MY STORY
As I was once again strolling through my local hardware store, I spied radiator screens. I already have them on the radiators in my home but the display called out to me.
For only about $20.00 you can get a piece of screen that measures 36" x 24" -- huge!! And invest in a pair of tin snips. You can use scissors, but trust me you will ruin them, and have to get a new pair. So you might as well invest the few bucks in these great snips.
Now let's see what you can come up with when you deconstruct one of these screens.
YOUR TURN
There were a few different styles, but I liked this design. I figured it would be easier to cut as the design inherently left you with clean edges.
SAFETY FIRST: You are cutting metal so please bear these tips in mind:
- Do not do any cutting around kids or pets
- And wear shoes -- how do I know this? Trust me, this metal is sharp
- Wear protective eyewear and gloves if you tend to have klutsy tendencies like yours truly
- When you are cutting/trimming the metal, it is advised to lean over a garbage can so the little bits can fall into the can and not all over the floor
- EDGES are sharp so take your time
Now on to the fun.
HOME DECOR
Before you even begin cutting, you can use the whole piece (or several of them) as a headboard, backdrop for a wall display. I even put it in front of a window -- adds a nice dimension to the window. Good for windows where you don't have to worry about the neighbors peeking in.
JOURNAL
I picked up an inexpensive composition notebook, cut background paper to size. Glue the paper on and cut out a piece of the screen to cover. Add a charm or other embellishment for some interest. And before you have it you have a cool journal to keep or give as a gift. HINT: Metal or jewelry glue works best for these projects but be careful. You might want to wear a pair of disposable gloves. Maybe you are neater than I am and won't glue things to your skin!
CANDLE HOLDER /NAPKIN RINGS
Dress up your next party by cutting some screen and wrapping around a candle holder or use as a napkin ring. The radiator screen is very easy to bend and holds its shape well.
COASTERS/BULLETIN BOARDS
Since the screens are meant to tolerate heat, they make great coaster tops. You just need a little glue on the corners and adhere to some cork squares. The cork is great because it protects your surface. The screen also looks great in this same use as a fancy bulletin board. This sample utilizes the small pieces but image a full size piece of cork? It looks cool with metallic push pins too!
FRAMES/JEWELRY DISPLAYS
I am always on the lookout for cool frames. Adding the screen makes a unique background and looks very cool on its own. Using the template with the frames, cut out screen and background paper to fit. On their own, or using this cool shadowbox for a display of something beautiful is an inexpensive and easy way to spruce up your frames.
I was lucky to receive several of my Grandmother's brooches when she passed away and they tend to sit, forgotten, in my jewelry box. Why not use them as art on their own? I've seen a lot on Pinterest using screens for jewelry and it is a fun idea.
And embroidery hoop art seems to be a big trend now, so using that surface as the insert is another cool way to utilize the screen.
BOOKMARKS/ORNAMENTS
The spaces in the screen lend themselves to weaving. Taking some raffia and weaving in and out makes a cute little bookmark. You can fill up the space as much or as little as you want. Make sure you keep "tails" on each end. One to knot for the "fringe" and one to knot in the back so it doesn't fall apart.
Using this same concept and leftover yarn created an entirely different look. I loved this yarn because it has a bit of sparkle to it and ombre effects and the finished project looks really sparkly and holiday-ish to me. This uses a very small amount of yarn so you can get a lot out of one skein. HINT: When choosing yarn, make sure you use something durable....you will be weaving in and out of metal, so delicate yarn will fray and rip.
This can be used as an ornament, package topper or fancy gift tag.
JEWELRY
I'm a big fan of the industrial / steampunk vibe and the screen just yelled at me to make some jewelry with it. First, get a ring blank. They are adjustable and can be found at any big box crafts retailer and are really affordable. Using a small piece of screen cut out and glue within the "bezel" of your ring. That's all you need to do to create a fun modern ring. You can make a ton of these very quickly and using very little materials. Can anyone say gift giving???
Back to the hardware store where I picked up washers and inexpensive chain. Cut out some of the screen in whatever shapes you like and layer with the washers and metal buttons. You can create a pendant piece or add more for a statement piece. I love the way these came out and with your ring, you are good to go!
STENCIL
The pattern of the screen lends itself well to using as a stencil. Using a foam brush or dauber, coat the metal over a piece of cardstock. Mine came out a little sloppy, but sometimes that works. You can use as is or cut up and get several pieces out of one. Before you lift off the paper, run the brush over the metal and you are left with the screen painted in a pretty color which is great to use for any of the projects above.
Thanks for reading and let me know if you can come up with any other projects and I will post. Have fun deconstructing! And with all these projects, I still have a bunch of screen left over!
