Spring, it's a tightly
wound coil of possibility!
Lu Garcia aka llamalu
Staff Writer
Spring is all about a new season where I live.
So how about making a new object out of a spring? You can find them hiding behind electronic buttons and doors, click pens, mechanical pencils and even in hair accessories.
All sizes and lengths can be transformed with some patience, practice and imagination. Painting springs can disguise the metal finish and trick the eye into believing it could be plastic or rubber. Stiff springs can be stretched to help make them more flexible to bend and maneuver. Sometimes you just have to experiment with one to see if it will work for your project.
Spring ideas:
- Cover with tissue paper to make paper lanterns.
- Use as a base under fabric for a windsock or play tunnel for kids or animals.
- Bend to fit the areas for air duct vents, glue on foil and
press gently to emboss ridges.
- Paint a tighter twisted spring for a vacuum hose.
- Intertwine for an Easter Tree.
- Add them onto handles for grips.
- Bend into a rug beater or whisk for the kitchen.
Other parts of pens and mechanical pencils can have mini possibilities too. There are many brands out there that have a variety of colors, diameters and clarities. The barrels (stick part) can be made into canisters and jars when cut into pieces. Or leave them long for things like banisters, bedposts, and table legs.
The little cone pieces or nibs (on the end by the pens) make excellent vases, lamp bases or shades, and tumblers. Mini angels and Christmas trees would be adorable centerpieces or tree toppers when embellishments are added. Plastic ones can be cut down into bowls for other scales while metal ones could be used for a shaker in a bar or industrial equipment.
So take apart those dried up pens and pencils and see if there is a spring or thing in there for you to use!
Custom Dolls, Houses & Miniatures / CDHM