Guitar string poppies

How to make recycled guitar string poppies

When my husband changes the strings out on his guitar he discards these wonderful interesting worn metal spirals. I love them. I have tried to make jewelry out of the used strings, but they have not turned out very well. I can't bear to throw them out, the metal is so intricate and beautifully worn. One day I was making paper flowers and I couldn't find anything to use for stems, until I came across the guitar string recycling bucket full of the perfect base for my handmade flora.

I love how they turned out and eagerly await for the next guitar cast offs in need of recycling! Here's how I did it:

1. Take a square piece of paper. I used a 3"x 3" piece of rice paper. Old guitar tabs or sheet music would be really great. Fold the paper in half then in half again.

2. Fold once again until you have a thick triangle. Cut the top of the triangle (still folded) in a high arch.

3. Open. Cut out one section of the flower minus a small tab section. Place a small amount of glue onto the tab and press underneath adjacent petal. Gently soften the petals by bending the

tips, or rounding the petals with your fingers.

4. To atattch the used guitar string, simply poke the end of the wire through the center of your flower and pul through till tight against the metal ring at the end of the string.

5. You could fix the flower to the wire with a small drop of hot glue, but I like the freeness of just having them float on the string.

Make a dozen or so to build a nice bouquet.

1. 2. 3.

4. 5. 6.