Remember string art? It’s one of those ’70s-era handicrafts that fell out of fashion, along with macramé and rug hooking. All three are making a comeback, though – I’m sure of it. I’ve seen a lot of awesome applications of string art recently (and check out the logo in the May 2012 issue of Wired UK). This simple version, which uses a cork board instead of wood as a base, inspired me to make my own.

To make this project, you'll need:

• Nails with large heads (I used drywall nails)
• Cork board, thick enough to hold the nails
• String, yarn, embroidery floss or thread
• Tracing paper and pencil

I drew a basic design on tracing paper, and then affixed it to the cork board with one nail. The best thing about this project is that it doesn't require a hammer – because the cork is soft, you can just push the nails in. (I would recommend using a thimble or gloves, though, if you're doing a complicated design, to prevent sore fingers.) I followed the outline with the rest of the nails, placing them about an inch apart. Then I carefully ripped off the tracing paper.

Now comes the fun part: the stringing! I tied orange yarn to one nail with a double knot and trimmed the excess. I chose my start point randomly, but if you prefer your string to follow a pattern, you may want to start at a corner or the bottom of the design. I found the best method was looping the yarn around each nail so that it held tight. I worked in a straight line around the design first, then criss-crossed it randomly to fill it in. To finish, I tied off the same way I started. Then I repeated the process for the white and turquoise yarns.

And that's it. The entire project took me about an hour, and used materials I found in my basement. Long live string art!