Bicycle bon voyage

By Spotlight

Learn how to turn beading/craft wire into a fun card accent.

Final Result

Materials

• A4 grey textured cardstock
• A4 lime green textured cardstock
• A4 aqua textured cardstock
• small pieces of cream & brown cardstock
• white gel pen
• 3m x 24 gauge black plastic covered craft wire
• scissors
• adhesive
• wire cutters
• jewellery pliers

Step 1

Sketch or trace a bike image the size that you want to make your bike. Find a small jar or paint container that is the diameter of the bike wheels. Cut 1m of black plastic coated wire. Wind one end twice around a container to start the first wheel. Remove the coils. Begin to wrap the long end of the wire around the coils to form a circle shape. Do this 1/6 of the way around the circle. Take the wire across to other side of the wheel to make the first spokes. Wrap wire once around the rim and back to the side you were working on, wrapping it around the spoke you created on the way back. Continue another 1/6 around the wheel and repeat to make another set of spokes. Repeat once more so you have six spokes in total. Continue to wrap the wire around the remainder of the wheel rim to finish. Make a second wheel the same way.

Step 2

Cut another metre of wire and starting at one end make a star shape with star points 3cm long, 3cm long, 4cm long, 6cm long and 7cm long. The 3cm points become the handles of the bike, 4cm point is the extension down to the front wheel, 6cm point is the lower part of the bike frame and 7cm point is the top part of the bike frame. Twist each of the 3cm points to make a double twisted wire. Twist 7cm point to make a double twisted wire. Loop the front bike wheel through the tip of the 4cm point twist the wire so the bike wheel hangs off this point. Repeat, this time hanging the second bike wheel from the 6 cm wire point.

Step 3

Shape the twisted wires to form the bicycle shape. Twist the length of wire that remains back along the top of the bicycle frame and twist to form a shape resembling an upside-down coat hanger with angled edges of 1cm each. Flatten the shape and twist to form the back and front edges of the bike seat. Cut the wire flush.

Step 4

Draw a template for the collage. Trace the shapes onto the appropriate colours of cardstock and cut out the roadway, mountains, clouds and buildings. Trim the sheet of aqua cardstock to 14 cm x 23 cm and fold in half to make the card. Affix the collage shapes to the card with glue. When dry, trim the edges of the collage so they are flush with the card.

Step 5

Draw white lines along the road using a white gel pen. Affix the wire bike to the collage using glue dots. Use rub-on letters or handwriting for the words “Bon Voyage” or a similar greeting.

Handy Hint

Use this twisted wire technique to make a range of shapes for cards, collage work and even mini books. To make your own shapes, start with a simple line drawing and twist and bend the wire to form the shape.

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