Making Wire Decorations

Baskets

Metal sparks textural interest in any space. But unless you've mastered blow-torch basics, most metals leave do-it-yourselfers cold. Wire is one welcome exception. This accommodating metal is pliable and safe enough for the novice crafter to work with. Try these instructions for making a wire basket.

1. To make the tall basket, twist together the ends of eight 4-foot lengths of 24-gauge black crafts wire; spread like spokes. 2. Make a tight loop at one end of a 12-foot-long piece of 14-gauge wire. 3. Coil into spirals 1/2-inch apart until diameter equals about 2 inches. Center the 24-gauge wire twist in the loop of the coil. 4. Wrap each spoke around each spiral, adding more spirals until the basket bottom is desired size. Bend spirals up and continue for sides. 5. Finish by looping heavy wire and securing to coil. Wrap spoke wires around top coils, twist, and trim.

Wreaths

Try decorating your bed by hanging the wreath on your footboard.

Wire wreaths say welcome — indoors or out.

1. Loosely coil about 8 feet of 16-gauge black wire into a circle that is 6 inches in diameter. 2. Repeat with a second length of wire, pinching or twisting as necessary to achieve a haphazard appearance. 3. Finish with a bow. For "grapevine" curls, coil wire ends around a pencil or dowel.

Vases

Overgrown with a thicket of wires, a clear glass vase appears organic.

1. Fold thirty 12-inch strips of 16-gauge black wire in half. Line up on a table with the folded ends extending 1-1/2 inches past the edge. 2. Lay a piece of scrap wood on top and clamp to secure. 3. Wrap one end of a 2-foot-long 24-gauge black wire around the looped end of the last wire, then weave the wire over and under the remaining wires. Weave two more fine wires in the same way. 4. Loosen the clamps and move wires to extend 4 inches off the table. Reclamp. Weave three more wires around a 4-inch-tall glass cylinder vase; secure by twisting pairs of fine wires together. 5. Trim and bend tops of heavier wire at random.

Candlesticks

These candlesticks add casual charm to any table setting.

Instructions:

1. Use needle-nose pliers to bend one end of a 6-foot length of 14-gauge wire into a loop; coil that end into a 6-inch-diameter circle. 2. Continue coiling into smaller spirals. Slip the spiral onto a wooden dowel the same size as the candle, and wrap remaining wire around and up the dowel 4 inches. 3. Trim wire leaving 3 inches, and finish in small loop. 4. Spray with black paint. Replace the dowel with a candle.

Vines

Try making several leaf sizes in your vine.

Make a vine of wire ivy-leaf shapes to grace any tabletop.

1. Coil one end of a 3-foot-long 24-gauge black wire into a tight loop. Leave about 3/4 inch of "vine," then form a 1/2-inch-wide three-pointed leaf; twist to secure. 2. Leave a couple more inches of vine, then make a 2-inch-wide, five-pointed leaf. 3. Continue, varying leaf size as desired for length of wire.

Strawberries

Wild strawberries take on a fresh twist when made with 24-gauge black crafts wire.

1. Using needle-nose pliers, bend a 26-inch-long wire to create the three 1-inch leaves of the calyx. Twist to secure. 2. Thread 35 amber seed beads onto remaining wire; bend wire end to secure. 3. Randomly glue beads onto wire using craft glue. 4. When dry, coil the wire at the base of the calyx into a tight spiral and wind into a strawberry shape.