On my online workbook this week: Scale up some Halloween chuckles

Dear

This week's inspiration is scaring up some zero waste Halloween chuckles.

My design note for you is an update on my "hot glue becomes a spider web" Tutorial that I shared back in March 2011.

The glue strands are more likely to “strap in” design details if you are not deliberate. Absolutely this can be used as a design mechanic (see the Tutorial for a video on how I reposition straggly nasturtium leaves with the glue strands) if you want the design details to stick. But in this design I want the spiderweb to softly float about so that it can expand as the nasturtium continues to grow after being severed from its roots.

The best way to avoid your plant material from looking too "strapped in" or confined (see the Cocoon Design for an example) is to, once the plant material is in position, make the glue strands thinner and add it in vertical layers.

Firstly when you tap the Styrofoam together once you get thick, sticky and strong strands of glue to spin your basic web, which is ideal for securing the design details in position. But then when you tap, tap, tap the Styrofoam multiple times you get more strands but they are thinner and light as air. Barely drape the thinner strands and give it a minute to allow the hot glue to cure from tacky to once again rubbery. Now you can go back and stretch the strands to accommodate the design details. Ideally you want a lace thin spider web covering on the foliage without it looking curled or folded. I use a bamboo skewer to release and tease out the leaves. Simply give the glue strand bundle a lift away from the foliage so that you can feel it stretching giving the leaf more space to grow. When you release it again it settles around the leaf without actually pulling on the leaf. Growing cut nasturtiums gives you an everchanging design that will never look exactly like the last time you saw it… so perfect for Halloween!

You can also separate the bundles to be spider web fine, once the glue cures back to being rubber. Then to finish it off, cut out any distracting clumps of glue web out with sharp scissors to tidy up your design and make the spider web strands impossibly silky and fine. And remember, all the hot glue strands can be gathered and melted down again in a hot glue dipping pot. Perfect no waste design element.

Have a fun and flower-filled Halloween.

Enjoy!

Every good wish,

Christine