What is it they say? If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em right? Yeah that’s it.
Inexplicably over the last few years, spiders in large numbers (yes, actual real-life spiders) have taken up residence in our house. So much so that if I pass the vacuum today, thereby sucking up all the webs and presumably destroying all the spiders, by tomorrow the webs will all be there AGAIN in the very same spots as though I were merely a ghost and my work, only a dream. It’s almost like my vacuum was the local arachnid hotel. A place where the construction crews assemble, have a nice rest, watch some satellite TV, only to start their home-building activities again in the morning. What is going on, I ask? Has an advertisement gone out via the web decreeing that our house is some sort of land of arthropodic opportunity, a place where eight-legs can live in peace and harmony, where house flies abound, and nooks meet crannies in the most advantageous way? Have they all decided that my little house is where they are going to converge for the duration? If so, I don’t understand why.
Having said that, there isn’t much I can do about it. I don’t believe in pesticides and I point-blank refuse to vacuum more than once a day, not to mention that I don’t have a constant desire for rain.
So I’ve decided in the spirit of Halloween, to accept and even embrace the little buggers, and make even more of them. That’s right. I made more.
Here’s how…
TUTORIAL: Arachno-Danglers
You will need:
- Plastic bottles (If you don’t have any, don’t buy them. Go out on a treasure hunt like I did here or ask your neighbours if they have any to donate!)
- Exacto knife and a pair of scissors
- String
- A drill and tiny drill bit
- Black acrylic paint
- Small paint brush
- Fishing line
- Large sewing needle
- Newspaper to catch the paint drippings
1. Using your drill, make 2 little holes on either side of the bottle opening.
2. Drill 1 little hole in the very bottom of the bottle.
2. Drill 1 little hole in the very bottom of the bottle.
Referring to the photo below:
3. Using an Exacto knife, cut your bottle in two where the curved top meets the straight cylindrical part of the bottle.
4. Paint the inside of both pieces. To paint the cylindrical part, I dumped a little paint inside and swished it around until the whole inner surface was black. The other piece, I painted with a little paintbrush.
5. Let any excess paint drip out onto newspaper.
6. Let the paint dry.
4. Paint the inside of both pieces. To paint the cylindrical part, I dumped a little paint inside and swished it around until the whole inner surface was black. The other piece, I painted with a little paintbrush.
5. Let any excess paint drip out onto newspaper.
6. Let the paint dry.
7. Once dry you can cut the cylindrical part as shown in the photo below (yours is painted). Yes, our spider has more than eight legs. He has mutated. Be kind; we’re all different.
8. With the piece right side up, bend the legs back and fold them near the top. Fold them again at the “knee”.
9. Take the small top section and cut it as shown to make eight legs (yours is painted).
10. Fold the legs back. Add knees if you wish. I made some with knees and some without.
11. Using the sewing needle, thread some fishing line through the drill holes to make hangers.
See? Your arachno-danglers are ready to sway on the breeze!
There goes the happy family now!
Enjoy, and have yourself a wonderful day!
Super creapy crawly spiders Michele!!
ok, those photos are super creepy!!! I hope they scare the real ones away.
Oh my word Michelle – those are brilliant but I definitely wouldn't sleep… but I will do them for Halloween when grandsons are here… they are so good.
I also don't like pesticides but apparently spiders don't like lemon oil. I read that you just put a few drops on a cloth and rub in various areas. I put a teaspoon in a half litre of water in a spray bottle and go all over the place – they haven't gone altogether but the numbers are definitely down. Need to repeat every now and then – I like the citrussy smell too!
Hugz
I absolutely hate spiders but your ones I can handle! Spooky!
Michele, these spiders are so whimsical! I will have to raid my neighbour's bin. I guess you could change the colour and get a whole new concept.
Eeee! What a fabulous use for bottles! I love the way the bent legs look, creepily realistic. The whole horde as a display = magic!
Those make great spiders! I bet your son loves this one. He must think you are the coolest mom!
I just think you are brilliant.
Awesome spiders Michele! I can't believe that you actually vacuum once a day!!! I would go nuts! Anyhow, I love your creativity, and your writing! Your blog never fails to make me smile! Keep it up sis!
Hi dear,this is very smart idea…if you color it golden then it will have some fantasy type look…well great..
How creative & creepy! 🙂 Visiting from Tatertots & Jello.:)
Girl you sure now how to transform some plastic.
How creatively creepy! Good job!
You have so many cool and creative projects here! I love this one, its perfect for this time of year and looks a bit creepy. Just My thing!
How fun! I've seen flowers made this way, but the spiders are a creepy alternative!
Great original craft for plastic bottles, from the recycling genius! You've done it again, Michele!
I'm sure there are lots of spider lovers out there who'd love this as decor anytime! Thanks so much for sharing on Craft Schooling Sunday!
I had a spider invasion in my house and someone suggested I trim back my bushes so they don't touch the house. Two months later and hardly a spider in sight!
They look pretty spooky – like something from the Matrix !
These are awesome! And I saw you on Crafty Crow too! Yeah!
AHHHH! What a great idea! wish I had seen these before…would love to hang these in my windows before Halloween. I'm too lazy now, but I'll be bookmarking for next year for sure!