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3/23/12

Spirelli

Welcome to the Fiskateers Spring Blog Hop!  If you're hopping along, you should have arrived from Scrap n Patch.  To start from the beginning, go to She's the Crafty Neighbor.


As my regular readers know, I turned 40 last week.  To celebrate, I am trying 40 Things during my 40th Year.  Number 8 on my list was to try spirelli.  Spirelli is a form of string art.  I first learned about spirelli around 15 years ago.  A former coworker always taught her 6th grade students to make beautiful projects with string.  Teacher etiquette says that you do not learn about a fabulous craft from a coworker and teach it to your students who are one year younger than her students, so I filed her instructions away in my "Craft Ideas" folder.  All these years later, I still had never tried it.  Until now!  

Not only did I try spirelli, but I taught it to Trevor.  I wasn't sure if a 5 year old would be able to do it, but he had no problem.  Here are 6 of Trevor's designs.  He's extremely proud of them.


Materials needed: cardstock, a scalloped circle punch (we used Fiskars' Seal of Approval Squeeze Punch), some sort of string (thread, yarn, embroidery floss, etc), tape, and scissors.


Step 1: Punch scalloped circles from cardstock. 

Step 2: Tape one end of the string to the back of the circle, then start winding.  Skipping different numbers of spaces results in completely different designs.  There's no right or wrong.  When you reach your starting space, cut the string and tape the end in place.

 
Step 3: Use your completed spirelli to decorate cards, gift bags, place cards or anything else your heart desires!  Trevor chose to skip this step.  I created four items to showcase my spirelli.   

  • A card:

  • A gift bag:
 
  • A gift box:

 
  • A place card:

 

 I love the way different accents on each spirelli design create a totally different feel!  Spirelli is such a quick and easy craft and it adds such a nice touch to many papercraft projects.  I'll be using it often in the future.  I'm so glad I finally tried it after all these years!

To continue along on the Fiskateer Spring Blog hop, go to Ink Blots by TRD.

54 comments:

  1. LOVE your spirelli...you are making me long for my "spirograph" from when I was little. Thanks for being a blog stop Fiskagirl!

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  2. Oh how cool! I would LOVE to try this. In fact, I saw something similar in a scrappy magazine recently and Marlene did it on one of her layouts. It's really neat. Trevor did an awesome job!

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  3. How cool is that! I might have to try this!! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  4. Thanks for being part of the HOP! Love this simple, pretty, and dimensional element.

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  5. Ohhhhhhhh these are AWESOME Cindy!!! I loveeeeeeeee this idea!!

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  6. Your son has done a great job on them, so he should be proud of them.and what a nice card too, Happy Birthday for last week.

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  7. Thanks for inspiring me to try something different Cindy....love Trevor has used the Fiskars Scallop Punch....xoxo Lyn

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  8. Trevor you rocked your designs. Great job! You also did a great job teaching me how to do it. You and mom are amazing. I can't wait to try it out.

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  9. Oh yeas, I love it! I made it with twine before and used it as card embellishments! Trevor did a fabulous job!

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  10. happy 40th bday! Those punches sure come in handy for all kinds of things & I use them to cut out my scraps before I toss them too!

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  11. What fun, and Happy Belated Birthday!
    I'm going to have to try that! TFS!

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  12. Enjoy 40 (I'm 1/2 through so far so good!) Fun use for the punch!! Trevor did a fabulous job!

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  13. Great job Trevor! I like the look of spirelli too. I just don't use it a lot. It is one of the many techniques in my arsenal. Thanks for sharing Love the projects.
    Hugs, Jessica

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  14. I love this idea and your son is adorable!

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  15. Yes, Trevor...Great Job! Love the spirelli accents you created! I have to go back and see your 40 list. I remember contributing something, but LOVE the things I am hearing (well, reading) that you have done! So much fun! I got 4 more years to go...I think I should start my list!
    So, creative as usual Cindy!
    Michelle
    ScrapbookingSOS.blogspot.com

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    1. You did indeed contribute- I mentioned you in the first goal I achieved! Thanks for the suggestion. :)

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  16. that is a GREAT idea!!! i love it! they are so simple to make yet look fabulous! very cool! :)

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  17. Very cute idea. I made a card using this same technique recently!!!

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  18. I too and loving this. Thanks for sharing. And tell Trevor he did a wonderful job help his Mom.

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  19. Love your projects. Thanks for sharing. Hugs Brenda

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  20. Super cute. :) Love all the projects. I've never attempted that and need to now!

    Fiskateer #6361
    asecretvintage.blogspot.com

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  21. Spirelli is one of my go-to techniques! But I've only used it on cards. You and Trevor came up with just wonderful projects! Thanks for sharing!
    Suzi #5563

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  22. Well I've never done spirelli but am inspired to now! Great projects. WTG, Trevor--you rocked the designs! And best wishes, Cindy, on your 40 things.

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  23. Great reminder about Spirelli! I enjoy doing things with it. I love to see that your little one is helping!!

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  24. just totally in Love with your projects Cindy! tfs, definitely gonna make me some of these :) Happy 40th...and many more years filled with craftiness :)

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  25. I was excited to see your projects and your sons designs. I just discovered the spirelli design this week.

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  26. Fun craft! I like how you used it on your projects too.

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  27. Happy Belated Birthday! Love your project. Those remind me of the spiralgraph we had as a kid. Love the look and how different they are. Love your little helper too....so cute! He will be scrapping in no time and then you'll have to fight with him to use your tools...LOL.

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  28. Wow.this is really neat. What a fun way for everyone of all ages to create. I love how you incorporated them with pretty projects. Thanks for sharing.
    Amy #8546

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  29. Great addition to the punch! I love them all. So beautiful and each are unique :)

    Happy Spring, Deb♥

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  30. Yup... totally pinning this b/c that is just an amazing idea!!!!!!

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  31. Great idea and a good way to get the kids involved.

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  32. cute projects! Love the little one crafting ! Go Trevor !

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  33. Very nice projects with this technique. I have made these before but never thought of doing it with my grandchildren.

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  34. Cindy,

    When I saw that your blog was next, I honestly told myself I would find something I would want to do on a project of my own. I was absolutely right! I this this would be fun with two colors bakers twine and two different sizes of the Seal of Approval (one of the two punches I have in more than one size) and layering them.

    I want to tell you again how great I think it is that you involve Trevor in as many of your crafty endeavors as you do. He is quite talented for his age (must get it from his mother, who is also very talented for her age - 40 is actually VERY young when you think of all of the years ahead you have to keep learning more and more about diffeent crafts). Also, I applaud you for making your list of 40 things. It is a great idea!

    Thanks for the great idea! I can't wait to try it - it is something I can probably do while I sit here recovering.

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  35. Love your projects! I'm going to have to give this a try. It looks like lots of fun.

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  36. Wow I love this and so will my six year old granddaughter. I don't remember ever seeing this before but it does indeed remind me of my old spirograph. Thanks for sharing this.
    Elaine #7777

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  37. I love-these are so unique.Glad I stopped by to learn this.

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  38. Trevor is very talented... I loved his creations!
    -Sylvia #5019

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  39. Love your spirelli tutorial and love even more that it was a team effort!!!

    Great work Cindy, love your spirelli cards and I look forward to trying them too :)

    Happy Birthday and congratulations on making progress on your 40 things goal!!!

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  40. This is a wonderful idea!! I thought your gift bag was perfect!

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  41. I love spirelli and your designs, and Trevors, are great!

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  42. Happy Birthday! I love all your projects you and Trevor made using spirelli. You have inspired me to try spirelli. Thanks for sharing your projects and for being part of the Blog Hop. Lisa #4791

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  43. Fun! I haven't tried it yet, but I know my kids would love it!
    - Tifany #5942
    http://inkblotsbytrd.blogspot.com

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  44. I just love the gift bag!!! Might have to try this spirelli with my kiddos!!! Thanx!!

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  45. I always forget about projects we learned in grade school - and look how great that spirelli looked on the cards, bags, etc. Thanks for reminding me; I need to create a few to have on hand. And those photos of Trevor are priceless.
    Amyscats #8535

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  46. I loved doing this in grade school. It looks great added on to your other projects. I think this would be great fun for me and the boys.
    -Tanya #5407-

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  47. I've never seen this before ~ it's beautiful!

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  48. Love your simple details on such gorgeous projects. :)

    change locks

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  49. These look great. Must try them. Love the way you involved Trevor.

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