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Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After

Rediscovering Life after Retirement

Categories: Craft and Create

DIM, Did It Myself: Pinspired Cactus String Art

DIM, Did It Myself: Pinspired Cactus String Art

Welcome to the March “Pinterest Challenge Blog Hop”, hosted by My Pinterventures. The purpose of this Pinterest Challenge is to motivate all the participants of this hop (and you, too) to not just pin, but to make it happen! So, this month, I chose to create my own cactus string art.

Pinspired Cactus String Art

DIM, Did It Myself: Pinspired Cactus String Art

My original inspiration for this project came from a darling string art pallet I saw at Hobby Lobby.  Put it in my cart then looked at it more closely and decided I could make it myself.

DIM, Did It Myself: Pinspired Cactus String Art

That was January.  In February, I started looking on Pinterest for the directions to making a string art and found several pins for cactus string art pallets.  I have pinned them on my DIYs, DIMs and Honey-Dos board, here.  And in March, I finally created my own cactus string art pallet to use with my other cactus-themed summertime decor.

Follow along the steps below to create your own cactus string art or a piece of string art in a design of your choosing.

The Supplies

I have seen string art made with embroidery floss and yarn.  For my project, I planned to use some of my many skeins of leftover green embroidery thread.  But mid-stream, I switched to yarn.  Either one works well but the yarn just provided a heavier, fuller look.

DIM, Did It Myself: Pinspired Cactus String Art

  • Wood pallet
  • Small nails, about 1″
  • Hammer
  • Pencil
  • White acrylic paint
  • Wide paint brush
  • Container for water and paint
  • Embroidery thread, colors and number of skeins dependent on your project design  OR
  • Yarn, again colors and number of skeins dependent on your string art pattern
  • Scissors
  • Artificial flower for cactus
Directions
  • Pulled up several images of cactus string art on Pinterest to use as pinspiration.
DIM, Did It Myself: Pinspired Cactus String Art
DIM, Did It Myself: Pinspired Cactus String Art
DIM, Did It Myself: Pinspired Cactus String Art

[source, source, source]

  • Painted the palette with a wash of white acrylic paint.

DIM, Did It Myself: Pinspired Cactus String Art

  • Lightly sketched the cactus design onto the pallet in pencil.

DIM, Did It Myself: Pinspired Cactus String Art

  • Began gently hammering the nails onto the pallet along the design outline, spacing the nails as evenly as possible.

DIM, Did It Myself: Pinspired Cactus String Art

  • Beginning at the left bottom corner of the cactus, I knotted the embroidery floss around the nail.  Then began wrapping the thread around each nail once then moving to the next nail, wrapping the floss around it. Proceeded until all of the nails were connected by thread and the cactus was outlined.  Tied off the end of the thread.
  • After outlining my cactus, I had run out of the color floss I’d chosen to use.  When I went to Walmart the next day for more thread, I discovered this yarn in a variated combination of green-olive-tan.  Decided to start again, using the yarn.

DIM, Did It Myself: Pinspired Cactus String Art

  • Reoutlined my cactus design with the yarn.  Preferred the way the yarn created a bolder line.

DIM, Did It Myself: Pinspired Cactus String Art

  • Measured off a length of floss or yarn and began wrapping it on one nail then stretching it across the cactus to a nail on the opposite side of the plant.  The yarn took on a criss-cross pattern, filling in the shape with color.

DIM, Did It Myself: Pinspired Cactus String Art

  • Once I was happy with the way the yarn had filled the shape, I outlined the cactus one more time, wrapping the yarn around the edge of the plant.  Tying off the yarn when I was finished.
  • Clipped a bloom from a stem of artificial flowers then used hot glue to attach it to the pallet.

DIM, Did It Myself: Pinspired Cactus String Art

  • Ta-da, my finished string art cactus pallet.

DIM, Did It Myself: Pinspired Cactus String Art

Cactus-Themed Summertime Decor

Last year was the first time I used a cactus theme for my summer decorations.  Didn’t have a lot of items to use so have picked up pieces to add to my collection over the past few months.  PC and I recently enjoyed participating in I Painted That’s “Wood and Wine Workshop” where we built and painted our own pallets.  It was one of the activities on my Winter Bucket List, here.  My Prince made a baseball themed sign for around the logo for his beloved Cincinnati Reds.  I made a cactus pallet.

DIM, Did It Myself: Pinspired Cactus String Art

And I will be reviewing some beautiful artificial cactus I received from Silk Plants Direct in a post coming soon.  Here’s a peek at these lovely succulents paired with my cactus string art.

DIM, Did It Myself: Pinspired Cactus String Art

Your Turn

Do you Pinterest?  If so, do you ever go back to revisit/use your pins?  While I have oodles and oodles of pins, I am pretty good about pinning only things I might someday refer back to.  Especially in the way of recipes and DIYs.  Would love to have you follow me on Pinterest, here.

And guess what?  You, too, can join in the pinspiration fun.

To join next month’s challenge, click here to sign-up ⇒ April Pinterest Challenge


Now let’s see what other things Pinterest inspired! Head over and visit the other hosts to see what they crafted, cooked, built, or tried!

 

Pinterest Challenge Blog Hop

Erlene – My Pinterventures • Shirley – Intelligent Domestications

Jenny – Cookies Coffee and Crafts

Joanne – Our Unschooling Journey • Magen – The Kusi Life

Roseann – This Autoimmune Life • Kelli – The Olympic Nest

Lynne – My Family Thyme • Beverly – Across the Blvd.

Debra – Shoppe No. 5 • Pili – My Sweet Things

Laurie – My Husband Has Too Many Hobbies • Kristie – Teadoddles

Julie – Sum of their Stories • Gwen – Geez, Gwen!

Marie – The Inspiration Vault • Candice – Fearlessly Creative Mammas

T’onna – Sew Crafty Crochet • Kenyatta – My Design Rules

Cherryl – Farm Girl Reformed • Lisa – Blogghetti

Leslie – Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After

Micah – Home Faith Family • Kelley – Simply Inspired Meal

Lauren – Mom Home Guide • Deborah – Salvage Sister & Mister

Gail – Purple Hues and Me • Terri – Our Good Life

Lauren – Wonderfully Made • Sue – A Purdy Little House

Toni – Small Home Soul • Maureen – Red Cottage Chronicles

Marci – Stone Cottage Adventures • Michelle – Our Crafty Mom

• Maria – Tinselbox

An InLinkz Link-up


Hope you will visit some of the creative goings-on these gals are sharing on their blogs.  I plan to do that right now. And these please consider linking up your spring bucket list with the gang tomorrow, 03.21.2018.  We would love to see what you have planned for spring!

Thank you, dear ones.

Hugs and kisses,

  • leslie
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    About Leslie Roberts Clingan

    I am an aspiring blogger and children's author, wife, mother, daughter, sister, - in-law, responsible pet owner and recently retired elementary school librarian. I hope to figure out the next chapter of my life as I transition from crazy, busy work world onto totally idle retirement and now to something in-between.

    Comments

    1. Whitney @ Whitney à la mode

      March 20, 2018 at 7:15 am

      Love this, Leslie! I like yours better than the one from the store! You are quite the crafter!

      Reply
      • Leslie Roberts Clingan

        March 21, 2018 at 8:35 am

        Thank you, sweet Whitney. My daughter was a little skeptical about the shape of mine at first but once I filled it in, my cactus looked less anatomical.

        Reply
    2. Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom

      March 20, 2018 at 8:14 am

      Too cute, I love the little flower you added! I did an ‘Oh Deer’ string art awhile back and I still have it displayed in my family room. Too funny, we were just at IKEA yesterday and my son wanted this ceramic cactus, but the cashier said it was part of a display (it was?!!) so he couldn’t buy it! Poor boy! lol!

      Carrie
      curlycraftymom.com

      Reply
      • Leslie Roberts Clingan

        March 21, 2018 at 8:38 am

        I remember your ‘Oh, Deer’. I think it was one of the first string art pieces I had seen. So super cute.
        Poor Nathan! That’s crazy about his cactus at IKEA. I thought everything there was for sale. I just bought a ceramic cactus at the Dallas IKEA last fall. Probably a very good thing we don’t have an IKEA within 500 miles!

        I am seeing cactus everywhere lately. Putting the southwest on the map. I love it.

        Reply
    3. Jenny

      March 20, 2018 at 1:50 pm

      This cactus is adorable. I love the string art and how it looks. I just don’t think I have the patience for hammering in the nails. Pinning!

      Reply
      • Leslie Roberts Clingan

        March 21, 2018 at 8:40 am

        Thank you for commenting on and pinning my cactus. I had a little trouble getting the nails to stay in place. I think I was just not hitting them hard enough. Finally got brave and gave each of them a whack. Sure enjoyed this blog hop.

        Reply
    4. Mother of 3

      March 20, 2018 at 5:03 pm

      I love how that came out! I like that your version has a lot more string in the string art than the store version. Pinned.

      Reply
    5. Karen Strand

      March 20, 2018 at 5:58 pm

      I have been wondering about these string art pieces that have been popping up. Thanks for clearing up how this is done! I really like how your cactus came out so if I do attempt one, its all harm for me! Thank you for sharing sweet lady 🙂

      Reply
      • Leslie Roberts Clingan

        March 21, 2018 at 8:43 am

        Hope you will try making one of these cactuses. The word cacti just sounds so pretentious to me. Yuck. It was a fun project that I did on the couch beside PC. Will probably try another one in the fall and winter to add to my seasonal decor. But, shh, don’t tell PC. He is banning me from any more seasonal decorations.

        So nice to hear from you and have you come by. Hope spring is springing in your neck of the woods. XO sweet friend!

        Reply
    6. Laurie

      March 20, 2018 at 6:52 pm

      Love how your string art turned out! This is a such a fun project and I like the flower that you added to yours much better! Great job!

      Reply
      • Leslie Roberts Clingan

        March 21, 2018 at 8:44 am

        Thank you, sugar foot. I really wanted a bright pink pom-pom for mine but decided the flower I found for $.97 was a very close second! Thank you for coming by.

        Reply
    7. Gwen

      March 20, 2018 at 7:51 pm

      This came out great! I really want to try some of this string art, I need to pick a pattern and just do it! Yours is lovely! Great job! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Leslie Roberts Clingan

        March 21, 2018 at 8:45 am

        Thank you, ladybug! This was really a fun project. I would like to make a fall leaf and a snowflake in the future, and maybe a giant sunflower for summer. Hope you will try your luck at this. Easily a one-day activity and very inexpensive.

        Reply
    8. Lauren

      March 20, 2018 at 8:07 pm

      I love that you made your own string art instead of buying a pre-made one at Hobby Lobby! Your cactus looks perfect!

      Reply
      • Leslie Roberts Clingan

        March 21, 2018 at 8:47 am

        Hey sweets! Thank you! I probably spent as much money on making my string art cactus as Hobby Lobby was selling theirs for but it’s handmade. And I kind of like mine better. Ha!

        Reply
    9. Emily @DomesticDeadline.com

      March 21, 2018 at 9:38 am

      Yours turned out great! I’m always taking pictures of things in the craft store that I can make myself instead too. I haven’t tried string art yet but want to

      Reply
      • Leslie Roberts Clingan

        March 23, 2018 at 12:14 pm

        Oh, give the string art project a try. It was fun, easy, inexpensive and something I will try again soon.

        Reply
    10. Kelley

      March 21, 2018 at 10:46 am

      Looks like a lot of fun and I love the cactus. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • Leslie Roberts Clingan

        March 23, 2018 at 12:18 pm

        Thank you for coming by. It was a win-win-win project…cheap, fast, fun!

        Reply
    11. Lisa Kerhin

      March 21, 2018 at 3:06 pm

      Love this and you do exactly what I do. I find projects at the store and just know I could do cheaper and better. Pinned.

      Reply
      • Leslie Roberts Clingan

        March 23, 2018 at 12:25 pm

        Thank you, friend. This project was win-win-win – easy, fun, affordable. Oh and fast!!

        Reply
    12. Deborah

      March 21, 2018 at 8:21 pm

      That turned out so great! Awesome choice.

      Reply
      • Leslie Roberts Clingan

        March 23, 2018 at 12:25 pm

        Thank you! What a supportive group this is!

        Reply
    13. Lauren

      March 22, 2018 at 6:35 am

      Oh this is SO cute! I love that you used a pallet for the background and added the flower – perfect! Seeing the one that inspired you, I think that’s a neat idea too – painting the background picture. You did a great job on this!

      Reply
      • Leslie Roberts Clingan

        March 23, 2018 at 12:28 pm

        Thank you, sweets! Seeing the cactus at Hobby Lobby again in my photo, I liked the idea of painting the image underneath the string art, too. But was sure I would make a mess with the paints. Felt like I was better off just using lots and lots of yarn to bring out the color!

        Reply
    14. Shirley Wood

      March 22, 2018 at 8:52 am

      Yours is much better than the store version because you added more string. Thanks for the tip about the yarn and embroidery floss. I really like the touch you added with the flower! I have a flowering cactus so it made me think of that.

      Reply
      • Leslie Roberts Clingan

        March 23, 2018 at 12:32 pm

        This project was so easy, cheap and fun (and fast) that I want to try another string art soon. I really liked the pom-pom on the Hobby Lobby original but as fumble-fingered as I am sometimes am, didn’t feel like trying to create one myself. And the flower was so much cheaper than buying another skein of yarn to make the pom-pom. Thank you!!

        Reply
    15. Kristie Cook

      March 22, 2018 at 6:16 pm

      Your cactus is definitely better than the one in the store! I love that string art is making a come back. I remember doing it in grammar school for art!

      Reply
      • Leslie Roberts Clingan

        March 23, 2018 at 12:42 pm

        Thank you!! I thought I remembered string art from my daughters’ younger years. Glad to know I didn’t dream it. Thank you for your sweet comments.

        Reply
    16. Debrashoppeno5

      March 23, 2018 at 8:45 am

      This is so sweet. I have never tried string art but it looks so much fun to do. I like the idea of using the cactus because it looks like an easy one to try for the first time.

      Reply
      • Leslie Roberts Clingan

        March 23, 2018 at 12:44 pm

        Thank you, Debra! This was my first string art project and I loved it. Easy, fun, cheap, fast, cheap, fast!!! Ha! Will be trying another for summer.

        Reply
    17. Erlene

      March 24, 2018 at 12:43 am

      You did a wonderful job at a DIM cactus string art project. It always feels good when you can create something beautiful on your own for your home.

      Reply
      • Leslie Roberts Clingan

        March 25, 2018 at 11:32 am

        Thank you, Erlene!! So glad to be a part of your Pinterventures series. I do feel proud and happy when I make something for our home. And this one had the bonus properties of being easy, cheap and fast!!

        Reply
    18. Pili

      March 26, 2018 at 5:34 pm

      Love string art, and your cactus is beautiful. Pinning!

      Reply
      • Leslie Roberts Clingan

        March 26, 2018 at 9:18 pm

        Thank you, new friend!! My string art project was easy, fun and cheap!! The trifecta of craft projects. Thank you so much for stopping by.

        Reply
    19. Laura

      March 27, 2018 at 4:18 pm

      I like yours better than the store’s! You did an amazing job and I am sure that it is even more special because you made it yourself! This would even be fun for my daughter to do (if I did the nailing part)! Thanks for sharing this great tutorial!

      Reply
      • Leslie Roberts Clingan

        April 6, 2018 at 6:20 am

        Aww, thank you! I am out of town and have been for a week so very delinquent in replying to comments. I know with a little help, Claire could do a string art project. It would be great for building eye-hand coordination and just plain fun. XO

        Reply
    20. Roseann Hampton

      March 28, 2018 at 6:04 pm

      I love the way this turned out! Quite impressive!

      Reply
      • Leslie Roberts Clingan

        April 6, 2018 at 6:24 am

        Hey, sweets, thank you! Have been out of town for a week and out of the loop so late replying to comments. Thank you for the kind words and for coming by.

        Reply
    21. T'onna | Sew Crafty Crochet

      April 4, 2018 at 9:52 am

      I love this cactus string art! I’ve been really into cacti lately. I’m pinning this great idea! I plan on doing a cactus themed room eventually.

      Reply
      • Leslie Roberts Clingan

        April 8, 2018 at 8:11 am

        Thank you so much, love! This was a very easy project and cheap and fun and fast!!! All of the important things. Hope you will try it and share your results with me. Please come back again.

        Reply
    22. Julie

      April 10, 2018 at 11:25 am

      This turned out just brilliantly Leslie, well done fro making not buying!
      I remember string art back in the 70’s, we had some that my dad had made, so I love that it is right back in fashion now.

      Reply
      • Leslie Roberts Clingan

        April 10, 2018 at 4:52 pm

        I remember string art in the ’70’s, too. We are showing our age!! Thank you for stopping by and for the sweet comment.

        Reply
    23. jassica

      August 16, 2021 at 10:56 am

      OHHH its amazing to read this .
      You made my day I know with a little help, Claire could do a string art project. It would be great for building eye-hand coordination and just plain fun.

      Reply
      • Leslie Roberts Clingan

        August 16, 2021 at 6:51 pm

        Thank you. Have fun!!

        Reply
    24. jari

      September 9, 2021 at 10:47 am

      Thanks sharing this article about the myself inspired cactus string art

      Reply
      • Leslie Roberts Clingan

        September 11, 2021 at 4:18 pm

        Thank you!!

        Reply
    25. jonson

      December 6, 2021 at 6:24 am

      wow , great work on cactus string art. i am also doing crafting work its really gives me happiness when i am making something new . i really love your work and inspirational article. thanks for sharing this amazing article and also pinspired cactus string art.

      Reply

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    Hello!

    graphic tee

    In what felt like the blink of an eye, I have gone from full-time wife to my sweet husband, hands-on mom to my two beautiful daughters and elementary school librarian to a retired, empty nester with lots of time on my hands. Join me on my journey to rediscover who I am. Glad you are here...
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