How to Make Nylon Wire Bees

Coil yellow nylon wire to create the body of a bumblebee.

The unmistakable black and yellow stripes of a garden bumblebee are a signal that you have ventured into enemy territory, but in a garden-themed bedroom or party venue, they are a graphic and friendly decoration. You can fashion a kind, indoor bee by coiling nylon wire into a body, drawing stripes, and adding stretched nylon wings. The final bumblebee creation is just as striking as its real-life counterpart and a lot more fun to have around.

Things You'll Need

• Medium-gauge floral wire
• Wire cutters
• White or nude nylon pantyhose
• Scissors
• 1/2-mm yellow nylon wire
• 2 wooden skewers or toothpick
• Hot glue
• Black permanent marker
• 1/2-inch black pompom
• 2 small google eyes
• 2 floral stamens

Instructions

1. Cut two pieces of medium-gauge floral wire with wire cutters. Each piece should be 2 inches long. Set the pieces aside. Cut three pieces of floral wire that are each 3 inches long. Set one piece aside. You should have two of the 3-inch wire segments in front of you.

2. Pull the two ends of a 3-inch wire segment together to make a teardrop shape. Twist the ends together to secure the shape. The twisted section of wire should be about a 1/2-inch long. This is the frame of a wing. Repeat the process with the other wire segment to make an identical shape.

3. Cut two squares out of white or nude-colored nylon pantyhose with scissors. Each square should be 2 1/2-inches wide.

4. Lay one nylon square on your work surface. Lay one wire teardrop on the nylon square with the twisted wire pointing toward you. Fold the nylon square over to cover the wire teardrop.

5. Pull all of the edges of the square together around the twisted base of the wire to stretch the material over the wire. This motion is similar to wrapping a lollipop. Pinch the fabric and twisted wire together to hold the material in place. The nylon should cover the wire completely.

6. Wrap a 2-inch piece of floral wire around the gathered nylon and twisted wire to secure the wing. Trim excess nylon with scissors. Repeat the process to build the other wing.

7. Bend the twisted wire segment of each wing to the side so that it makes a right angle.

8. Cut a 24-inch piece of 1/2-millimeter yellow nylon wire with wire cutters.

9. Hold a wooden skewer or toothpick in your nondominant hand. Hold one end of the nylon wire against the wooden object with the thumb of your nondominant hand. Wrap the wire around the wooden object two times, over the end you are securing with your thumb.

10. Wrap the wire at a slight angle to create a 1 1/2-inch-long yellow coil around the wooden object. Once you achieve a solid, 1 1/2-inch yellow coil, wrap in the opposite direction, back to your starting point.

11. Continue wrapping back and forth over the 1 1/2-inch coil. Make additional wraps in the center of the coil so that it is wider in the middle, like a football. Continue wrapping until you reach the wire's end.

12. Apply a peppercorn-sized bead of hot glue to the yellow coil to secure the loose end. Use the other skewer or toothpick to press the end into the bead of glue so that you avoid burning your fingers. Allow the glue to cool for 30 seconds. Slide the coil off the wooden object. This is the bee's body.

13. Draw black rings on the body with a permanent marker.

14. Slide the twisted end of each wing into the sides of the coil under a wire. If the wire is too tight, affix each wing with a bead of hot glue.

15. Hold the remaining 3-inch wire segment. Bend 1/4-inch of the wire to the side. Apply a peppercorn-sized bead of hot glue to a 1/2-inch-wide fuzzy, black pompom. Press the 1/4-inch bent segment of wire into the glue. Allow the glue to dry for 30 seconds.

16. Apply a bead of glue to the black pompom in the same place you applied the previous bead of glue. Slide the wire end of the pompom into one end of the yellow coil. Press the pompom into the coil to affix it. This is the head of the bumblebee. The end of the 3-inch wire should be sticking out the other end of the striped body. This is the stinger of the bee. Trim the stinger with wire cutters, as needed.

17. Affix two google eyes to the front of the bee's head with hot glue. Glue the narrow ends of two floral stamens to the top of the pompom to make the antennas.