Easy Darth Vader String Art Template Deathly Hallows String Art Templates

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String art is – as the name suggests – art that's created primarily out of string. Often known as pin and thread art, string art is one of the most eye-catching and versatile DIY projects that are suitable for both novice and experienced crafters alike. We've put together a roundup of the best free string art patterns with instructions to get you started on your next great make!

One of the best things about string art is that you don't need any specialist equipment or need to be a talented artist. All you need is a hammer, nails, a wooden board (or even some scrap wood), some string or embroidery floss, and some imagination.

Lots of free string art templates can be found online, which does the hardest part for you. Follow the outline with your nails, and wrap your embroidery floss around the nails to bring the design to life. The string crisscrosses around the nails creating a complex geometric pattern that's gorgeous.

If you're new to string art, we've scoured the internet to find the best free string art patterns and projects to help you inspire to create your own beautiful pieces for your home or to give as thoughtful gifts.

Plus, we've put together our own comprehensive and easy-to-follow tutorial, so even if you've never tried string art before, you'll be crafting like a pro in no time. Just be careful, once you've started, you'll become addicted very quickly.

The highly varnished deep wood makes the neutral grey of the string art elephant stand out. Better yet, often you can get wood offcuts to make the backboard for your local DIY store for free. Of course, this idea is not limited to a nursery. The neutral colors and elephant motif would work well anywhere.

You're not limited to a canvas with string art. You can create a unique and personalized piece of wall art with just some nails, a hammer, and some colorful string or yarn. We love the big, bold geometric letters and the use of vivid colors against the neutral background. What message would you choose?

Is there anything more timeless in home decor than the stag motif? Don't worry if you don't think you could draw one, just find a stag outline you like online, print it off, place it onto your chosen canvas, and nail around it before tearing the paper away...easy! The choice of the rustic wooden plaque adds to the woodland feel of this piece.

This heart string art template prints out to fit an 8 x 10-inch photo frame so it would make a great gift for a loved one. Or it could be adapted into a card for a thoughtful DIY Valentine's Day card. You don't need nails for this one, instead, you perforate your thick card and 'sew' your design with your chosen yarn and a needle.

Small and dainty, this cute string art pattern is great for adding a little extra festive cheer to your home during Christmas. It will come together very quickly and it's so versatile. You could make it on the classic wooden background, adapt it into a Christmas card, or use multiple colors to create unique Christmas tree decorations.

From one seasonal string art design to another, we love this innovative idea that uses a pumpkin painted white as your canvas. The outline of your design is traced in nails, pushed directly into the gourd, making this a kid-friendly project. The natural hemp string adds to the rustic feel, creating a beautifully chic effect.

Even if you aren't from Wisconsin or America in fact, you can still take inspiration from this state outline string art. The heart in the middle of the design is a great way to express your love of a special place and we adore the vibrant color combination.

We love these cute silhouette string art portraits of a proud pet owner and her furry friends. Creating a template is easy using your own pictures and a hint of imagination or you could traditionally create your silhouette by tracing your shadow (you may need help with this part). Plus, how great are the wooden plaque backgrounds?

This colorful heart design is a great example of high-impact art created with minimal effort. The bright rainbow colors radiating out from the center of the design are joyful and cheery and we love the contrast with the copper nails. The key to this design is a clean and sharp shape in the center.

Perfect for creating a country kitchen vibe, string art and flowers make a gorgeous combination in this piece of three-dimensional art. The iconic mason jar shape is the perfect complement to a rustic wooden background, and the beautiful flowers will give you an everlasting bouquet

Here's some Harry Potter-inspired string art or fans of the boy wizard. The Deathly Hallows motif in black string pops against the white background, and you can make it as big or small as you like. It would make a great gift for a Harry Potter fan, don't you think?

If you're looking for a craft project that is a little more ambitious, why not try a string art tree mural for your wall? It may take longer and require more effort than your regular string art project, but it will be worth it for the sheer impact. You could even thread some fairy lights through the string tree to create a magical piece of art.

The use of bright embroidery floss in a rainbow of colors creates such a well-blended effect that stands out against the neutral background. Plus, we have to say that the use of a corkboard is genius - not only is it cheap, but there is no hammering or cutting wood.

This string art anchor would add an interesting focal point to your bathroom or even your living space if you're a fan of all things nautical. We love the use of nautical colors and the use of wide head nails, which have a rivet feel that fits the theme perfectly.

Don't have any nails? No worries this pretty piece of string art is traced with Phillips screws instead of nails, which looks effective with the softer mint string and ivory background. The frame is a great addition, helping the simple message to stand out.

If you're looking for a craft project to keep the kids occupied for a few hours, look no further than this simple yet effective planet design. Instead of wood, a sturdy foam is used as a backboard and instead of nails, push pins are used to wind your string or wool around. There is a lot of flexibility with a foam background - you can simply take your design off and change it for something new.

How innovative and exciting is this design that adds colorful string art to an existing image. It has brought real life and movement to the images of the dancers don't you think?

If you don't feel like hammering nails into a wooden board, why not try out some of these stunning geometric needle and thread string art designs. They have been sewn beautifully onto a sturdy wool background, which you can keep taut when sewing using an embroidery hoop.

If you're looking for a fun and inexpensive DIY project for when the weather starts to turn, this fall string art is just the thing. It's a perfect piece of shabby chic art that can be made with just a scrap of wood and some hessian string. Plus, it can say anything you like, just outline the words on your wood and you're good to go.

The arrow is always a popular motif for home decor, so it will make a great piece of on-trend art for your home. We love the minimalist design against the distressed wooden plank and the combination of contrasting colors.

Sometimes it is the simplest designs that make the most impact. This piece of string wall art is so charming in its simplicity. The wooden board has been left mostly untouched so the natural beauty of the wood shines through. The neutral string has been wrapped tightly around the nails to give an almost opaque look, which works well. Rustic, barnyard decor at its best.

Who knew a piece of plywood, some nails, and a ball of yarn could create something so stylish. We love how the string has been used to create the spokes of the Ferris wheel. It doesn't have to be London. You could create an outline of your favorite city with nails and create a string art silhouette of a place you love.

A slight variation on the stag string art we wrote about earlier, these stunning stag antlers have a lovely illustrative feel. The light string and silver nails contrast perfectly with the deeply stained wood, but you could experiment with whatever colors you like.

Here's some string art for the nature enthusiast - a simple yet effective tribute to the mountains. The grey and white striped string created the effect of rocky mountains, while white string gives the illusion of snowy peaks. The natural bark-covered wooden plank is the perfect choice of canvas. Simple and clever.

Although possibly a little more complicated than some other string art patterns on this list, once you have your map outline drawn out, the fun can begin. Perhaps you could make your map a little more interesting, marking places you've visited with a colorful piece of string.

Star Wars fans, this one's for you. This Darth Vader-inspired string art will make the perfect bedroom decoration - we just love the movement in the cape and the white string outline. We just hope your little one hasn't joined the dark side.

This cactus design is a great string art project for beginners thanks to its simple shape. This is one succulent that will never die, as well as being on-trend and adorable. How cute is the pom pom detail?

Elegant with a touch of the abstract, this deconstructed flower design has a great visual impact. The pale wooden background is so refreshing with the pastel purple hues. We love the pastel colors, but you could adapt the colors to match your home decor.

Want to spruce up your home for Easter, but don't want to pay for expensive decorations, make your own with this Easter egg string art. Map out your design and choose your colors and you'll have a personalized Easter decoration that you can use year after year. Get the kids to help with this fun Easter craft project.

Bring a bit of the outdoors inside with this lovely fern leaf string art. The distressed and natural wood perfectly complements the graphic leaf design and the forest green hue of the string.

Easy String Art Tutorial

String art is so easy, enjoyable, and rather therapeutic. It's great to be able to switch off for a few hours as you wind the string around the nails and watch your design come to life.

If you're a craft novice, you don't need to worry about needing tools or skills. You may have all you need at home already, which makes string art an affordable craft project.

If our picks of the best string art ideas have inspired you to get crafting, take a look at our string art tutorial, which has all the information you need to create your piece of stylish wall art.

What You Need to Make String Art: Essential String Art Supplies

The supplies you need to make your piece of string art are not hard to find. If you don't already have them at home they can easily be picked up at any craft store or online. You'll need:

• A wooden board, even a piece of scrap wood or offcut would do, which won't cost a penny. Otherwise pre-cut boards of all shapes and sizes can be bought at your local hardware or hobby store. The size is totally up to you.
• Flat-topped nails, these are a great choice, will hold the string in place when you wrap the string around. We like linoleum nails as they're a perfect size and give a neat finish. But you can choose any type of flat-topped nail you like.
• Embroidery thread, which comes in almost any color you can imagine, to create personalized string art. For a more natural or rustic look, you could use natural jute twine or a macrame cord.
• A hammer which isn't too heavy so it is easy to manage. Small ball peen hammers (this one comes highly recommended) or jewelry hammers are a good choice.

Choose Your Outline

Take a few minutes to think about your design, whether you want to create an abstract piece, a word or a phrase, or a picture of something close to your heart.
If you feel confident in your drawing skills you can draw them out directly onto your board. If you want to get it perfect, there are numerous free string art patterns online that you can print out at home.

Pro Tip:

Before attaching your template to your board, flip it over and put masking tape over all the backside of the outline. This reinforces your template, so you'll have an easier time keeping the template from tearing and it'll be easier to remove, too.

Choose and Prepare the Wood

Of course, it stands to reason that you should choose a bit of wood that fits your design and is thick enough for your nails to be hammered to a depth of about half an inch.

If you're using offcuts of wood like we often do, you may have to glue several pieces of wood together first. Just make sure you use strong wood glue like this one and make sure it's level before you clamp the wood together securely for the glue to dry. Using different pieces of wood to make a canvas for your string art may take longer, but you can create something really interesting, and you're reducing waste.

How you prepare your wood is entirely up to you. If you want a smooth and polished finish, give your wood a good sand, and finish with a danish oil or varnish. If you want a natural and rustic look, you can leave the wood unfinished or choose a board with its bark remaining. Other ideas include painting the wood or giving it a shabby chic finish.

Alternatives to a wood canvas include MDF, plywood, a corkboard, and a sturdy crafting foam.

Use the Nails to Outline the Shape

Once your wood is prepared and your design is mapped out, you're ready to move onto nailing your piece. Here are a few things to consider:

• Distance between the nails – How close together your nails are, depends on how you want the finished piece to look. For a more opaque finish, place your nails close together, or for a more geometric look, you can place your nails further apart.
• Evenly spaced nails – For a polished piece of string art, it's key that your nails are as evenly spaced as possible. I do this by placing two marks on a string and using them to measure the distance between my nails. Simple.
• Nail depth – Try to embed your nails to the same depth, to keep your design looking even, and make sure they are deep enough to feel secure.
• Nail color – We like polished silver nails as they stand out against your design, but if you want a more rustic look you might choose copper or black nails. As long as the nail is flat-topped, the color choice is yours.

Pro Tip:

I'm not the best at hammering nails evenly and straight, so I use needle-nose pliers to hold the nail in place, which works every time. Plus, they enable you to hammer nails safely without injuring yourself.

Start Outlining With String

Now it's time to start having some real fun – getting to work with the string:

1. If necessary remove your paper pattern.
2. Choose your string and tie it to the first nail, leaving a tail for tying off when you're all done.
3. If you're using embroidery floss, use all six threads to avoid breakages when the string is pulled taut.

Pro Tip:

When you reach a corner or need to change the direction of the string, wrap the string tightly around the nail. This will keep the string tight, maintaining the integrity of your design.

Fill in the Your Design

Once you have outlined the string, you can start filling in your design by crisscrossing your string, wrapping it from nail to nail. There is no set method for this. Our most successful designs have come from when we have switched off our brains and let the string guide us.

Just go from side to side and top to bottom and watch your piece of string art come to life. If you are coming close to the end of a piece of string, try to end it where you left your tail of string at the beginning. Knot the ends of your strings tightly together and keep wrapping your string until you've reached your desired effect. Tie off the end of your string and clip the tails.

Now all you need to do is find a place to display your unique piece of art. We bet it won't be long until you're planning your next string art project, why not make it a thoughtful and unique gift for a loved one?

Tips for Successful String Art Projects

We've already given you a few handy hints to help make your string art project a success, but we have a few more pro tips to help you achieve the best possible outcome.

Dealing with a Bent Nail

A bent nail can be removed easily with a pair of pliers, but this could leave a hole in your wood that is too big to hold a nail. The best thing to do is to try and avoid bent nails altogether. You can do this by:

• Using needle-nose pliers to keep your nails straight as you hammer them into the board.
• Pre-drilling holes for your nails to go into, this means less hammering, while still having secure nails.
• Not placing your nail too close together, which should help prevent you from hitting more than one nail at a time and knocking some off-center.

Choosing a Font

If you want to make string word art, you'll need to choose a wide font, so there is room for two tracks for nails on each letter. Plus, avoiding overly fancy fonts will keep your design nice and crisp, and most importantly, legible.

Colors of String

Boost the visual impact of your string art by incorporating different colors of string. We find contrasting colors (i.e. opposite one another on the color wheel) work well, as similar tones can get lost in one another, looking 'muddy'.

Can You do String Art Without Nails?

Absolutely, there are several string art methods that don't require nails at all, for example:

• Use screws instead of nails, which will give a rustic and almost industrial feel to your string art.
• You can use a corkboard or foam as your can and push pins instead of nails for some kid-friendly string art.

Can String Art be Done on Canvas?

Of course, it can and in a couple of different ways. The first is by marking out your chosen design on your canvas with small finishing nails and wrapping your chosen string around them until you've reached the desired effect.

The second method is by punching holes into your canvas and 'sewing' your design onto the canvas with a large needle and your embroidery thread. This method could also be used on heavy card stock to create framable gifts.

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Source: https://realselfsufficiency.com/best-free-string-art-patterns-with-instructions-plus-free-string-art-tutorial/

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