simple straw crafts

 

Most of us have made straw necklaces, so I decided to add a little twist to change it up a bit. 

materials:

colored straws (I found mine at Ikea)

string

scissors

Max is amazing at pilfering my materials. 

get to work:

1. First make the triangle shape. Begin by cutting the straw. If you have bendable straws you can simply cut near the bend, leaving about 1 inch of straw on each side of the bend, cut a third piece of straw about 1 inch as well. If your straw isn't bendable, then cut three pieces of equal size.

2. Cut the string into two equal pieces (about 10inches gives you a good amount to work with). 

3. Run one string through two of the pieces and tie a knot at the end (if you're using the three piece method). If you're using the bendable straw you'll slide both strings through the bendable piece, bringing one side out on each side. (Then bend the straw to make it a right angle).

4. Now add the third piece, completing the triangle. Run one string through one end and the other string through the other end. If you wish, you can then tie a knot at the end.

5. Once you have a triangle, you can begin adding additional pieces of straw or beads on each side of the triangle. Or make another triangle, like the image above.

Here are some pictures to better illustrate steps 1-4 using the three straw method:

 

A few alternatives:

1. My friend's daughter loves snakes. So Max and I decided that this project also could make some cool snakes. Follow steps 1-4, but instead of separating the string back into two parts, hold the two pieces together and run them in a line through the remaining pieces of straw. Tie a knot at the end or add some beads to make a rattle snake. 

 

2. You could also make a square rather than a triangle by simply cutting four pieces of equal size and running the one long piece of string through three pieces in a row and then both ends of the string through the fourth piece completing the square.