Sweet and Spooky spiders

SWEET AND SPOOKY SPIDERS!
Before we began I would like to share a photo of a really creepy spider web about half the size of our house! (I am kind of exaggerating) But seriously this thing was huge! I was looking for some awesome inspiring message written in this thing....well probably not so inspiring as it conveniently showed up for the Halloween season but none the less it was right up there with Charlottes Webb for sure!  My husband and grandsons thought it was just the coolest thing they had seen, I found a black widow about the size of my thumb the week before in the same spot, every time I tried to kill it, it ran from me and hid, I never did find it.....  and then this appeared....ewwwww.

 Well  here are some spiders you can make your self and they won't show up unannounced at your house! They are easy to make and adorable.  The beads are up to you, so decide your size, shape and color for your own spider project! I have used a variety of large and small beads in all shapes and sizes. Recycle some of those 80's earrings you have hangin around by using the beads .... we all know how scary those could be!

You will need:

Beads ( 1 large and 2 medium for the body.  1small for the head
( I used the cute beads with a black dot in the middle that looks like an eye)

 


I used medium beads for the legs

 

 

 

8 to 10  gauge wire

 

 

Wire cutters and needle nose plyers
 

Tape measure

Ribbon for the bow if you would like one that is!

 

Step 1:

Line up your body of beads then cut the length of wire to the length of your beads. Leave about 1/2 inch extra on both sides ( this can be trimmed later)

 

 

Step 2:

Place your beads on the wire 

 

 

 Do a loop closure with your needle nose pliers. This is done by placing the needle nose plyers on the end of the wire and rolling the wire to the bead. After pulling our the needle nose, just give a quick pinch on the curled end to flatten it

 

Step 3:

Cut 4 -12 inch pieces of wire for the legs. I measure and cut one 12 inch wire and ....

use it as a guide for the other 3 pieces of wire.

 ( see photo below)

 

 

Step 4:

Wrap 2 of  the wire pieces in between the 1st and 2nd beads on the body, just like your tying a knot.

 

Wrap the other 2 in between the lower bead and the body bead the exact same way, then spread your leg wires out  just like the photo below.

 

. 

Step 5

If you have a bead spinner, place your bag of beads for the legs in it now

 

 

 

 Start spinning it and loading your beads on the leg wires.




It will look like this now

 

 

 

If you don't have a spinner,  just hand load your beads onto the leg wires in what ever color combination you prefer leaving about 1/4 inch of wire at the end so you can close it off. 
After the leg is loaded with beads, do a loop closure like the photo below with your needle nose wire. Just grip the end of the wire and start rolling up the wire, then pull out the needle nose plyers and pinch the rolled up end flat.

 

Continue to do  the same with the other 7 legs

Your spider legs should look like the photo below at this point

 

 

 

Step 6

                                           Now bend the wire to shape the legs like this:



 

                             Your spider is now complete! 

 They can be bent and positioned however you like! Here are some nifty ideas for placing them around the house.

She is on a mirror on the wall

 

Now she is hanging out with the mummy on the speaker box

 

These are on the dining room table! Which is decorated for Halloween by the way!

 

You can do any color combinations you would like, here are a few more I made, the curly feet can be done easily by lengthening your leg wire by an inch or two.

 

 

 

 

 

Watch the "Spider" stigma go from creepy to adorable with Valentines and Spring  colors!

 

 

 

 

You can even do a caterpillar!



Kids love to make these as well! Have a safe and fun holiday!!!!