Introduction: Hairy Halloween Spider (Budget Halloween Decoration)

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Warning!

This Instructable involves the use of dangerous tools and materials with sharp and pointy edges as well as the use of dangerous chemicals such as glue, always undertake the correct safety precautions and exercise careful judgement when carrying out this project, as well as wearing the correct PPE such as gloves and safety glasses when appropriate. Attempt this project at your own risk, the author does not accept any liability for injury or property damage resulting from the construction of this project.

This Instructable explains how to create a Hairy Spider Halloween decoration from low cost materials. The design is easily scalable allowing large spiders to be produced at a low cost.

Supplies

Materials

  1. Dark polythene bags or sheets.
  2. Tissue paper.
  3. Aluminium craft wire diameter 2mm (can vary).
  4. PVA glue.
  5. Googly eyes.
  6. Old Newspaper (consumable).

Tools

  1. Diagonal pliers.
  2. Needle-nose pliers.
  3. Small round-nose pliers.
  4. Scissors.
  5. Ruler.

Step 1: Create the Body

For this step you will need the pliers and wire. The body is created in a similar way to a wire and tissue paper lampshade. Carefully bend the wire into the desired 3d shape of your spider, ensuring that all joints are securely joined such that they do not come lose and that the framework will be easy to cover with tissue paper. Ensure that the wire framework has a strong internal support structure so that it can support the at least the weight of the complete spider. If you plan on hanging this spider up from a wall create a wire loop on the body to do so at this stage.

Step 2: Cover the Body With Tissue Paper

For this stage you will need tissue paper and PVA glue, take care not to spill any PVA glue and remember to only glue in a safe ventilated area over newspaper to prevent damage to any furniture/furnishings. Gently tear the tissue paper into strips about 5cm wide along the grain, and then apply glue to the back of the tissue paper. Wrap the tissue paper around the metal frame ensuring that each strip overlaps so that a solid covering will be formed when the glue dries. Leave the base of the spider open (you will see why this is done later), fold the ends of the tissue strips into the base of the spider to ensure the covering is well bonded to the frame.

Step 3: Create the Legs

This step is similar to how the tinsel you might see at Christmas was created. It involves a single doubled up strand of wire that has a loop created at the folded point of the wire. The plastic sheeting is then cut into tinsel like strips of appropriate uniform width and length and then threaded through the loop at the end of the wire and the wire is twisted together to hold the plastic strip in place, this process is then repeated all the way up the leg, saving about 3cm of wire at the end to allow the leg to be attached to the body, Repeat this process until you have created the desired number of legs for your spider.

Step 4: Attach the Legs to the Body

Carefully pull apart the end of the two twisted strands of wire and wrap them around the wire rim of the spiders body, be careful to ensure that a tight ridged connection is created pliers can help with this. repeat this step until all the legs are attached in there intended positions.

Step 5: Glue on the Eyes

Apply PVA glue to the back of the googly eyes and gently press onto the intended position on the spider. Hold them in place until the glue starts to set and then leave them to dry.

Step 6: Enjoy Using This Decoration

Please enjoy using this Hairy Halloween Spider decoration, either of a flat surface or attached to a wall. I hope you enjoyed reading this Instructable, have a Happy Halloween.