A lot of people have asked me to share a wire art tutorial on how we made Matilda and her web. Matilda is the little spider that keeps kept our spooktacular skull company. Well, she used to anyway.

How to make Matilda the spider and her web - an easy wire art tutorial on the blog #WallArt #DIYHomeDecor

We’ve moved her outside so she can start making some real arachnoidish friends. I must admit their plotting was driving me insane 😀

If you're looking for a beginner wire art tutorial, you'll love this easy step-by-step lesson that shows you how to make Matilda the spider and her web. #wireart #DIYTutorial #spiderwebcrafts #ACraftyMix #EasyWireArt

Okay, before we get to the easy wire art tutorial, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram. And don’t forget to subscribe so you’ll never miss a post!

Beginner wire art tutorial – Making a spider web

She’s really easy to make. All you need is some 14 gauge jewelry wire (we had some leftovers after making the Tree of Life), 26 gauge jewelry wire, an empty frame, and two beads. I didn’t have a spare frame, so we just made one using pallet offcuts and an old rusty hinge. I couldn’t find my frame clamps the day we made the frame, so I had to use a brick to weigh the offcuts down while the wood glue was drying.

Making a frame to hold the wire web

Once the frame was dry, we could start making the web. Using the 14 gauge jewelry wire we cut:

  • 2 pieces of wire 50 cm long (19.5″)
  • 1 piece of wire 26 cm long (10 2/8″)

The length of the wire depends on your frame size (ours is roughly 36 cm by 30 cm) so adapt the lengths to suit. Bend the two 50 cm pieces in half and then lay them out as shown below.

Cut 4 longer pieces of jewelry wire and one that's a little more than half the size of the others

Take the shortest middle wire and wrap it around both the bent longer pieces to form the outer strands of the spider’s web. Rearrange the pieces in the corner of your frame and pull them apart until you’re happy with the spacing.

Connect the bent strands by winding the middle strand around the other strands
When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion. Ethiopian proverb Click to Tweet

Use the thinner 26 gauge jewelry wire to add the cross strands. I’m not even sure if that’s the right word, I don’t do spider speak 😉 Anyways, start at the top about 2 .5 cm down from where the 14 gauge wires join and wrap the 26 gauge around each strand.

Wind the thinner jewelry wire around the larger strands

Leave a long enough piece of wire on either side so you can attach the web to the frame when you’re done. Repeat the process as you move down the strands to complete the web.

Use the thinner wire to connect the base strands together and create a web effect

When all the cross strands have been added, use a staple gun to staple those loose bits on the end of the web to the frame. Trim off any scraggly bits.

Staple the wire web to the frame

Making Matilda the Spider

To make Matilda, we used black beads from a broken necklace and leftover bits of wire. We cut 4 pieces about 8 cm long for the legs and a longer piece to join the beads together. I started by pushing the wire through the smaller bead and then wrapping it around the 4 leg pieces.

To make Matilda the spider you'll need and assortment of beads and jewelry wire

Once the legs were attached to the head, I pushed the wire through the larger bead to add a body.

To make Matilda the spider wrap 4 strands of wire under the head bead and add the body

Matilda really came to life when I started bending her legs. I never knew that spider legs actually have seven different sections. I looked it up on Google. The femur, tibia metatarsus, and tarsus are the longer bits, and the coxa, trochanter, and patella are the joints in between. To make Matilda as realistic as possible, I adjusted the legs accordingly and gave them three bends each where I thought the joints should go.

Once everything has been put together trim the legs

To hang Matilda the spider, use some fishing line.

Suspend the spider using fishing line

When I first hung her, I did it all wrong. It was only when hubby said, “You do know that spiders spin out of their bums,” that I realized my mistake 😀 Geez, I can name a spider’s leg bits but completely forgot where her spinnerets are. So much for trying to make her look realistic.

How to make Matilda the spider and her web - an easy wire art tutorial on the blog

We hung her and her frame outside using twine and an old hinge. 

If you're looking for a beginner wire art tutorial, you'll love this easy step-by-step lesson that shows you how to make Matilda the spider and her web. #wireart #DIYTutorial #spiderwebcrafts #ACraftyMix #EasyWireArt

I think she turned out pretty cool, and I really hope she makes some new friends. What do you think?

How to make Matilda the spider and her web - an easy wire art tutorial on the blog #WallArt #DIYHomeDecor

Once you get the hang of using wire to make art, you might want to try something a little more complicated, like this beautiful tree of life made from a bent and buckled bicycle wheel. Or if you’re looking for a whole bunch of tips on making wire art, then you’ll love this post.

If you're looking for a beginner wire art tutorial, you'll love this easy step-by-step lesson that shows you how to make Matilda the spider and her web. #wireart #DIYTutorial #spiderwebcrafts #ACraftyMix #EasyWireArt

Don’t forget to pin it for later if you like this easy wire art tutorial.

If you're looking for a beginner wire art tutorial, you'll love this easy step-by-step lesson that shows you how to make Matilda the spider and her web. #wireart #DIYTutorial #spiderwebcrafts #ACraftyMix #EasyWireArt

So quick question, are you an arachnophobe or an arachnophile? Me, I’m definitely an arachnophile, I love them; my favorite is probably the rain spider. We have three in our house at the moment. Guess we’ll be getting some rain soon 😉

If you're looking for a beginner wire art tutorial, you'll love this easy step-by-step lesson that shows you how to make Matilda the spider and her web. #wireart #DIYTutorial #spiderwebcrafts #ACraftyMix #EasyWireArt

Oh BTW, for your convenience, I’ve added some affiliate links below. Disclosure: If you click on them, 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 crafty ideas to share with you 😉

600 Black Wood Beads Bulk 10mm x 9mm Diameter Round Wood Bead with 3mm Large Hole
PRINZ Homestead 5-Inch by 7-Inch Photo Frame in Distressed Wood Finish, Natural
BENECREAT 18 Gauge Aluminum Wire 492FT Anodized Black Bendable Craft Wire for Beading Jewelry Craft Making, Plant Gardening, Sculpting Model Making

And if you prefer to buy rather than DIY, then maybe these beauties will appeal.

THE TWIDDLERS 75cm Giant Scary Spiders (3 Pack) | Large Realistic Hairy Black Spider | Indoor and Outdoor Halloween Decorations | Halloween Party Props
Primitives By Kathy Box Sign 'Let's All Take a Moment and Be Thankful That Spiders Don't Fly'
DII Halloween Accessories Party Décor, Spider Candy Dish, 14.7x13.5x6.3

As always sending you much love and tons of blessings. Thank you for popping in for a visit.

Made with love by a Crafty Mix