Use copper, brass, steel or silver wire for art projects.
Wire -- widely available in craft supply and hardware stores -- is an everyday item that is versatile and inexpensive, which makes it ideal for art projects. You can find telephone wire coated in brightly colored plastic, ultra-thin and very inexpensive green florist wire, and wire of various gauges and metals in either small packages or large spools at hardware stores. Artisans of almost any age can use wire to create one-of-a kind pieces.
Mobiles
You'll need needle nose pliers for most of your wire art projects.
Alexander Calder brought his wirework to the world in the form of mobiles that hang from the ceiling. Combine wire with found objects to make a "Calderesque" piece of art. Begin by drilling a small hole in a block of wood. Insert a bundle of wires so they are poking out and pointing up. Reinforce them by squeezing a dab of industrial bonding glue into the hole if necessary. Spread the wires apart with your hands and thread beads, metal pieces and seashells on the wire. Crimp, or pinch, each wire with needle nose pliers as you add objects to prevent them from slipping down to the base and crimp the end of each wire to prevent the item from falling off. Experiment with wire size and gauge until you achieve the desired result.
Wire Wreath
Create an eye-catching, industrial-looking wreath with wire of almost any gauge. Begin by wrapping wire around a Styrofoam wreath form. Add beads randomly, crimping after each one to prevent them from slipping. Continue until you can look at the wreath and imagine it without the Styrofoam form peeking through the wire. If the wreath looks complete -- that is, like it would hold its shape without the form -- drizzle acetone nail polish remover on it. The Styrofoam will disintegrate, leaving you with a wire wreath.
Mini Mannequin
Create a sculptural mannequin with medium-gauge wire and a wooden base. The wooden base -- creating the torso -- can be a 4-inch square block of wood or a solid wooden scrap of similar size; something that will support the weight of the wire limbs, head and neck that you will create. Leave the wood base natural or paint it and drill a small hole in it. Cut a 12- to 18-inch length of wire and insert it into the hole so that it points upward. Crimp this in the shape of the desired body part, such as one of the limbs or the neck/head combination. Continue adding wire limbs, twisting and crimping as you progress. Experiment with size and proportion as you wrap wire -- either the same gauge or different sizes -- around each limb to create substance.
Artful Ornaments
Make an artful Christmas tree or window ornament.
Make Christmas tree ornaments with wire. Bend wire into the shape of a star that's about the size of the palm of your hand. Twist the ends to secure the star shape. Wrap another piece of wire around the star's five points to create a webbed effect. Tie a piece of ribbon on the top to hang. Alternatively, use the star as a tree-topper by wrapping it around the top, vertical branch of your Christmas tree.
