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How to: Simple and Spooky DIY String Art For Halloween

by on Oct 13, 2015

photo: Lexy Ward

To say I love decorating shelves & mantels, would be the understatement of the year. And during the holidays, I kind of go a little crazy with the accessories. I love the look of string art, but wanted a more simple version for our house.  With a little leather cord, I brought a little fun macabre to my mantle!       

How To: Spooky & Simple BOO String Art For Halloween
photo: Lexy Ward

Materials needed:

  • 3 pieces of wood MDF (measuring 6″ x 9″)
  • white spray paint
  • flat head nails
  • leather cord
  • hammer & paper letter templates (not pictured, but template download here – B & O)
How To: Spooky & Simple BOO String Art For Halloween
photo: Lexy Ward

Step 1: Spray paint the MDF pieces white. They’re dry to the touch after 1 hour, but you can wait 24 hours to be sure they’re super dry.

Step 2: Download and print the letter templates and center each letter on a piece of MDF. Use double-stick tape to keep it in place if you’re having trouble!

Step 3: Outline the inside and outside of each letter by hammering the flathead nails down about 1/2 inch down through the MDF. Be sure to space the nails as evenly as you can. 

Step 4: Once you’ve finished forming a letter with each nail, gently tear the paper away. 

Step 5: Wrap the leather cord around each nail head. Instead of the traditional back & forth wrap that you see with nail string art, I opted for a simple outline by wrapping the inside of each letter, and then the outside of each leather. Keep things separate and minimal!

How To: Spooky & Simple BOO String Art For Halloween
photo: Lexy Ward

Step 6: Tie off the end by wrapping the nail last nail twice and tying in a knot. 

How To: Spooky & Simple BOO String Art For Halloween
photo: Lexy Ward

Step 7: Snip the ends of the leather cord with scissors and admire your leather handiwork!

How To: Spooky & Simple BOO String Art For Halloween
photo: Lexy Ward

How To: Spooky & Simple BOO String Art For Halloween
photo: Lexy Ward

To keep the MDF letters standing upright, I screwed a few screws halfway into the back to support them. You could also use velcro strips to attach these to your mantle or walls. 

How To: Spooky & Simple BOO String Art For Halloween
photo: Lexy Ward

And voila! Place them on your mantle or shelves with a few other plants and macabre items. 

How To: Spooky & Simple BOO String Art For Halloween
photo: Lexy Ward

How To: Spooky & Simple BOO String Art For Halloween
photo: Lexy Ward

How To: Spooky & Simple BOO String Art For Halloween
photo: Lexy Ward

How To: Spooky & Simple BOO String Art For Halloween
photo: Lexy Ward

I love how these turned out! Aside from Halloween decor, you could also use this technique to form your last name, or some other holiday-inspired phrases!

Download \ B & O Letters

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1 Comments

  1. Hmm… I bet if you were really clever, you could use this to create a spiderweb somehow. I’d try it myself but I’m almost certain I would fail horribly! I’ll just stick to making letters 🙂