Hardware store nail art. Who would have thought? Certainly not me. For months now I have seen many tutorials on Pinterest for DIY state art made from nails. I decided I needed to try it. Brett and I moved to Connecticut about a year ago but we both grew up in Massachusetts and have a very strong attachment to that great state.

After finding many projects…

{Curiously Wrought}

{Our Mini Family}

I decided to finally try it and to see what would happen…

Here is what you need:

-Wood

-Paint (I’m sure spray paint would work just as well!)

-Foam brush if you decided to paint your wood like me

-Nails/Hammer

-Print out of the state you want to make

-String

Here is what I did:

I bought a wood plaque at Michaels which was perfect for me because I didn’t want to have to buy a huge piece of wood and then have to get it cut down to size. It had finished edges and everything. I gave it a quick sanding just to make sure it was completely smooth.

I decided to go with Martha Stewart Satin craft paint in a pretty pale yellow shade.

The wood SOAKED up the paint really fast. I probably went over it with 3 or 4 coats but it dried very quickly in between coats. I kept adding coats until I got the look I was hoping for. As you can see above, the first coat went on and look more like a stain than paint, so I started to worry a bit. Low and behold… it turned out great!

Then I printed out a map of Massachusetts from Google and just started hammering the nails in. I didn’t have problem with them staying in, but you could always add a dab of hot glue if you had a wiggly nail.

Massachusetts was a little trickier than I initially thought. I just kind of winged the coast line so it certainly isn’t geographically accurate but I am okay with that When I was done with the nails, I carefully ripped the paper out from under it. Some little bits stayed stuck under the nails, but I just pulled them out with tweezers and it was as though there had never been a guide there!

Now, I have never claimed to be good with tools. As you can see some of my nails are a little sideways. It just gives it a bit more charm… right? Oh! I also added a little heart in the center of the state. I wanted to add a heart on the south shore where I grew up and a heart in the center of the state for where Brett grew up… but it was too tight to fit all of that. I settled on the center because we love the state as a whole! Then came the string…

I started by wrapping the string around one of the nails in the heart and tying a knot. Then I just went nail by nail winding the string around and keeping it tight. As you go along, you will develop a pattern that works for your state. Cape Cod made this a little tricky but I made it work. Once I got to the end I tied another knot and it was done! Really… it was that easy.

And now it is proudly displayed between the living room and kitchen!

While it is FAR from perfect, I am really happy with it. It is a little touch of home and a little touch of modern art. I might add some hooks to the back and eventually hang it up on the wall. For now though, it is just adorable!

Have you tried making art with things you can find at the hardware store? Who would have known it could be so darn cute?!?