Things to make
BEJEWELLED SPIDER WEBS
Spiders are the engineers of the animal kingdom. For many spiders, web building is an important job
but it takes time and energy so they have to be pretty shrewd about it. Did you know, for example,
that a spider will tailor the shape and size of its web according to the climate and the amount of
vegetation it can use for support, as well as how much suitable prey is about at the time? All to make
sure it has the best possible chances of catching enough edible insects to eat? No. I bet you didn’t.
Those arachnid architects may not know it, but they’re real mathematical masterminds.
YOU WILL NEED:
Twigs
Metallic paint
Craft wire
Sparkly and feathery things: craft jewels,
beads, glitter, sequins, feathers
Scissors
PVA glue
1
Take some twigs
and cut them into
four roughly equal
lengths. Make sure
the twigs are thin
but sturdy so they
don’t break. Paint them in metallic
colours and allow them to dry.
2
[a] Cross two
twigs over to make
an × . Wrap the wire
around them tightly
a few times.
[b] Add another twig
and wrap the wire
around the twigs to
secure them
together.
[c] Add the final twig
to make a star shape,
and wrap the wire
around the twigs
once more.
[a] To make the
spider web wrap the
wire around one of
the spokes of the
star.
3
[b] Turn the star
clockwise, then wrap
the wire over and
around the next
spoke.
12
Bejewelled spider webs capture the light and twinkle beautifully. Make as many as
you like but don’t leave them in the countryside (that’s really not a good idea, ed).
Take them home and hang them by a bedroom window to watch them sparkle.
[c] Bring the wire under and around the
one after that. Continue wrapping the
wire over and
around, then under
and around, turning
the star clockwise as
you go. Weave the
wire to form a spiral that expands from
the centre.
4
When you reach the outer part of the
twig, wind the wire around the top
several times to secure it. Then form a
loop to hang your spider web with. Cut
the wire, leaving
enough length to
wind back around
the top of the twig
and secure the loop.
5 Make your spider web sparkle by
adding jewels and gems.
Wrap wire around
jewels in different
directions to encase
them, then leave a
length of wire to cut.
Thread the jewels
onto the spokes and
wrap the loose wire
around several times
to secure them onto the structure.
Beads with holes through them can
be threaded onto wire and secured with
a loop at the end. Feathers can be
woven onto the spider web by weaving
them over and under the wire.
Put spots of PVA glue on the twigs
and feathers and shake some glitter
onto it. Glue some sequins on and allow
them to dry.
6
7