Folk Art Ideas Using Nuts & Bolts
Folk art is "art produced by people not professionally identified as artists", according to the definition from Oregon State University. Although the people may not be considered artists, some of the folk art pieces produced have been considered masterpieces. Nuts and bolts are inexpensive pieces that are found on workbenches in most homes. They make great materials to put together into a piece of your own folk art.
Picture Frame
Recycle an old picture frame using nuts and bolts, and a glue gun. Create your own design around the wooden or metal frame. Play around with the design first and get it where you want it. Once you are happy with the way it is laid out, just glue the nuts and bolts onto the frame.
Lamp and Shade
Take a plain bland lampshade and hot glue nuts and bolts all over the outside of it. If that looks too gaudy for your taste, use the nuts and bolts to give it just a border around the top, bottom or both. These small hardware pieces give off interesting shapes when the light is turned on.
The same thing can be done for a plain lamp that you pick up in a dollar store. Cover the base with nuts and bolts for a folk art look.
Mailbox
Give an old mailbox a face-lift by using nuts and bolts to create a new design. Glue random nuts and bolts all over the mailbox. Once you have glued them all on, put on a couple of coats of polyurethane to keep it from rusting. This also gives it a glossy shine. It makes a great decoration for the front of your house.
Shadow Box Picture
Use your imagination and make a mosaic picture out of the nuts and bolts. Depict animals, people, houses or any other design you can create. Assemble the picture on a thin piece of plywood that can hold the weight of the nuts and bolts. When you are done, build a shadow box around it as a frame.
Paperweight
Make a mound of plaster the size of a paperweight. While it is still wet, press nuts and bolts into the plaster so they dry into it. Use a piece of felt to cover the bottom of the paperweight once it has dried. To give it a shiny finished look, spray it with polyurethane.
