Giant Spider Web

One thing that a lot of people are afraid of is spiders. So spider webs make great decorations for Halloween. This year, I am making giant spider webs to decorate the trees around my house. These are really easy to make and all you need to make them is a role of regular plastic shrink wrap.

Step 1: Watch the Video

Here is a video walkthrough of the project.

Step 2: Materials

To complete this project, the only material that you will need is a roll of plastic wrap. The only tools that you will need are a fine toothed saw and a box cutter.

Step 3: Cut the Roll of Plastic Wrap to the Desired Width (optional)

We will be using a roll of plastic shrink wrap to make our spider web. But depending on the kind of spider web that you are making and the specific look that you are going for, you may not want to use the entire roll. If you would like to work with a smaller roll, all you need to do is cut the roll to a smaller size.

Cutting a roll of plastic wrap is easy. You can either use a sharp knife or a fine toothed saw to just cut right through the entire roll. I prefer using a knife because it gives a cleaner edge when you are done. Cutting with a saw is a little faster, but you may need to go back and use a knife to trim off the rough edges so that the plastic doesn't snag when you are unrolling it.

Step 4: Forming the Strands of the Web

In order to make it look like a real spider's web, the individual strands need to be thin. There are two ways that you can create this effect. You can cut the roll into small pieces so that you just unroll thin strips of plastic. Or you can use larger rolls and twist the plastic until it is a narrow cord. Twisting together large rolls of plastic will take longer but it will make the web much stronger. Pick which ever method works best for the kind of web that you want to make.

Step 5: Find a Good Location for Your Spider Web

Now you need to find a good place to set up your spider web. You want it to be a place that has good visibility. You also want a place with a lot of convenient anchor points to attach the plastic. I have a large patch of trees behind my house that I decided to use. Other good locations are large doorways, and the spaces between buildings.

Step 6: Attach the Radial Threads

The first part of the web to set up are the radial threads. These will set up the frame work or the rest of the web.

Start by attaching the plastic to one side of the space. If you have an object that you can wrap the plastic around (such as a tree branch), this is very easy. The plastic will stick to itself. So wrapping the plastic tightly around any object a few times will make a strong anchor point. Then run the plastic across the space and make another anchor point on the opposite side. Do this at least four times (preferably more). Make sure that all the strands meet in the center. At the point where they cross, wrap the thread around the previous strands before going on. That way the radial threads are all connected together.

Step 7: Attach the Spiral Threads

Now it is time to attach the spiral threads. Pick one of the radial threads and tightly wrap the spool around it a few times to create another anchor point. Then wrap it around the center of the web in a spiral. Each time you cross another strand of the web, wrap the plastic around it so that they are tied together. Continue the spiral outward until you have filled in most of the space of the opening. To end the spiral, tear off the strip of plastic and wrap it tightly around the last radial thread. This should give you the basic shape of a spider web.

Step 8: Heat Shrink the Web (optional)

It is likely that parts of your web will be loose and some of the threads will be slack. If you want to tighten up the strands of the web, you can selectively shrink the plastic with a hot air gun or blow dryer. This will pull the strands together and give is a more defined shape. This is good if you want to make it look like a spider is actively living here.

Step 9: Finished Spider Web

Now you have a giant spider web. You can make one of these in about 30 minutes. So you can easily make multiple webs as part of your Halloween decorations. Try out different construction techniques and see what you like best. If you make one share it in the comments.

Comments

[OneBirdieMa]

This is a +++++ positive review of this 'ible, but I need to tell a story to explain. The last post listed is dated 5 years ago. In that kinder, simpler time (yes, I know it was its own mess) Halloween decor was fun and sometimes scary. I happen to like spiders so the scary component tsn't as strong for me, BUT I recommend that if you tend toward terminal fear where spiders are concerned stop reading this RIGHT NOW. (Bye!) Now, for the rest of you, five years on and I am living in the same "suburban extra-small-holding" only there is local excitement now: we have one or more "gsngs" of youngsters and/or young adults who have taken to racing through various areas and doing some pretty stupid stuff, like breaking into cars, and then distributing their takings in other vehicles along the way. The latest, however, is objectively illegal AND scared some willy into or out of me: they've taken to destroying mailboxes. OK, this giant spiderweb dealie gives me a cha ce to fight back while just sitting it out -- the mess still unfolding, that is. We have a simple driveway, and i plan tl take a couple of pieces of dead wood (in my area Jan 3 2022 gave some of us a lot of that) that I can easily place/mount each evening on either side of the drive with the web in between. We do have trees that will add shadow to the changing suburban light equation each evening and night. The instructions couldn't be more perfect -- for me. If I mahange to get this done timely I will post again here with at least one picture. If not, I will post to that effect. The universe hass had a habit lately of hammering me unexpectedly . . .). Thanks for this great, inspiring post.

[tahahmed]

this isnt useful

[OneBirdieMa]

What?

[123Origami Rubiks cube]

Stormy weather right now

[Miss Vautour]

Very cool! But, for more realism, you can make it less circular and more elongated.

[Mikhandmaker.]

Very nice!

[tarmothorstrom]

​Fantastic idea! This I will definitely use. Thank you!

[Lydianon]

Very cool idea! And I did not know that regular old plastic wrap could be shrink wrap, good to know. Thank you for sharing.
(And you look a tiny bit like my younger brother, lol, that's cool :-)

[ZFixM]

Spider-Man

[Maya Gail]

That is so cool. I'd love to do it.

[marcellahella]

Wow! It look super cool!

[martinly]

Very cool! good job.

[paul the maker]

wow so simple but so efective i love it

[Saiyam]

Wow! This really looks real!!

[DIY Hacks and How Tos]

And all it takes is a $2 roll of plastic wrap.

[mimiywan]

Is it really shrink wrap or does regular cling wrap (i.e., Saran Wrap) work?

[DIY Hacks and How Tos]

They are the same thing

[mimiywan]

Great! Thanks so much!

[hardlydavidson]

this is really cool

[dbuckley6]

Very ingenious, would never have thought of using clingfilm as a construction material! Looks great.