DIY Network

String Art Valance Colored twine becomes a geometric window treatment. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-155

String up some style on your windows.

If you like colorful window treatments that let in a lot of light, you'll love this project from Michele Beschen. The B. Original host takes string art—a craft many of us learned as kids—and turns it on end to act as a festive window treatment.

In this project, you'll be installing nails around the window, then wrapping colored string around them and across the window. The final result: a playful look for pennies. Scroll down for Michele Beschen's easy how-to.

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It's easy to create fun string art for your windows.

String Art Valance

Materials:

nails, at least an inch long
nylon twine (different colors)
drill and bit for pilot holes

Note: Each window and design are different; adjust the measurements to fit your window and your vision for the final result. You can install your nails to either the window itself or to the surrounding trim

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

• Decide what sort of nails you want to use as the pegs to hold the string. Roofing nails (figure A) have large heads that hold the string on well, but make larger holes. Panel nails (figure B) make smaller holes, but also have smaller heads. Nails with decorative heads will add to your design.

• Find and mark the center of the top of the window.

• Measure and mark the locations for the nails. They should be evenly spaced and away from the window glass. Michele Beschen used 16 nails along the top of the window—you can use as many or as few as you like.

• Using a small drill bit, drill shallow starter holes at each of the marks.

• Install a nail in each hole, tapping it in only until it is
  solidly seated. Do not hammer all the way into the wood (figure C).

• Install one nail about 12" below the top on one side of the window. Install a second nail about 16 inches from the top on the other side. These nails should be longer than the ones at the top of the window: Twine will have to wrap around them several times.

• Tie the end of one color of nylon twine to the nail in one of the top corners of the window. Extend the twine to one of the side nails and loop it around that nail once.

• Bring the twine back to the top of the window, looping it around the next nail. Then loop it again around the side nail.

• Repeat this process, weaving the twine between the top of the window and the same side nail until you reach the final nail at the top of the window (figure D).

• Tie off the twine around the final nail and trim the excess.

• Using a second color of twine, start at the same nail you started with the first color. But, this time, wrap the twine around the nail on the opposite side of the window. Repeat the process until you reach the final nail at the top of the window (figure E).

• Tie off the twine and trim the excess.

It's easy to unwrap your string and replace it with different colors—or even to use a different pattern wrapping around the same nails. Experiment until you find a look you love; it's a fun and inexpensive way to B. Original!