Repurpose Old Nails To Make a Rusty Cross – Easy Gift Idea
One of the worst things about dismantling a pallet is taking those rusty, bent nails out without damaging the wood. It’s hard work and some of those critters just don’t want to budge. We keep all the nails in a huge tin and re-use them to create a wood stain. Just put them in a water and vinegar mix and wait a few days 😉 They’re great for creating eco-prints and they make the most adorable legs 😉 Or you can turn them into a rusty cross with this easy tutorial.
These are really quick to do and make lovely gifts too.
How To Make a Rusty Cross From Old Nails
To make a rusty cross you’ll need a whole bunch of old nails. Make sure they’re two different lengths. You’ll also need some copper wire and wire cutters.
Start off by making a small loop in the copper wire. Place the loop at the top of 2 long nails as shown below.
Carefully wind the wire around the nails and the tail bit of the loop. Copper wire is really soft so you shouldn’t have any problems.
Place the 2 shorter nails across the long nails. About 1/3 of the way down, and criss-cross the wire over the point where the nails meet.
Continue winding the wire around the nails until the rusty cross is stable and the shorter nails don’t wobble around. Cut the wire and you’re done!!
It’s that simple. They don’t even take 5 minutes to make and they’re really easy to customize. Add a bit more wire around the ends or keep it simple. It’s up to you. We hung a rusty cross on a beautiful pallet off-cut and I love the stark contrast. If the nails are small enough they would look lovely as a pendant too. Just add a nice chain or a leather cord.
I’d love to know what you think. Is it something you would try?
If you like the idea don’t forget to pin it for later. Sharing is caring 😉
What do you do with all those old nails?
If you’d like to make something similar or prefer to buy rather than DIY, we’ve got you covered Disclosure: Clicking on the links below, means we may receive a commission from Amazon. But don’t worry it won’t come out of your pocket, and it helps us come up with more unique DIY and craft ideas for you 😉
Categories: Craft Tutorials, Home Decor Crafts, Quick & Easy Crafts, Trash to Treasure, Wire Crafts
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