Turn Rope and Braided Fibers into Creative Decor

January 06, 2016
Who knew hardware store materials had so much decorating potential? These five clever projects turn twine, polypropylene, and other braided fibers into pretty home accents.
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Rope Art

Express yourself with wall art made from rope. This romantic piece becomes the focal point in this bedroom.

 

 

Go to the next slide to see how it's done.

 

 

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Make It: Rope Art

Drop thick natural fiber rope into a mixture of 1-1/2 cups warm water, 1 cup flour, 1 cup cornstarch, 1 cup crafts glue (such as Elmer's Glue-All), and 1 teaspoon salt. Shape the rope into a word and a frame, laying the design on a piece of plastic wrap (as shown). Use light-gauge wire to add stability and to form tight letter shapes. TIP: Write your word on the plastic wrap using a permanent marker first as a guide for the design.

The letters should harden within 24 hours. When dry, tack the lettering on the wall, attaching decorative birds or other embellishments as desired.

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3-Step Rope Charger

Dress up your table with this oh-so-easy rope charger project.

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Rope Rug

Spruce up your floor with a stylish rug made from braided polypropylene rope. We used a two-tone option, available at home improvement stores, for a fun patterned effect.

 

 

Go to the next slide to see how to make it.

 

 

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Make It: Rope Rug

Working on a hard surface, begin coiling braided polypropylene rope as tightly as possible. As you go, attach heavy-duty white duct tape to hold the coil securely in place (as shown). Once you’ve coiled the entire rope to the desired rug size (our 5⁄8-inch-diameter rope was 90 feet long, and our finished rug is 3 feet wide), add an extra layer of duct tape all in the same direction, trimming tape ends. Turn over, so tape is on the back. Place a nonslip rug pad underneath to prevent the rug from sliding.

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Twine Pendant

Light up your space with a pendant made from twine. (Use a low-wattage bulb in your finished creation for safety.)

Go to the next slides to see how it's done.

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Make It: Twine Pendant, Step 1

In a bowl, mix 1-1/2 cups warm water, 1 cup flour, 1 cup cornstarch, 1 cup crafts glue (we used Elmer’s Glue-All), and 1 teaspoon salt. Stir until the mixture resembles runny pancake batter (as shown). Drop a roll of twine into the bowl, leaving one end out.

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Make It: Twine Pendant, Step 2

Tape a paintbrush securely across the bowl, and pull the twine through the bristles, removing much of the gooey mixture (as shown). As you pull the twine through, wrap it around a round balloon, rotating it as you go and leaving a small opening for inserting the lightbulb. Once the balloon is mostly covered, knot the twine ends and let dry for 24 hours. Make sure the twine has hardened before popping the balloon. Insert the lightbulb and cord kit through the opening. TIP: We tied the cord to the pendant with a few pieces of twine so the lightbulb would hang at the pendant’s center.

Remember, use a low wattage lightbulb for safety.

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Twine Nest

This cute nature-inspired accent uses frayed twine to form a sweet bird's nest.

Go to the next slides to see how it's done.

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Make It: Twine Nest, Step 1

Soak twine in a mixture of glue and about 2 tablespoons each of flour and water. Form the nest by coiling and shaping wet twine into a smaller, plastic-lined bowl (as shown).

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Make It: Twine Nest, Step 2

To create a layer of frayed twine, carefully run the blade of a scissors against sections of dry twine (pictured). Adhere the frayed pieces to the nest using hot glue. Place two small faux eggs in the nest.

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Twine Memo Board

Turn an old picture frame into a cute memo board by stretching twine across the back of the frame.

Go to the next slides to see how it's done.

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Make It: Twine Memo Board, Step 1

Measure increments along the back of the frame, marking where each string will be. Cut lengths of twine that will reach across the back of the frame. At each mark, place a dot of hot glue on the frame, then push the twine into the glue with a metal awl (as shown). Hold for a few seconds until the glue dries. Directly across the frame, place a dot of hot glue and attach the opposite end of twine, making sure it is taut.

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Make It: Twine Memo Board, Step 2

Hang the frame on your wall. Use clothespins (as shown) to display photos and ephemera.

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