can represent the thorns on the rose. Straighten the barbed wire carefully for the stem of the rose. Use duct tape, electrical tape or a sturdy fabric to make the petals for your rose. Make the tape petals by folding the edges of the tape toward the center so that it forms a house shape with a little adhesive left at the bottom. Cut the fabric into triangles and glue it onto the wire. Wrap the petals around the wire until the bloom is large enough. Display your work in a glass vase wrapped in complementing ribbon.
Wire Wreaths
You can also use barbed wire to create a Western-themed wreath. Use a plastic ring to form the base for the wreath or you can just wrap the wire into a ring. It is best to use an oxidized length of barbed wire for a more authentic feel. Once you've formed the wreath base, add Western wooden shapes, such as cowboy boots, cow skulls or cactus shapes, to decorate the exterior of the wreath. Stretch a strip of canvas across the center of the wreath with your last name written on it. Use pieces of an old horse blanket or rope to hang the wreath on your door.
